Schumacher, Birnbaum Win B1G Awards
05/21/25 | Track and Field
The Men of Oregon won the 2025 Big Ten Outdoor team title.
EUGENE, Ore. – Jerry Schumacher and Simeon Birnbaum have been honored as the 2025 Big Ten Coach of the Year and Big Ten Track Athlete of the Championships, as released Wednesday by the conference office. League awards are selected by the Big Ten head coaches.
The Men of Oregon won the 2025 Big Ten Outdoor team title to complete the indoor-outdoor double in their first year in the league. The Ducks scored 110 points, scoring in 13 of 21 events and winning a pair of individual titles with Birnbaum at 5,000 meters and Benjamin Balazs in the steeplechase. Oregon out-distanced the men's field by 29 points.
With Monday's honor, Schumacher is now a five-time conference coach of the year at Oregon. He swept men's and women's accolades this past indoor season and was recognized by the Pac-12 after women's outdoor titles in 2023 and 2024.
Birnbaum accounted for 16 points at the Big Ten Outdoor Championships with his win in the 5,000 and a third-place finish at 1500 meters. In the former, he stopped the clock in 13:31.87 for a new meet record; the previous mark of 13:41.06 was run by Wisconsin's Mohammed Ahmed in 2012. With this time in the 5,000, Birnbaum moved into the top 20 of the West region rankings.
The Rapid City, S.D., native also carries a season's best of 3:37.02 in the 1500 meters.
Additionally, Koby Kessler and Ryann Porter were Oregon's Sportsmanship Award honorees. The Big Ten recognizes a men's and women's student-athlete from each team who has demonstrated sportsmanship and ethical behavior.
Porter was the Big Ten champion in the women's triple jump with a new lifetime best of 13.55m/44-5.5, moving up to eighth on the national performance list this season. Kessler scored a lifetime best of 7,303 points to finish fourth in the decathlon for the UO men.
The postseason continues with the NCAA West First Round (May 28-31) in Bryan-College Station, Texas. The top 48 declared individuals and top 24 relays will compete at the regional meet for the top-12 spots to advance to the NCAA Championships (June 11-14) in Eugene.
Tickets for the 2025 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships are currently on sale.
For more news and information about Oregon cross country and track and field, follow @OregonTF on Facebook, Instagram and X.
The Men of Oregon won the 2025 Big Ten Outdoor team title to complete the indoor-outdoor double in their first year in the league. The Ducks scored 110 points, scoring in 13 of 21 events and winning a pair of individual titles with Birnbaum at 5,000 meters and Benjamin Balazs in the steeplechase. Oregon out-distanced the men's field by 29 points.
With Monday's honor, Schumacher is now a five-time conference coach of the year at Oregon. He swept men's and women's accolades this past indoor season and was recognized by the Pac-12 after women's outdoor titles in 2023 and 2024.
Birnbaum accounted for 16 points at the Big Ten Outdoor Championships with his win in the 5,000 and a third-place finish at 1500 meters. In the former, he stopped the clock in 13:31.87 for a new meet record; the previous mark of 13:41.06 was run by Wisconsin's Mohammed Ahmed in 2012. With this time in the 5,000, Birnbaum moved into the top 20 of the West region rankings.
The Rapid City, S.D., native also carries a season's best of 3:37.02 in the 1500 meters.
Additionally, Koby Kessler and Ryann Porter were Oregon's Sportsmanship Award honorees. The Big Ten recognizes a men's and women's student-athlete from each team who has demonstrated sportsmanship and ethical behavior.
Porter was the Big Ten champion in the women's triple jump with a new lifetime best of 13.55m/44-5.5, moving up to eighth on the national performance list this season. Kessler scored a lifetime best of 7,303 points to finish fourth in the decathlon for the UO men.
The postseason continues with the NCAA West First Round (May 28-31) in Bryan-College Station, Texas. The top 48 declared individuals and top 24 relays will compete at the regional meet for the top-12 spots to advance to the NCAA Championships (June 11-14) in Eugene.
Tickets for the 2025 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships are currently on sale.
For more news and information about Oregon cross country and track and field, follow @OregonTF on Facebook, Instagram and X.
Players Mentioned
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/ Track and Field
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