University of Minnesota Athletics
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/ Men's Cross Country
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/ Women's Track & Field
Photo by: Christopher Mitchell
Weimer, Gerres Tabbed as Big Ten Runners to Watch
8/19/2026 1:55:00 PM | Men's Cross Country, Men's Track & Field, Women's Cross Country, Women's Track & Field
MINNEAPOLIS – University of Minnesota fifth year Ali Weimer and senior Emmett Gerres have been named the cross country team's Runners to Watch by the Big Ten, the conference office announced on August 19.
Weimer, a Saint Michael, Minn. native, returns as one of the best distance runners in program history. The 2024 Big Ten Cross Country Championships bronze medalist returns to the cross country course after redshirt season in 2025. Weimer holds Minnesota's school record at the 6K distance in cross country with her 19:25.0 at the Big Ten Cross Country Championships in 2024. Weimer also holds the fifth-fastest NCAA Cross Country Championships performance in school history, which also came in 2024, and her time of 19:48.85 at the NCAA Midwest Regional that same season is the fastest regional time in program history.
Out of Belle Plaine, Minn., Gerres finished inside Minnesota's top five four different times during the 2025 cross country season, including lifetime bests at the NCAA Midwest Regional 10K (31:25.4) and at the Pre-NCAA meet in Columbia, Mo., where he clocked an 8K time of 24:05.9. Gerres' strong end to the cross country season helped propel him into an All-American season on the track during the outdoor season. In the steeplechase Gerres qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championships for the first time and finished as a Second Team All-American with a 15th-place finish in a time of 8:33.15. Gerres' lifetime best in the steeplechase is 8:32.56, a time he clocked at the Raleigh Relays in March of 2026.
With the NCAA cross country season set to kick off on September 4 for Minnesota, the Big Ten listed two runners from each member institution as Runners to Watch for the 2026 campaign. The 2026 cross country season will be highlighted by the Big Ten Championships in Madison, Wis., along with the NCAA Midwest Regional in Ames, Iowa, and the NCAA Cross Country Championships in Terre Haute, Ind.
For more information on the Gophers, continue to check back with GopherSports.com. Keep up with the University of Minnesota cross country and track and field team on X, Instagram (@GopherCCTF) and on Facebook, so you do not miss any content during the season.
Weimer, a Saint Michael, Minn. native, returns as one of the best distance runners in program history. The 2024 Big Ten Cross Country Championships bronze medalist returns to the cross country course after redshirt season in 2025. Weimer holds Minnesota's school record at the 6K distance in cross country with her 19:25.0 at the Big Ten Cross Country Championships in 2024. Weimer also holds the fifth-fastest NCAA Cross Country Championships performance in school history, which also came in 2024, and her time of 19:48.85 at the NCAA Midwest Regional that same season is the fastest regional time in program history.
Out of Belle Plaine, Minn., Gerres finished inside Minnesota's top five four different times during the 2025 cross country season, including lifetime bests at the NCAA Midwest Regional 10K (31:25.4) and at the Pre-NCAA meet in Columbia, Mo., where he clocked an 8K time of 24:05.9. Gerres' strong end to the cross country season helped propel him into an All-American season on the track during the outdoor season. In the steeplechase Gerres qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championships for the first time and finished as a Second Team All-American with a 15th-place finish in a time of 8:33.15. Gerres' lifetime best in the steeplechase is 8:32.56, a time he clocked at the Raleigh Relays in March of 2026.
With the NCAA cross country season set to kick off on September 4 for Minnesota, the Big Ten listed two runners from each member institution as Runners to Watch for the 2026 campaign. The 2026 cross country season will be highlighted by the Big Ten Championships in Madison, Wis., along with the NCAA Midwest Regional in Ames, Iowa, and the NCAA Cross Country Championships in Terre Haute, Ind.
For more information on the Gophers, continue to check back with GopherSports.com. Keep up with the University of Minnesota cross country and track and field team on X, Instagram (@GopherCCTF) and on Facebook, so you do not miss any content during the season.
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