ROSEMONT, Ill. – The Big Ten Conference has announced its Men’s Cross Country weekly award winners for competitions that occurred between Sept. 30-Oct. 7.  

Athlete of the Week  
Nick Sloff, Penn State 
Senior – State College, Penn. – State College High School 

• Won the men’s 8K Gold Race at the Paul Short Run on Friday morning in 23:59.8 

• Is the first Nittany Lion to win the race since Evan Dorenkamp three seasons ago 

• Helped Penn State finish second with 129 points, the best team finish at the Paul Short Run since winning the title in 2001. 

• Last Penn State Athlete of the Week Award: Nick Sloff (Sept. 11, 2026) 

 
Freshman of the Week
Liam Bauschke, Indiana 
Freshman – Mishawka, Ind. – Mishawka High School  

• Ran a personal best 23:46.6 at the Joe Piane Invitational 

• Earned a 23rd overall finish, which was highest among the Hoosiers 

• This marks Indiana's first Freshman of the Week Award 

2026 Men’s Cross Country Athletes of the Week 
Sept. 9 
Athlete: Will McGraw, Ohio State 
Freshman: Grady Lenn, Wisconsin 

Sept. 16 
Athlete: Jasper Cane, MSU 
Freshman: Beckett Crooks, MSU 

Sept. 23 
Athlete: Jasper Cane, MSU 
Freshman: Grady Lenn 

Sept. 30 
Athlete: Nathan Lopez, MICH/Tayson Echohawk, ORE 
Freshman: Jack Bidwell, MICH 

Oct. 7 
Athlete: Nick Sloff, PSU 
Freshman: Liam Bauschke, IND