Badgers place third at Big Ten Championships

CHAMPAIGN, Ill – Led by Leane Willemse's All-Big Ten performance and strong finishes from Bella Jacobsen And Shea RuhlyThe No. 11 Wisconsin women's cross country team placed third at the 2024 Big Ten Cross Country Championships, solidifying its position among the conference's top teams.

The Badgers had 133 points, one ahead of Penn State, which placed fourth with 134 points. Oregon won its first Big Ten Conference title with a score of 33 points, while Washington followed with 60 points.

Individually, Willemse continued her outstanding season, placing 15th with a 6K time of 19 minutes, 42.8 seconds, earning second-team All-Big Ten honors. Jacobsen and Ruhly stayed close, finishing 26th and 27th with times of 19:58.5 and 20:01.0, respectively, which was crucial to Wisconsin's podium finish.

The Badgers also saw key contributions from Lindsay Cunningham And Annika Cutforthwho finished 31st and 34th, respectively, putting UW in third place.

Carolyn Shult, Nora GrembanAnd Mya Bunke All delivered solid performances, rounding out Wisconsin's efforts and rounding out a successful day for the Badgers.

Directly from the course:

Mick ByrneUW Director of Athletics and Cross Country

“Very proud of our women. We beat Penn State by a point…they did a great job. Leane is starting to get back on her feet, looked good out there. She had a whole supporting cast with her.” Bella JacobsenHe had a great run, our second goalscorer. Lindsay Cunningham And Shea Ruhly We had a great run, that's as good as we got. Hopefully we can repeat that at the nationals, this is a top 10 team all day long.”

Next: Postseason racing continues with the 2024 NCAA Great Lakes Regional taking place on Friday, November 15, in Norton, Ohio. The UW women will compete at 10 a.m. CT and look to secure a top-two finish to automatically qualify for the 2024 NCAA Cross Country Championships at the Zimmer Championship Course in Madison.

Big Ten Championships

November 1, 2024

Orange and blue golf course

6km race

Championship race results:

15. Leane Willemse, 19:42.8

26. Bella Jacobsen19:58.5

27. Shea Ruhly20:01.0

31. Lindsay Cunningham20:03.1

34. Annika Cutforth20:06.2

46. Carolyn Shult20:15.3

55. Nora Gremban20:21.0

59. Mya Bunke20:25.0

64. Kylie fingers20:29.3

83. Olivia Phillips, 20:48.2

91. Fiona McLoughlin20:52.5

106. Mikaela Helling20:59.2

Team results:

1.Oregon, 33

2.Washington, 60

3. Wisconsin, 133

4. Penn State, 134

5. Minnesota, 146

6. Michigan State, 173

7. Northwest, 201

8. Ohio State, 226

9. Michigan, 262

10. Illinois, 277

11. Nebraska, 283

12. UCLA, 351

13. Indiana, 362

14. Purdue, 366

15. Maryland, 368

16. Iowa, 479

17. Rutgers, 520

18. USC, 604