Wisconsin Badgers
Big Ten Championships
October 26, 2026 | Men's Cross Country
Wisconsin returns to Thomas Zimmer for consecutive home meets
MADISON, Wis. – The Big Ten Championship meet returns to Thomas Zimmer Championship Cross Country course for the first time since 2023 as the No. 14 Wisconsin men's cross country team eyes its 55th conference team title.
The women's 6K race will begin at 10:35 a.m., followed by the men's 8K at 11:35 a.m.
Live results will be posted on PTTiming and the meet will air live on Big Ten Network. Fans can also follow along for updates on the @BadgerTrackXC Instagram and X accounts.
There is no spectator parking at the cross country course or University Ridge. Spectator parking will be located at Reddan Soccer Park. Reddan Soccer Park is located in northern Verona off Cross Country Road. A map of the parking layout can be found here. Free spectator shuttles are available for transportation to the course. One accessible shuttle will be available. The shuttle service begins at 8:30 a.m. and concludes at 2:30 p.m. Fans are encouraged to arrive early so you don't miss any of the action! Parking is not allowed on County Highway PD or County Highway M near the Zimmer Course. Any vehicle violating this will be subject to ticket and tow at the owner's expense.
1. TOP TEAMS: The No. 14 Badgers enter their first postseason meet as the second-ranked Big Ten team in the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association National Coaches' Poll. No. 6 Oregon, No. 21 Minnesota, No. 22 Michigan State and No. 29 Washington will put Wisconsin to the test.
2. FAST FRESHMAN: Freshman Grady Lenn has already made a huge impact in his young Badger career. With standout performances in each race he has competed in, he tied the record for the most times a single runner has won the Big Ten Freshman of the Week award, with three. Most recently, he was Wisconsin's second-place finisher, with a personal-best time of 23 minutes, 31.1 seconds at the Nuttycombe Invitational. Lenn will look to make an impact in his debut Big Ten Championship appearance.
3. HISTORIC SUCCESS: Wisconsin leads all Big Ten teams with 55 team championship victories and 39 individual champions. 2024 was the last time the Cardinal and White walked away with the team title, with Bob Liking taking the crown for the fourth-straight year in 22:47.3.
4. LAST TIME OUT: The Badgers placed ninth at the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational presented by Under Armour on Oct. 3, in a field that included 21 of the top 30 USTFCCCA-ranked teams. Archie Noakes and Grady Lenn were Wisconsin's top runners, each crossing the line in 23:31.1. Wisconsin finished as the top Big Ten team.
5. UP NEXT: Wisconsin will continue its postseason with the NCAA Great Lakes Regional on Nov. 13, in East Lansing, Michigan. If the Badgers finish as a top-two team, they automatically advance to the NCAA Cross Country Championship, Nov. 21, in Terre Haute, Indiana.
