Oregon Cross Country Clinches 12th Big Ten Title Since 2024
Coach Jerry Schumacher receives his 10th conference honor as the Ducks prepare for the NCAA West Regionals.
By Thabo Hoffmann ·
Jerry Schumacher was named the 2026 Big Ten Cross Country Coach of the Year on Wednesday. This marks his 10th conference award at Oregon, eight of which came within the Big Ten. The honor recognizes the program's dominance since joining the conference in 2024.
The Ducks won their second straight team title at the Big Ten Championships last Friday. Oregon has captured 12 of the 14 available Big Ten team titles across cross country, indoor track, and outdoor track during that period. The men's team secured the victory with depth, while the women's squad set new benchmarks.
Senior Simeon Birnbaum took the individual conference title in the men's race. Evan Jenkins placed third and Aiden Smith finished fourth. All three runners, along with Connor Burns, Benjamin Balazs, and Tayson Echohawk, earned first-team league honors. Their collective scoring was decisive in the team outcome.
Diana Cherotich defended her Big Ten individual title in the women's 6K event. The sophomore also set a new course record and meet record time. The women's team placed in three of the top four spots, demonstrating consistent performance across the lineup.
Both the men's and women's teams will travel to Sacramento, California, next week for the NCAA West Region Championships. The top two teams from that region earn an automatic berth in the NCAA Championships. The regional event serves as the final hurdle before the national title race.
