No. 23 Northwestern Opens Postseason Friday At Big Ten Championships

EVANSTON, Ill. (October 29, 2026) – Following the completion of its four-meet regular-season slate, No. 23 Northwestern cross country begins its postseason journey on Friday morning at the Big Ten Conference Championships in Madison, Wis.

Action in the women’s 6k race is slated to begin at 10:35 a.m. CT at the University of Wisconsin’s Thomas Zimmer Championship Cross Country Course.  Big Ten Network will provide live coverage of the full meet.  Links to watch and follow live results can be accessed above.

Currently slotted at No. 23 in the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) National Coaches’ Poll, Northwestern will be joined by four fellow nationally ranked foes in Friday’s field, a quartet that includes No. 15 Oregon, No. 25 Minnesota, No. 26 Penn State, and No. 29 Washington.

Piloted by eighth-year head coach Jill Miller, the ‘Cats are no strangers to Wisconsin’s home course, with Friday set to mark Northwestern’s third appearance in Wisconsin’s state capital this season.  In their most recent action, Miller’s crew placed 11^th overall at the Nuttycombe Invitational on October 9, defeating six ranked opponents as part of a loaded field.  Skye Ellis led the way on the individual front, running 20:14.7 to finish 46^th.

The Wildcats enjoyed a banner showing at last season’s conference meet where, led by a trio of All-Big Ten honorees, Northwestern placed third overall, a showing that marked the program’s top finish at the Big Ten Championships since 1986.

Following the Big Ten Conference Championships, Northwestern will set its sights on Ames, Iowa, where it will compete at the NCAA Midwest Regional on Friday, November 13.