CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – It was a historic day for the Wisconsin men’s cross country program on Friday at the Orange and Blue Golf Course as a senior Bob loves became the first Badger in school history to win four consecutive Big Ten individual titles while leading UW to its seventh straight Big Ten Championship.

Liking crossed the finish line in 22 minutes, 47.3 seconds, nearly 8 seconds ahead of second place and became only the fourth men’s student-athlete to win four Big Ten men’s cross country titles and the second to win four row won.

Bob loves has its FOURTH #B1GXC Men’s Championship… AND a Championship Record Time!

📺: @BigTenNetwork X @BadgerTrackXC pic.twitter.com/9mD8VCFHsG

— Big Ten Conference (@bigten) November 1, 2024

The redshirt freshman duo of Christiaan de Vaal And Matan Ivri achieved top-10 finishes as De Vaal finished seventh in 22:58.9, while Ivri was 10th in 22:59.7.

Sophomore Johnny Livingstone finished 13th in 23:02.5 and Rowen Ellenberg closed out the scoring for UW, crossing the line in 23:06.5 to place 15th.

Olympian 2024 Adam Spencer came 22nd in 23:11.9 and Micah Wilson finished 25th in 23:15.0.

Wisconsin finished with a score of 46, followed by Washington and Oregon with 58 points each.

Notes to know

• Liking joins Illinois legend Craig Virgin as the only Big Ten men’s student-athletes to win four consecutive cross country titles, as Virgin won titles in 1973, 1974, 1975 and 1976. Indiana’s Bob Kennedy (1988 , 1989, 1990 and 1992) and Michigan’s Kevin Sullivan (1993, 1994, 1995 and 1997) also won four Big Ten men’s titles, but not in consecutive years.
• Liking also set a Big Ten Conference record with his time of 22:47.3, breaking the previous 8K record set by Purdue’s Matt McClintock of 23:12 from 2015.
• Mick Byrne earned his 14th Big Ten men’s conference title at the helm of the Badger program.
• Liken, de Vaal and Ivri earned first-team All-Big Ten honors, while Livingstone and Ellenberg collected second-team conference honors. Additionally, de Vaal and Ivri were named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team.

Straight from the course
Mick ByrneUW Director of Track and Field and Cross Country
On Wisconsin winning its 55th conference title:
“Right now it’s fantastic. Obviously we had a huge target on our own back, with the addition of the West Coast schools. The unknown, we weren’t sure what Oregon had, but we expected them to come out would come and give it a great race, same with Washington. Those last 2K were tough. I’m really proud of the boys, all the schools threw everything at us.

On Bob loves winning his fourth Big Ten title:

“About 90 minutes before the race, Craig Virgin stuck his head in our tent and wished him well. When you look at the names that have done it, Kevin Sullivan from Michigan, Bob Kennedy from Indiana, it just means a lot to be mentioned in that stratosphere.”

Senior Bob loves

On winning four consecutive Big Ten titles:

“I’m very honored to be added to that list. I was pretty nervous about this one because I didn’t want to blow up, I wanted to get three and not the fourth. I knew my guys had my back and if I blew up, they were going to get me I’m so excited, I’m so excited to see this group grow.”

On running alone at the end of the race:

“With the new additions there are some world class mileers in the field. My worst nightmare was that it would come to a rush and I wouldn’t be able to do it. I just wanted to go out there and if I lost, I lost, but I knew I was going to put it all down. It was a good day.”

On Wisconsin’s seven straight team titles:

“All the teammates I’ve been able to compete with, it shows consistency. I haven’t been part of a team that has lost a Big Ten title. It’s great, it’s always a good feeling and I love it so much. “

Next:

The postseason continues with the NCAA Great Lakes Regional on Friday, November 15 in Norton, Ohio. The Badgers last won the region in 2022 and hold 31 regional titles. The UW men will race at 11 a.m. CT as they 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

Friday November 1, 2024

Orange and blue golf course

8K race

Championship race results:

1. Wisconsin, 46

2. Washington, 58

Oregon, 58

4. Michigan State, 125

5. Michigan, 158

6. Indiana, 175

7.Purdue, 203

8. Penn State, 250

9. Illinois, 252

10. Ohio State, 253

11. Minnesota, 301

12.UCLA, 367

13. Iowa, 370

14. Nebraska, 410

15. Rutgers, 446

Wisconsin individual results:

1. Bob loves22:47.3

7. Christiaan de Vaal22:58.9

10. Matan Ivri22:59.7

13. Johnny Livingstone23:02.5

15. Rowen Ellenberg23:06.5

22. Adam Spencer23:11.9

25. Micah Wilson23:15.0

68. Josh Truchon, 23:57.2

91. Bryce Stachewicz24:14.8

101. Pierce Seigne24:24.4

109. Liam Newhart24:29.4