Bainbridge, Jepchumba Earn All-Big Ten Honors

VERONA, Wis. – Ali Bainbridge and Marion Jepchumba earned All-Big Ten honors, leading the Nebraska Cross Country teams at the 2026 Big Ten Championships on Friday morning.

Bainbridge, a senior from Sioux Falls, S.D., finished seventh in the 6k race in 20:02.1 to earn First-Team All-Big Ten honors. It is the best finish for a Nebraska women’s runner in a conference championship since Erika Freyhof placed sixth at the 2020 Big Ten Championship.

Jepchumba crossed the line in 20:13.2 to finish 15th to earn All-Freshman and Second-Team All-Big Ten honors. Bainbridge and Jepchumba’s top-15 finishes mark the first pair of Nebraska teammates to place in the top 15 at a conference championship since the 2008 Big 12 Championship.

As a team, the Husker women finished 10th of 18 teams with 265 points. Oregon won its third consecutive Big Ten Championship, compiling three of the top four runners. Diana Cherotich captured the individual title for the second consecutive year, setting a course record with a time of 18:56.1.

Rico Leijenaar led the Husker men in the 8k with a 24th-place finish at 23:39.7. Gabe Hinrichs covered the course in 24:25.4 to place 71st, followed by freshman David Krier and junior Patrick Flowers in 91st and 104th, respectively.

As a team, the Nebraska men finished in 14th of 15 teams with a score of 361.  Oregon dominated the field, as all seven runners finished in the top 13.

Women’s Results (6k)
7. Ali Bainbridge (20:02.1)
15. Marion Jepchumba (20:13.2)
70. Alea Hardie (21:03.7)
98. Erin Moore (21:33.4)
107. Sydney Drevlow (21:41.5)
109. Taya Fettig (21:49.5)
111. Piper Petersen (21:50.4)
147. Jaylee Wingate (23:37.6)

Men’s Results (8k)
24. Rico Leijenaar (23:39.7)
71. Gabe Hinrichs (24:25.4)
91. David Krier (24:52.4)
104. Patrick Flowers (25:08.5)
108. Sam Kirchner (25:18.1)
113. Max Myers (25:23.9)
116. Joe Majerus (25:26.8)
122. Josiah Bitker (25:59.5)
DNF. Shadrack Chilia