University of Minnesota Athletics
Friday, October 30
Madison, WI
10:35 AM
University of Minnesota
vs
Big Ten Cross Country Championships
Photo by: © /University of Minnesota
10/28/2026 4:00:00 PM | Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country
The #21/25 Golden Gopher Cross Country team begins the postseason on Friday at the Big Ten Championships hosted by the University of Wisconsin. The women's 6K race will begin at 10:35 AM followed by the men's 8K race at 11:35 AM with live coverage on BTN.
ABOUT BIG TENS
The 2026 Big Ten Cross Country Championships will be held at the Thomas Zimmer Championship Cross Country Course in Madison, Wis., on Friday, October 30, with all 18 Big Ten teams in attendance. All 18 teams will compete in the women's race, while the men's race will feature 15 teams. Outside of the team championships, awards will be handed out to individuals who finish in the top 10 (First Team All-Big Ten) and between 11th and 20th (Second Team All-Big Ten). Placement on the All-Freshman Team will consist of the top five (5) freshman and redshirt freshman finishers for men's and women's.
This will be Minnesota's second trip to Madison in the past three weeks after competing at the Nuttycombe Invitational on October 9.
BIG TEN ROSTER
The Gopher men and women will each have 11 competitors in Friday's races.
Men
Jaedyn Chase (74th; 2025)
Aloysius Franzen (29th; 2025)
Emmett Gerres (59th; 2025)
Shane Griepentrog (76th; 2025)
Jace Haerter (Big Ten debut)
Aidan Jones (26th; 2025 | 48th; 2024)
Sam Scott (32nd; 2025)
Cameron Stocke (Big Ten debut)
Nolan Sutter (79th; 2025)
Will Weber (Big Ten debut)
Salvador Wirth (Big Ten debut)
Women
Zoie Dundon (57th; 2025 | 145th; 2024 | 97th; 2023)
Keira Friedrich (Big Ten debut)
Macy Hanson (Big Ten debut)
Norah Hushagen (61st; 2025)
Taylor Isabel (60th; 2025 | 100th; 2024)
Jazleen Malherek-Osorio (Big Ten debut)
Laura McClary (Big Ten debut)
Nadia Phillips (27th; 2025 | 86th; 2024)
Izzy Roemer (51st; 2025 | 40th; 2024 | 145th; 2023)
Isabelle Schmitz (23rd; 2025 | 42nd; 2024)
Ali Weimer (3rd; 2024 | 32nd; 2023 | 18th; 2022)
LISTEN: Coach Hopkins Previews the Meet
BIG TEN HISTORY
Both the men and women finished in seventh at the 2025 Big Ten Cross Country Championships in East Lansing, Mich. The Maroon and Gold's top individual finishers were Aidan Jones (26th, 24:04.2) and Isabelle Schmitz (23rd, 20:34.0).
Jones improved 22 spots from his freshman debut in 2024 to lead the men's team in 26th place. Earning Big Ten All-Freshman Team honors was Aloysius Franzen, who finished second among the Gophers and 29th overall in a time of 24:09.8.
Schmitz improved 19 spots from her freshman season on the women's side to finish 23rd overall in a time of 20:34.0. Behind Schmitz was Nadia Phillips' 20:38.5 to place 27th overall, an incredible 59 spots better than the previous season.
The men return four of its five scorers from 2025, while the women bring back all five scorers. Bolstering the Gopher chances on Friday is fifth-year Ali Weimer. The unanimous 2022 Big Ten Freshman of the Year placed third at Big Tens two years ago before taking a redshirt season.
Top Three B1G Finishes (Since 2006)
Men
2021: 3rd
2015: 3rd
2011: T-3rd
2010: 3rd
2009: 3rd
2008: 3rd
2007: 2nd
2006: 3rd
Women:
2021: 1st
2020: 2nd
2017: 2nd
2013: 3rd
2010: 3rd
2009: 3rd
2008: 1st
2007: 1st
2006: 3rd
GOPHERS IN THE POLLS
Minnesota and Oregon are the only two Big Ten teams with both men and women ranked in the top 25 of latest USTFCCA National Coaches Poll. The No. 21 Gopher men entered the national rankings three weeks ago for the first time since 2021. The Gopher women have been ranked all season and currently sit at No. 25.
Big Ten Men's Teams in National Rankings
6. Oregon
14. Wisconsin
21. Minnesota
22. Michigan State
29. Washington
Big Ten Women's Teams in National Rankings
15. Oregon
23. Northwestern
25. Minnesota
29. Washington
LAST TIME OUT
Led by Ali Weimer (24th) and Aidan Jones (49th), the Golden Gophers competed at the Nuttycombe Invitational in Madison, Wis., on Friday, Oct. 9. The 21st-ranked Gopher women placed 13th, while the men finished in 14th, ahead of seven ranked teams.
Weimer posted the eighth-fastest mark in school history at 19:46.9 and now owns six of the program's top nine 6K times. A year after placing 76th at the same event, Isabelle Schmitz was the second Gopher to cross the finish line in 48th place (20:16.4). Taylor Isabel was 92nd overall (20:44.9) while Zoie Dundon (20:59.6) and Izzy Roemer (21:08.3) rounded out the top five Minnesota runners.
Jones led the Maroon and Gold throughout the race to finish in 49th place with a time of 23:29.2. Two weeks after breaking the school's 8K record, senior Emmett Gerres followed Jones in 56th place (23:31.9). Junior Aloysius Franzen climbed 21 spots in the final 2K to finish 93rd (23:53.7). Sam Scott (23:55.5) and Nolan Sutter (24:00.9) rounded out Minnesota scorers.
UP NEXT
Following the Big Ten Championships, Minnesota will travel to Ames, Iowa for the NCAA Midwest Regional on Friday, November 13. The Gopher men are ranked second in the region behind Oklahoma State, while the women are ranked fifth.
ABOUT BIG TENS
The 2026 Big Ten Cross Country Championships will be held at the Thomas Zimmer Championship Cross Country Course in Madison, Wis., on Friday, October 30, with all 18 Big Ten teams in attendance. All 18 teams will compete in the women's race, while the men's race will feature 15 teams. Outside of the team championships, awards will be handed out to individuals who finish in the top 10 (First Team All-Big Ten) and between 11th and 20th (Second Team All-Big Ten). Placement on the All-Freshman Team will consist of the top five (5) freshman and redshirt freshman finishers for men's and women's.
This will be Minnesota's second trip to Madison in the past three weeks after competing at the Nuttycombe Invitational on October 9.
BIG TEN ROSTER
The Gopher men and women will each have 11 competitors in Friday's races.
Men
Jaedyn Chase (74th; 2025)
Aloysius Franzen (29th; 2025)
Emmett Gerres (59th; 2025)
Shane Griepentrog (76th; 2025)
Jace Haerter (Big Ten debut)
Aidan Jones (26th; 2025 | 48th; 2024)
Sam Scott (32nd; 2025)
Cameron Stocke (Big Ten debut)
Nolan Sutter (79th; 2025)
Will Weber (Big Ten debut)
Salvador Wirth (Big Ten debut)
Women
Zoie Dundon (57th; 2025 | 145th; 2024 | 97th; 2023)
Keira Friedrich (Big Ten debut)
Macy Hanson (Big Ten debut)
Norah Hushagen (61st; 2025)
Taylor Isabel (60th; 2025 | 100th; 2024)
Jazleen Malherek-Osorio (Big Ten debut)
Laura McClary (Big Ten debut)
Nadia Phillips (27th; 2025 | 86th; 2024)
Izzy Roemer (51st; 2025 | 40th; 2024 | 145th; 2023)
Isabelle Schmitz (23rd; 2025 | 42nd; 2024)
Ali Weimer (3rd; 2024 | 32nd; 2023 | 18th; 2022)
LISTEN: Coach Hopkins Previews the Meet
BIG TEN HISTORY
Both the men and women finished in seventh at the 2025 Big Ten Cross Country Championships in East Lansing, Mich. The Maroon and Gold's top individual finishers were Aidan Jones (26th, 24:04.2) and Isabelle Schmitz (23rd, 20:34.0).
Jones improved 22 spots from his freshman debut in 2024 to lead the men's team in 26th place. Earning Big Ten All-Freshman Team honors was Aloysius Franzen, who finished second among the Gophers and 29th overall in a time of 24:09.8.
Schmitz improved 19 spots from her freshman season on the women's side to finish 23rd overall in a time of 20:34.0. Behind Schmitz was Nadia Phillips' 20:38.5 to place 27th overall, an incredible 59 spots better than the previous season.
The men return four of its five scorers from 2025, while the women bring back all five scorers. Bolstering the Gopher chances on Friday is fifth-year Ali Weimer. The unanimous 2022 Big Ten Freshman of the Year placed third at Big Tens two years ago before taking a redshirt season.
Top Three B1G Finishes (Since 2006)
Men
2021: 3rd
2015: 3rd
2011: T-3rd
2010: 3rd
2009: 3rd
2008: 3rd
2007: 2nd
2006: 3rd
Women:
2021: 1st
2020: 2nd
2017: 2nd
2013: 3rd
2010: 3rd
2009: 3rd
2008: 1st
2007: 1st
2006: 3rd
GOPHERS IN THE POLLS
Minnesota and Oregon are the only two Big Ten teams with both men and women ranked in the top 25 of latest USTFCCA National Coaches Poll. The No. 21 Gopher men entered the national rankings three weeks ago for the first time since 2021. The Gopher women have been ranked all season and currently sit at No. 25.
Big Ten Men's Teams in National Rankings
6. Oregon
14. Wisconsin
21. Minnesota
22. Michigan State
29. Washington
Big Ten Women's Teams in National Rankings
15. Oregon
23. Northwestern
25. Minnesota
29. Washington
LAST TIME OUT
Led by Ali Weimer (24th) and Aidan Jones (49th), the Golden Gophers competed at the Nuttycombe Invitational in Madison, Wis., on Friday, Oct. 9. The 21st-ranked Gopher women placed 13th, while the men finished in 14th, ahead of seven ranked teams.
Weimer posted the eighth-fastest mark in school history at 19:46.9 and now owns six of the program's top nine 6K times. A year after placing 76th at the same event, Isabelle Schmitz was the second Gopher to cross the finish line in 48th place (20:16.4). Taylor Isabel was 92nd overall (20:44.9) while Zoie Dundon (20:59.6) and Izzy Roemer (21:08.3) rounded out the top five Minnesota runners.
Jones led the Maroon and Gold throughout the race to finish in 49th place with a time of 23:29.2. Two weeks after breaking the school's 8K record, senior Emmett Gerres followed Jones in 56th place (23:31.9). Junior Aloysius Franzen climbed 21 spots in the final 2K to finish 93rd (23:53.7). Sam Scott (23:55.5) and Nolan Sutter (24:00.9) rounded out Minnesota scorers.
UP NEXT
Following the Big Ten Championships, Minnesota will travel to Ames, Iowa for the NCAA Midwest Regional on Friday, November 13. The Gopher men are ranked second in the region behind Oklahoma State, while the women are ranked fifth.
Players Mentioned
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/ Men's Cross Country
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/ Men's Cross Country
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/ Men's Cross Country
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/ Men's Cross CountryDistance
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/ Men's Cross CountrySunday, October 25
Tuesday, September 15
Monday, September 29
Sunday, November 17