Balazs, Cherotich Sweep USTFCCCA National Honors
10/13/25 | Cross Country
Oregon swept the individual and team titles at last Friday’s Dellinger Invitational.
EUGENE, Ore. – After sweeping the individual titles at the Bill Dellinger Invitational, Oregon standouts Benjamin Balazs and Diana Cherotich have been named the USTFCCCA National Athletes of the Week.
Balazs navigated the men's 8K course in 23:08.2 and paced Oregon to the Dellinger Invitational team title. The Ducks' top five finished 1-2-3-4-6 on their way to 16 points and a win over No. 23 Air Force. Balazs improved on his previous best Dellinger finish of 22nd place from 2023. It was the UO men's first sweep of the Dellinger individual and team titles since 2022.
The Portland, Ore., native became the seventh Oregon man to win the Bill Dellinger Invitational. The team title was the Ducks' 12th at the meet.
Balazs joins past UO great Edward Cheserek as a USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Week during the cross country season. Ches was a two-time winner during his historic career.
Cherotich dipped under 19 minutes in her UO cross country debut, out-distancing the field in 18:58.81 to win the women's 6K at the Dellinger Invitational. She led the Women of Oregon to a 1-2-3-4-6 finish and the Dellinger team title. Friday marked the first time the Oregon women had swept the individual and team titles at the meet since 2018.
The Bungoma County, Kenya, native is the ninth Oregon woman to run to the Dellinger title while the UO women won the meet title for an 11th time.
Cherotich is the third UO woman to win USTFCCCA national cross country honors, joining Susan Ejore (2018) and Maddy Elmore (2024).
The Dellinger Invitational was the team's final tune-up competition before the start of the postseason.
The 2025 Big Ten Cross Country Championships are set for Friday, Oct. 31, hosted by Michigan State.
For more news and information about Oregon cross country and track and field, follow @OregonTF on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Balazs navigated the men's 8K course in 23:08.2 and paced Oregon to the Dellinger Invitational team title. The Ducks' top five finished 1-2-3-4-6 on their way to 16 points and a win over No. 23 Air Force. Balazs improved on his previous best Dellinger finish of 22nd place from 2023. It was the UO men's first sweep of the Dellinger individual and team titles since 2022.
The Portland, Ore., native became the seventh Oregon man to win the Bill Dellinger Invitational. The team title was the Ducks' 12th at the meet.
Balazs joins past UO great Edward Cheserek as a USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Week during the cross country season. Ches was a two-time winner during his historic career.
Cherotich dipped under 19 minutes in her UO cross country debut, out-distancing the field in 18:58.81 to win the women's 6K at the Dellinger Invitational. She led the Women of Oregon to a 1-2-3-4-6 finish and the Dellinger team title. Friday marked the first time the Oregon women had swept the individual and team titles at the meet since 2018.
The Bungoma County, Kenya, native is the ninth Oregon woman to run to the Dellinger title while the UO women won the meet title for an 11th time.
Cherotich is the third UO woman to win USTFCCCA national cross country honors, joining Susan Ejore (2018) and Maddy Elmore (2024).
The Dellinger Invitational was the team's final tune-up competition before the start of the postseason.
The 2025 Big Ten Cross Country Championships are set for Friday, Oct. 31, hosted by Michigan State.
For more news and information about Oregon cross country and track and field, follow @OregonTF on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Players Mentioned
Aaliyah McCormick | NCAA 100M Hurdles National Champion
Thursday, June 19
Matti Erickson | NCAA 800M Runner Up
Saturday, June 14
Hayward Field History
Thursday, June 12
2024-25 Oregon Track & Field Intro Video
Thursday, June 12
