Cunningham earns Big Ten honors after Big Ten Preview victory

MADISON, Wis. – Wisconsin women’s cross country senior Lindsay Cunningham was named the Big Ten Women’s Cross Country Athlete of the Week after earning an individual championship at the Big Ten Preview in Urbana-Champaign, Illinois his past week. 

The Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, native is the second runner in the women’s program to garner a conference award this season, joining true freshman Nora Gremban, who was named the first-ever Big Ten Women’s Cross Country Freshman of the Week in the week prior. 

Cunningham pulled away from the competition at the Orange and Blue Golf Course, running her 6K in 19 minutes, 54.4 seconds, good for first place by 17 seconds. The Winona State transfer led Wisconsin to a second-place finish as a team in her first race as a Badger, their second in as many meets. 

Before her time with UW, Cunningham was the individual champion in the 2023 NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships with a time of 19:30.1. The senior dominated the course — defeating her next opponent by 15 seconds to complete her tenure as a Warrior. 

Cunningham and the Badgers will look to maintain their momentum on Friday, Sept. 27, as they host the annual Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational Presented by Under Armour. The first race is set to get underway at 11:00 a.m. CT from Thomas Zimmer Championship Cross Country Course.