MADISON, Wis. - The Penn State women’s cross country team earned a third place overall finish while the men’s team tied for eighth at the Big Ten Championships Friday afternoon.
“What a great day at the Big Ten Championships for Penn State,” said head coach John Gondak. “The women had a great pack today with 17 seconds between one and five, to finish 3rd overall. Two points out of second sets us up well for the NCAA regional meet in two weeks. Fantastic races by Katie, Claire, Charlotte, and Nick to earn All-Big Ten Second Ten Honors.”
Women’s 6k Race
The Penn State women finished third with 92 points, ahead of No. 25 Minnesota and No. 29 Washington. The Nittany Lions finished just two points behind runner-up No. 23 Northwestern (90), while No. 15 Oregon claimed the team title with 35 points.
Graduate student Katie Dallas led the Nittany Lions with a personal-best time of 20:09.7 to finish 12th. Senior Claire Zubey also recorded a personal best, placing 16th in 20:16.2, while graduate student Charlotte Costich followed in 18th in 20:16.9.
First-years Vivian Kipruto and Fancy Chepkoech rounded out the Nittany Lions’ scoring five, finishing 21st in 20:21.3 and 25th in 20:26.7, respectively.
Sophomore Eva Kynaston finished 30th in a personal-best 20:34.3, followed by first-year Reese Miller in 34th with a personal-best 20:37.5. Graduate student Lea Hatcher placed 63rd in 21:01.2, while sophomore Caroline Tribett took 74th in 21:05.3.
For the second straight season, three Penn State women earned All-Big Ten honors, matching the second-most selections in program history. Graduate students Katie Dallas and Charlotte Costich and senior Claire Zubey each earned second-team recognition. Florence Caron ’25, Costich, and sophomore Ada Rand earned All-Big Ten honors last season, marking the program’s first trio of honorees since 2016.
PENN STATE WOMEN’S TOP SEVEN RESULTS (3rd – 92 points)
Place (Points) Runner Time
12 (12) Katie Dallas 20:09.7
16 (16) Claire Zubey 20:16.2
18 (18) Charlotte Costich 20:16.9
21 (21) Vivian Kipruto 20:21.3
25 (25) Fancy Chepkoech 20:26.7
30 Eva Kynaston 20:34.3
34 Reese Miller 21:04.6
Men’s 6k Race
For the third straight season, the men’s team earned an eighth place finish, tying Illinois with 271 points.
Senior Nick Sloff led Penn State with an 18th-place finish in 23:32.8 to earn second-team All-Big Ten honors. Graduate student Ryan Watson followed in 42nd with a time of 24:00.9, while sophomore Michael Braun placed 67th with a personal-best time of 24:21.3. Sophomore Isaac Oppermann finished 75th in a personal-best 24:34.1, and first-year Matthew Gosling rounded out the Nittany Lions’ scoring five in 90th with a personal-best time of 24:51.3.
First-year Thomas Rae finished 95th with a new personal best of 24:57.2 and sophomore Adam Kingston finished 103rd in 25:06.6. Senior Logan Strawser placed 114th in 25:25.0, while graduate student Caiden Leen took 118th in 25:36.4.
PENN STATE MEN’S TOP SEVEN RESULTS (8th – 271 points)
Place (Points) Runner Time
18 (18) Nick Sloff 22:32.8
42 (41) Ryan Watson 24:00.9
67 (61) Michael Braun 24:21.3
75 (69) Isaac Oppermann 24:34.1
90 (82) Matthew Gosling 24:51.3
95 Thomas Rae 24:57.2
103 Adam Kingston 25:06.6
UP NEXT:
The Nittany Lions take a week off before returning to action at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regionals in Bethlehem, Pa., on Friday, Nov. 13, at noon.
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