(UW ATHLETICS) – For the 63rd time in school history, the Wisconsin men’s cross country team will compete at the NCAA championships as UW earned an at-large bid to the 2025 NCAA Cross Country Championships on Saturday.
The Badgers earned one of 12 at-large bids for this year’s championships in Columbia, Missouri next Saturday. It marks the eighth-straight year UW will race at the national meet.
The at-large selection comes on the heels of a strong regional performance in Evansville, where the Badgers scored 99 points to secure third place.
The Badgers finished fourth last year at the 2024 NCAA Cross Country Championships at the Zimmer Championship Course thanks to an All-American run by former Badger standout Bob Liking.
Wisconsin is one of 15 schools in the country to have both their men’s and women’s teams qualify for the NCAA championships.
WOMEN
The Wisconsin women’s cross country team secured its ticket to the NCAA Championship thanks to a second-place finish at the 2025 NCAA Great Lakes Regional on Friday at Angels Mounds in Evansville, Indiana.
UW had a team score of 95 points at the regional meet that featured 35 teams from across the Great Lakes region. Notre Dame won the team title with 22 points thanks to a 1-2 individual finish.
Leané Willemse was the first Badger to cross the line in the 6K race, finishing in 11th with a time of 20 minutes, and 18.23 seconds.
Kylie Finger led the Badgers until the 5.12K mark, when Willemse passed her to finish in 11th and Finger placed in 18th running her personal best, covering the 6K course in 20:29.23.
Nora Gremban and Sara Mlodik also put up their personal bests. Gremban finished in third for Wisconsin and 20th overall, with a time of 20:29.62. Mlodik finished fourth for Wisconsin and 23rd overall, running the 6K course in 20:31.20.
Rounding out the scoring for UW was Mya Bunke who finished the race in 20:41.83.
Willemse, Finger, Gremban and Mlodik all earned all-region honors thanks to their top-25 finishes at the regional championships.
This is the Badgers fifth-straight year making it to the NCAA meet.Wisconsin finished 22nd last year at nationals and in 2023. Wisconsin will make its 35th appearance at the NCAA championships.
Up Next: The Badgers will travel to Columbia, Missouri for the 2025 NCAA Cross Country Championships on Saturday, Nov. 22. The 6K is scheduled to start at 9:30 a.m. CT at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course and the meet will air live on ESPNU.
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