University of Minnesota Athletics

11/13/2026 4:21:00 PM | Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country
AMES, Iowa – Highlighted by four All-Region honorees, the University of Minnesota cross country program recorded a fourth-place men's finish and fifth-place women's finish at the 2026 NCAA Midwest Regional in Ames, Iowa, on Friday as both squads now await tomorrow's at-large bid announcement for the NCAA Championships. The Gophers joined Oklahoma State as the lone programs with top-five team finishes in both races.
On the men's side, Aidan Jones and Emmett Gerres earned All-Region honors by placing inside the top 25. Jones led the Gophers with a 19th-place finish in 29:17.0, while Gerres crossed the line 24th in 29:25.0. Nolan Sutter was the third Minnesota runner to finish, placing 32nd overall in 29:40.2. Sam Scott (39th, 29:53.5) and Sal Wirth (46th, 29:58.8) rounded out the scoring five for the Maroon and Gold, while Aloysius Franzen (47th, 29:59.9) and Shane Griepentrog (65th, 30:19.2) completed the seven-runner Gopher lineup.
For the women, Ali Weimer and Isabelle Schmitz also secured All-Region recognition with top-25 performances. Weimer paced the Gophers in 15th place with a 6k time of 19:48.5, followed closely by Schmitz in 16th at 19:50.3. Freshman Jazleen Malherek-Osorio finished third on the squad in 40th overall (20:29.6), while Taylor Isabel placed 41st (20:31.5) and Zoie Dundon took 43rd (20:33.6) to round out the top five. Norah Hushagen (54th, 20:41.1) and Izzy Roemer (66th, 20:47.0) rounded out Minnesota's seven competitors.
Oklahoma State claimed the men's team title with 57 points ahead of runner-up Iowa State (61), while the Cowboys' Brian Musau won the individual 10k race in 28:47.1. In the women's 6k, host Iowa State captured the team crown with 72 points over Oklahoma State (91), while Oklahoma State's Billah Jepkirui took individual medalist honors in 19:18.9.
MEN'S TEAM STANDINGS
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Oklahoma State (57)
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Iowa State (61)
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Wichita State (132)
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Minnesota (155)
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Missouri (159)
WOMEN'S TEAM STANDINGS
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Iowa State (72)
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Oklahoma State (91)
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Northwestern (113)
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Missouri (152)
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Minnesota (155)
GOPHER MEN'S RESULTS 4th of 28 Teams (155 points)
24. Emmett Gerres (29:25.0)
32. Nolan Sutter (29:40.2)
39. Sam Scott (29:53.5)
46. Sal Wirth (29:58.8)
47. Aloysius Franzen (29:59.9)
65. Shane Griepentrog (30:19.2)
GOPHER WOMEN'S RESULTS 5th of 35 Teams (155 points)
16. Isabelle Schmitz (19:50.3)
40. Jazleen Malherek-Osorio (20:29.6)
41. Taylor Isabel (20:31.5)
43. Zoie Dundon (20:33.6)
53. Norah Hushagen (20:41.1)
54. Izzy Roemer (20:47.0)
UP NEXT While the top two finishing teams in each race earned automatic bids to the national meet, at-large bid selections for the 2026 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships will be announced tomorrow, Saturday, Nov. 14.



















