Northwestern was led at the Thomas Zimmer Championship Cross Country Course by a trio of All-Big Ten Conference honorees in Ava Criniti, Katie Clute, and Skye Ellis.
Now a two-time All-Big Ten selection for her career, Criniti charged to First Team distinction, posting a time of 20:08.6 to place eighth overall. The Lexington, Mass. native’s showing marks the top individual Big Ten finish by a Wildcat since Katherine Hessler (5th) in 2023.
Clute dazzled in her first Big Ten Championships appearance as a Wildcat. Out of Olmstead Township, Ohio, Clute was hot on Criniti’s heels, finishing 10th at 20:09.1 to join her as a First Team honoree. This marks the first time in program history that Northwestern has had multiple First Team All-Big Ten Conference members in the same season.
Ellis rounded out Northwestern’s contingent of All-Big Ten honorees. The Jan Juc, Australia native rolled to the top Big Ten Championships finish of her career, clocking in at 20:13.0 to take 13th and secure Second Team All-Big Ten accolades.
The pairing of Jackie Holman and Cary Drake closed out the Wildcats’ top five in Wisconsin’s state capital. Holman placed 27th after registering a time of 20:29.6, while Drake took well over 30 seconds off her time from last season’s conference meet, racing across in 20:36.9 to claim 32nd.
