Landon Peacock will lead the Badgers, who are seeking an 11th-straight
Big Ten title. Courtesy of Wisconsin Athletics Communication
There are few teams in the country that dominate their sport like the Wisconsin Badger men's cross country team. Since 1977, the Badgers have won 27 Big Ten titles, 24 regional titles and four national championships with the last one coming in 2005.
Included in that run is a current Big Ten championship winning streak of 10 years that an experienced group of runners looks to take to 11 this season. Wisconsin will open its season Friday when the Badgers host the UW Cross Country Classic.
Wisconsin returns four runners off last year's squad that was fourth overall at the National Championships.
Leading the group is junior Landon Peacock. Peacock was Wisconsin's top runner in all four of the races he competed in, including taking second at the conference meet, fourth at the regional meet and 21st overall at the national meet.
For his strong performance in 2008, he was named as an All-American and earned a spot on the first-team all Big Ten squad.
Two seniors return off the national squad in Craig Miller and Ryan Gasper. Miller was the fourth Badger in at the NCAA meet, taking 71st overall. He took 14th overall at last year's Big Ten meet and improved to seventh overall at the regional meet. For his performance that regional contest, Miller was named all-region for the second time in his career. He also earned the honor in 2006 as a freshman.
Gasper finished 180th at the national meet last year and competed in five races for Wisconsin. His best finish came at the season opening Northern Illinois meet where he tied for first place along with another Badger runner.
Rounding out those returning from the national team is junior Jack Bolas. Bolas earned all Big Ten honors by taking 7th overall at the conference meet. He did not compete at the regional meet but came back to take 77th overall at the national level.
Going into last yearís national meet, Wisconsin was ranked sixth overall and improved on that mark by taking fourth. The Badgers should be ranked in the top 10 when the Cross Country Coaches Association releases their rankings Sept. 16.
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