IU cross-country freshman Ben Veatch took home the 2016 Big Ten Freshmen of the Year award after an eighth place finish at the Big Ten Championships this past weekend in Minnesota.
Veatch has been IU’s number three or four runner all year long and has impressed in every meet he has run. Following seniors Jason Crist and Matt Schwartzer for most races, Veatch was named second-team All-Big Ten as well.
Veatch placed in the top ten in three of the four races he has competed in this year and finished as high as fourth at the Indiana Intercollegiate meet.
Veatch is just the fourth Hoosier to win Big Ten Freshmen of the Year. Coming into this season Veatch had previously won a state championship at Carmel High School in Carmel, Indiana, and was the third-best long distance recruit in the nation.
Veatch and the rest of the team will race Friday, Nov. 4, at the Hoosier Invitational.
Michael Ramirez
