STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - Jeff See ran a third-place time of 25:07.3 to lead the Ohio State men's cross country team to a second-place finish Sunday at the 2009 Big Ten Cross Country Championships.

Two weeks after finishing 165th at the Indiana State Pre-Nationals, See, the reigning Big Ten Runner of the Week, more than redeemed himself with a spirited effort in his final conference championship. The senior from Middletown, Ohio finished just seven seconds behind All-American Hassan Mead of Minnesota and only two seconds behind Eliot Krause of Wisconsin. 

While See was the star of the day for Scarlet and Gray, earning first-team all-Big Ten honors based on his performance, Ohio State put together its best team effort of the season to take the runner-up spot, the highest finish from a Buckeye squad at the conference meet since 2005. Sophomore Taylor Williams finished 15th overall in a time of 25:44.8, an 11-spot improvement from his 2008 finish. Senior Christopher Olinger ran his best race of the year to take 19th in 25:53.6, one spot ahead of sophomore Adam Green (20th in 25:54.6).

"I have never been so proud of a team effort," head coach Robert Gary said after the meet. "To run so horribly at Pre-Nationals and rebound to place second in our conference shows the true fitness and character of this team. Jeff definitely led the way, but our next three really made the difference."

The Buckeyes' fifth runner secured the team's second-place finish - junior Skyler Schmitt placed 34th in 26:27.1, followed by a pair of freshmen in Donny Roys (37th, 26:33.9) and Cory Leslie (38th, 26:35.7).

No. 15 Wisconsin won its 11th-consecutive Big Ten title on the 5.2 mile course in dominant fashion - the Badgers' 26 point total easily eclipsed Ohio State's 91 points. Third-place Minnesota finished with a score of 97, while No. 18 Indiana took fourth with 106.

With the entire squad now running with confidence, Ohio State will take a week off before heading to Bloomington, Ind. for the 2009 Great Lakes Regional Championships Nov. 14.

"Our team is getting fitter and looking forward to the regional meet," Gary said. "This is one of the very best teams I have coached at OSU and we hope to prove that in a few weeks." 

Team Results
1   Wisconsin -- 26   
2   Ohio State -- 91
3   Minnesota -- 97   
4   Indiana -- 106   
5   Michigan -- 117
6   Iowa -- 149
7   Illinois -- 166
8   Michigan State -- 188
9   Penn State -- 232
10   Purdue -- 279

Individual Results

3   Jeff See                25:07.3    4:50

15  Taylor Williams         25:44.8    4:57

19  Christopher Olinger     25:53.6    4:59

20  Adam Green              25:54.6    4:59

34  Skyler Schmitt          26:27.1    5:05

37  Donny Roys             26:33.9    5:07

38  Cory Leslie             26:35.7    5:07

Time = 2:09:07.4     Places = 91