MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin men's cross country team opens its 2025 home campaign by hosting the Badger Classic on Friday, Sept. 19, at the Zimmer Championship Course. The men's 8-kilometer race is set to start at 11:15 a.m. and will follow the women's 6K race at 10:30 a.m.

Admission is free for the meet and parking is free at the course.

Live results will be available through PTTiming. Fans can follow the action @BadgerTrackXC on X and Instagram.

1. BACK IN ACTION: The Badgers begin their home campaign facing in-state competitors in Marquette and University of Wisconsin-Platteville border foes, the University of Illinois at Chicago. Friday's race marks the first of two home meets for the Badgers this season, including the highly regarded Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational, taking place on Oct. 17. 

2. LAST TIME OUT: UW ran as a pack, with junior Micah Wilson leading with a 26th-place finish, crossing the line in 15 minutes, 48.2 seconds. Wilson was followed by Bryce Stachewicz, Nick Gilles, Pierce Seigne, Liam Newhart and Archie Noakes, finishing within one second of each other to round out UW's top five.

3. DEFENDING THE THRONE: Wisconsin will look to win its eighth-consecutive Big Ten title this season and 56th in program history. The Badgers will also try to reclaim the Great Lakes region trophy from the 2024 champion, Notre Dame.

4. IN THE RANKS: The Badgers continue this season ranked No. 1 in the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Great Lakes Regional rankings. Wisconsin also comes in at No. 5 in the nation and is the top-ranked Big Ten Conference team in the USTFCCCA National Coaches Poll.

5. LOOKING AHEAD: The Badgers will head to Chicago for the Sean Earl Lakefront Invitational, hosted by Loyola University Chicago. The men's 8K Championship race begins at 10:40 a.m., followed by the men's 8K Open at noon on Oct. 3.