Five Things To Know: UW starts season with Badger Opener

MADISON, Wis – The Wisconsin men’s cross country team opens its season with a home meet, the Badger Open, at the Zimmer Championship Cross Country Course on Thursday.

The women will compete in a 5K at 5:30 p.m. with a men’s 6K to follow at 6 p.m. Admission is free. 

Fans can follow the action @BadgerTrackXC on Twitter and Instagram. Live results will be available through PTTiming.

1. LAST YEAR IN REVIEW: The men’s cross country team enjoyed a banner 2021 season, winning its season opener at the Badger Classic, the Live in Lou Classic, and claimed its 52nd Big Ten conference title at the 2021 Big Ten Cross Country Championship. The team had a fourth-place finish at the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational Presented by Under Armour, came in second at the NCAA Regionals, and finished off the season in 11^th place at the NCAA Championships.

2. IN THE RANKS: According to the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, the Badgers are ranked first in the Great Lakes Regional Rankings, ahead of rival Notre Dame and sixth according to the USTFCCCA National Coaches’ Poll. UW is the highest ranked Big Ten Conference team in both rankings. 

 

3. ABOUT THE SLATE: The season opens begins with the Badger Open, then the Roy Griak Invitational in Minneapolis on Sept. 23, then head to Chicago for the Loyola Lakefront Invitational at the end of September. The Badgers will host the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational on Oct. 14 at the Zimmer Championship Course in Madison. UW wraps up the regular season with the Illinois Open on Oct. 21 before heading to Ann Arbor, Michigan for the 2022 Big Ten Cross Country Championships. NCAA action starts with the NCAA Great Lakes Regional in Terre Haute, Indiana, on Nov. 11 before the NCAA Championships in Stillwater, Oklahoma, on Nov. 19. 

4. BACK FOR THE BADGERS: Fans should recognize a slew of familiar faves at the Badger Open including senior Shuaib Aljabaly, Britain native Charlie Wheeler, reigning Big Ten champion Bob Liking, Jackson Sharp, and Evan Bishop to just name a few.

5. UP NEXT: UW will head north for its next competition, the Roy Griak Invitational, on Sept. 23 at the Les Bolstad Course in Minneapolis.