The Big Ten Cross Country Championships come to Wisconsin on Friday morning, featuring 10 conference teams ranked in the national polls’ top 30. From the favorites to dark horses and freshman sensations, let’s take a look at some of the teams and runners to watch this year. 
 

Oregon is the Team to Beat 

After sweeping the Big Ten’s cross country and track and field team titles in 2025-26, it’s safe to say Oregon has a target on its back this year. But the Ducks have their eyes set on another conference triple crown, and they can take the first step towards that on Friday. Oregon enters with the top-ranked men’s and women’s teams in the Big Ten, sitting at No. 6 on the men’s side and No. 15 in the women’s poll. 

Perhaps the greatest threat to Oregon’s reign, particularly on the men’s side, is Wisconsin. Running on your home course always helps, and the Badgers will look to use that familiarity to their advantage. You can bet former Oregon assistant coach Chris Solinsky will be looking to make a splash in his first season as the head man of Wisconsin Cross Country, following the retirement of the legendary Mick Byrne. 

Minnesota and Washington also boast men’s and women’s programs that are nationally ranked, plus Michigan State (22nd in men’s), Northwestern (23rd in women’s) and Penn State (26th in women’s) all can be expected to be in the hunt on Friday. 
 

Who Will Be First to Cross the Finish Line? 

The men’s championship race will have a new winner this year after the graduation of Oregon’s Abdel Laadjel. A few of the student-athletes to watch: 

• Simeon Birnbaum: The NCAA Champion on the track and winner at the Bill Dellinger Invitational should be near the front of the pack with Oregon teammates Tayson Echohawk and Benjamin Balazs. 

• Grady Lenn: He will be important for Wisconsin’s chances. He’s won the Big Ten Freshman of the Week award three times this season and set a personal best on the championship course at the Nuttycombe Invitational. 

• Nathan Lopez: One of Michigan’s top finishers this season, he came in 11th in last year’s Big Ten Championships.  

• Moses Osterink and Thomas Westphal: These Michigan State teammates have been among the Spartans’ best this year. Osterink won the Spartan Invitational (tied with teammate Jasper Cane) and Westphal had the best finish of anyone in the Big Ten at the Nuttycombe Invitational, not to mention a third-place result at last year’s Big Ten Championships.  

• Nick Sloff: The Penn State senior was named USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Week earlier in the season after winning the 8K Gold Race at the Paul Short Run. 

A look at the women’s field begins with the defending champion: 

• Diana Cherotich: The Oregon sophomore left the Big Ten Championships with last year’s individual title and seems to be hitting her stride in time for this year’s race – she won the Bill Dellinger Invitational earlier this month. 

• Juliet Cherubet: A fellow Duck, Cherubet finished second in last year’s race behind her teammate and set the course and meet record at the Mike Johnson Classic in September.  

• Katy Zang: The Indiana runner has enjoyed a stellar freshman campaign, winning Big Ten Runner of the Week three times and Freshman of the Week four times. She set the Sam Bell Invitational course record in September and finished top 10 at Pre-Nationals. 

• Ali Weimer: The Minnesota senior has two top-five finishes to her name this season and was the top Big Ten finisher at the Nuttycombe Invitational.  

• Taylor Pangburn: She narrowly missed winning the Spartan Invitational, finishing first among Spartan runners in that race and the John McNichols Invitational. 

Tune in Friday morning for live coverage beginning at 11:30 a.m. ET on Big Ten Network.