UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Rutgers men's and women's cross country traveled to Pennsylvania for the 2021 Big Ten Championships on Friday, Oct. 29. The race was held on the PSU Cross Country Course as the men's team collected 383 points (12th place) and the women's squad compiled 357 points (13th place) and a top-50 individual finisher.
 
"The men and women fought the elements with wind, cold rain and a muddy course," said head coach Matthew Jelley. "Despite the conditions, they ran tough races at the Big Ten Championships.
 
"Pat ran a tough race and moved up over a dozen spots over the last few miles. The men as a whole competed hard to the end and showed a lot of fight. Olympia led the way for the women, she used her experience to claim the second highest individual finish since joining the Big Ten."
 
Olympia Martin paced the Scarlet Knights on the women's side as she finished 45th overall in a field of 123 runners. She ran a time of 21:48.0 to give Rutgers its first points. Alex Carlson finished 54th in 21:54.6, while Michelle Coyotl-Varela took 93rd in 22:49.6. Also scoring for RU was Kiera Nealon who clocked a time of 23:08.3 in 98th, followed by Isabella Godish in 109th with a time of 23:36.5. Martin posted the second-highest individual finish for Rutgers since joining the Big Ten, while Carlson earned the third-best finish at the conference meet. The team finish also tied for the second-best on the women's side for RU.
 
Patrick Walsh was the top runner on the men's side as he ran a time of 26:57.0 to finish 79th overall. Billy Hill placed 90th with a time of 27:21.9, followed by Ryan Mitchell in 96th (27:43.2), Will Berger in 99th (27:57.0) and Chris Hill in 100th (27:59.2).
 
NEXT UP
The Scarlet Knights will advance to the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional on Friday, Nov. 12 on the campus of Lehigh in Bethlehem, Pa. The team previously ran at the Goodman Campus Course twice in 2021, including the season opener Lehigh Invitational and Paul Short Run.
 
RUTGERS RESULTS
Women's 6k
45. Olympia Martin – 21:48.0
54. Alex Carlson – 21:54.6
93. Michelle Coyotl-Varela – 22:49.6
98. Kiera Nealon – 23:08.3
109. Isabella Godish – 23:36.5
 
Men's 5.2 Mile
79. Patrick Walsh – 26:57.0
90. Billy Hill – 27:21.9
96. Ryan Mitchell – 27:43.2
99. Will Berger – 27:57.0
100. Christopher Hill – 27:59.2
 
OVERALL TEAM RESULTS
Men's Team Finish
1. Wisconsin                    27
2. Michigan                      79
3. Minnesota                   83
4. Indiana                         119
5. Michigan State            134
6. Illinois                           170
7. Purdue                          173
8. Penn State                    191
9. Nebraska                      274
10. Ohio State                  275
11. Iowa                            295
12. Rutgers                       383
 
Women's Team Finish
1. Minnesota                   72
2. Wisconsin                    78
3. Michigan State            82
4. Michigan                      85
5. Indiana                         152
6. Illinois                           172
7. Northwestern             180
8. Ohio State                    187
9. Purdue                          235
10. Penn State                 269
11. Nebraska                   289
12. Iowa                            300
13. Rutgers                       357
14. Maryland                   421