The Big Ten Cross Country Championships were held at The Ohio State University Golf Course Sunday. The Women's 6,000-meter race consisted of two bigger loops around the golf course and the Men's 8,000-meter race was three smaller loops. An estimated crowd of nearly 2,000 was on hand to watch some of the top college runners in the Nation on a perfect fall day.

A large pack held together for the first mile before the lead pack would become five runners as they hit the 3,000-meter mark. Iowa senior Diane Nukuri pulled away in the final mile to win with a 19:37 clocking, improving from her 2006 fifteenth place finish. Michigan's State's junior Nicole Bush(19:49) moved up thirteen spots from last year to take home runner up honors. Illinois' sophomore and former Mason standout Angela Bizzarri (19:59) improved two spots from 2006 to take home the bronze. Iowa's senior Meghan Armstrong (20:08) and Wisconsin's sophomore Hanna Grinaker (20:11) finished next. Penn State's sophomore and former Mantua Crestwood's standout Bridget Franek (20:16) improved eleven spots from last year to place sixth. Michigan's junior Nicole Edwards (20:17), Michigan State's junior Allisa McKaif (20:19), Iowa's sophomore Jolly Burke (20:20) and Minnesota's senior Ladia Albertson-Junkans (20:21) rounded out the top ten.

Minnesota on the strength of their fifth place runner edged Michigan State by one point to win with 72 points. Last year winner Michigan was third with 90 points and Illinois improve a spot from 2006 to finish fourth with 95 points.

A pack of fifteen plus runners toured the first of three loops together in the men's race, a pack of ten still were tightly bunch as the men completed their second loop. Wisconsin's junior Matt Withrow who placed ninth in 2006 overtook Minnesota's freshman Hassan Mead in the final four hundred meter to win by three second with his 23:44 clocking. Illinois's senior Trent Hoerr who placed sixth fifth last year ran to the bronze with a 23:49. Last year's winner Minnesota's Chris Rombough (23:45) took home fourth. Wisconsin's junior Stuart Eagon (23:55) who placed second last year finish fifth. Ohio State University's junior and former Middletown's standout Jeff See placed sixth in 23:56 nipping Michigan's freshman Craig Forys by less than a second. Wisconsin's sophomore Andrew Lacy (23:58), freshman Landon Peacock (24:01) and sophomore Brandon Bethke (24:03) rounded out the top ten. Ohio State's senior and former Reynoldsburg standout John Ealy (24:08) finished next.

Last year's NCAA's runner up Wisconsin easily won their ninth consecutive Big Ten Cross Country Championship with 33 points as five of their runners finished in the top ten. Minnesota took home runner up team honors with 65 points. Ohio State improved four spots from 2006 to take home third on their home course. Indiana placed fourth with 102 points.

Check back on RUNOHIO Regional News for race pictures: www.runohio.com

Big Ten Network cross country coverage

Big Ten Network recap