A Look at #BigSkyXC Championship History
FARMINGTON, Utah (October 24, 2019) - In just a little over a week, the 2019 Big Sky Cross Country Championships will take place in Greeley, Colo., hosted by the University of Northern Colorado. The runners will race for a chance to win the conference hardware, as the event will take place at the Boomerang Golf Course.
Over the past 10 years, the Big Sky men’s championship titles have been claimed by Northern Arizona nine times. The Lumberjacks have also captured the individual title nine times during that span. Southern Utah topped the Lumberjacks in 2015 coming away with the team title and the individual crown.
With the championships closely approaching, the Lumberjacks – who are No. 1 in the nation – will look to capture their 29
th team championship in school history.
Historically, the first-four cross country championships belonged to the state of Idaho. Idaho won the first-ever Big Sky team title in 1963 and again in 1965. Idaho State captured the trophy in 1964 and 1966.
In total, nine different teams have won the conference championship. With seven men’s programs ranked in the USTFCCCA Mountain and West Region polls this week, next week’s championship race will be watched by many.
The women have had four different teams win the conference championship since 2009. Northern Arizona and Weber State have each won the team trophy four times in the 10 years, including three straight by the Wildcats from 2011-13. The Lumberjacks lead the way overall with 20 team championships. Southern Utah won its first team title last season, while Montana captured the championship in 2010.
Idaho won the first team championship in 1982.
In the latest regional poll, four Big Sky teams – Northern Arizona, Weber State, Southern Utah, and Montana – were all ranked in the mountain region. The Big Sky has had as many as five women’s teams ranked at once this season.
When it comes to individual champions, the winners span six different schools. NAU’s Ida Nilsson is the lone runner on the men’s or women’s side to capture four consecutive individual titles, as she achieved the feat from 2001-04.
Next week’s Big Sky Cross Country Championships will be highly anticipated and watched amongst the running community from the west to the east coast. November 2 will be a great day for Big Sky Cross Country.