Since its inception, the Nuttycombe Invitational has become one of the most prestigious meets in collegiate cross country. This past Friday, the 2025 edition returned to the familiar hills of Wisconsin’s Thomas Zimmer Championship course, bridging together a deep, fast and fiercely competitive field.
With under five weeks remaining until the NCAA national championship, this meet serves as a critical mid-season benchmark for programs across the country.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison will host over 30 nationally-ranked men’s and women’s teams, including perennial powerhouses such as BYU, Iowa State, Northern Arizona and Providence.
In 2024, the Wisconsin men’s team did not race their top seven, opting to rest despite strong competition from programs like BYU, who went on to win the NCAA Division 1 Championship. Only a few athletes competed in the B race, as the team focused on building toward later-season efforts — a strategy that paid off with a fourth-place finish at Nationals.
Both Wisconsin squads are coming off key performances at the 46th Annual Sean Earl Lakefront Invitational held on Oct. 3 at Loyola University Chicago. The Badger men, currently ranked No. 7 nationally, captured their second team title of the season, building off an earlier win at Badger Classic on Sept.19.
Senior Christian de Vaal led the pack with a sixth-place finish (23:28.08), followed closely by Micah Wilson in ninth (23:35.87). The squad placed five runners in the top twenty-five.
Wisconsin’s women, currently ranked No. 21 nationally, placed 11th at the Lakefront Invitational. Graduate student Leané Willemse was the top finisher, placing 21st overall (20:16.9). The women’s championship results may leave room for lineup discussions ahead of Nuttycombe.
Sara Mlodik, who won the open race at the Lakefront Invitational (20:57.4), finished faster than the team’s 6th and 7th runners in the championship heat. Freshman Bella Grenier also impressed with a time of (21:15). Whether either runner will be moved into the championship lineup remains to be seen.
After placing fifth last year, the women are in the mix for a potential podium finish.
Nuttycombe presents a timely test for Wisconsin and every nationally ranked team on the starting line.
