There are few programs as dominant in any sport than the Wisconsin Badgers men’s cross country program. Coming in to the season UW held 46 Big Ten cross country titles, but saw its record 14-year streak broken last year.
No doubt the motivation was there to get back on top, and that’s exactly what the Badgers did at the 100th Big Ten cross country championships. No. 6-ranked Wisconsin rode a 1-2 individual finish to the 2014 championship, making it the 47th Big Ten title for the Badger program.
Sophomore Malachy Schrobilgen took home the individual title and senior Michel Van Voorhis finished right behind him.
“Just before the race today, we got in the huddle and told the guys to look down at the uniform,” UW head coach Mick Byrne said. “We told them that they have to understand that the name on the uniform means a lot more than us, it represents all the years and traditions of the team.
“When you wear the Badger jersey, it means something more.”
The Badgers finished with a team score of 47 points to earn their 47th Big Ten team title, and their 15th in the past 16 years. Since the conference meet moved to an 8-kilometer race in 1985, the Badgers have won 26 of the league’s 30 championships.
Schrobilgen knows the feeling of individual gold, as he repeated as individual champion with a time of 23 minutes, 34.96 seconds. He became the fifth Badger to win multiple Big Ten titles, joining Don German (1947-48), Tim Hacker (1981, 84-85), Matt Downin (1998-99) Simon Bairu (2003-05).
“This is a dream come true,” Schrobilgen said about helping the Badgers reclaim the team title. “To be able to work this hard for something that we waited so long for, to see everything materialize in front of you while you’re running is awesome. It is hard to put into words how it feels.”
UW had very little competition for the team title, as No. 14-ranked Michigan came in second with 72 team points. Penn State (92 points), Indiana (95 points) and Michigan State (117 points) rounded out the top five in the conference meet.
Next up for the Badgers is the road to a potential NCAA championship. UW hosts the Wisconsin open next weekend in preparation for hosting the NCAA Great Lakes regional on Nov. 14.
(Photo courtesy UWBadgers.com)
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