Celebrating 20 Years of the Bill Dellinger Invitational
University of Oregon’s Benjamin Balazs won the 2025 Bill Dellinger Invitational in 23:08 at Pine Ridge Golf Club in Springfield, Oregon. Photo courtesy of University of Oregon Athletics.
Since its inaugural running in 2006, the Bill Dellinger Invitational has brought together collegiate programs from across the country for a celebration of cross country, competition and community. The 2026 edition, set for Friday, October 9, marks the 20th running of the invitational, hosted by the Oregon Ducks.
The meet honors legendary University of Oregon men’s track & field and cross country coach Bill Dellinger. A Springfield, Oregon, native and two-time NCAA champion for the Ducks, Dellinger was a three-time Olympian, winning the bronze medal in the 5,000 meters at the 1964 Olympic Games. He also set two world indoor records and six American records during his competitive career.
Dellinger’s legacy extended well beyond the track. In cross country, he took pride in never losing a race as a high school, collegiate or post-collegiate athlete. As Oregon’s men’s cross country head coach from 1968–1998, he guided the Ducks to four NCAA team titles and 12 top-three NCAA finishes. His athletes earned 45 cross country All-America honors, while his teams collected 13 conference and four district championships. Oregon individuals under his leadership added eight Pac-8/10 titles and six regional crowns.
Dellinger passed away in 2025 at the age of 91, leaving a lasting legacy at the University of Oregon and throughout the sport of cross country.
Team Titles Since 2006
Since the inaugural Bill Dellinger Invitational in 2006, six programs have captured team titles on the men’s side, led by Oregon with 12 championships. BYU has earned three titles, while Alabama, Cal Poly, Portland, and Wisconsin have each won once.
On the women’s side, seven programs have claimed team titles, with Oregon leading the way with 11 championships. BYU and Utah have each won two titles, while Arkansas, Michigan State, Villanova, and Washington have each captured one.
Bill Dellinger Invitational Team Champions
Men's Team Champions
2006–2025
Women's Team Champions
2006–2025
Individual Champions Through the Years
18 men and 19 women have captured individual titles at the Bill Dellinger Invitational, representing collegiate programs from across the country as well as unattached athletes. Oregon leads all programs with eight men’s individual titles and nine women’s titles.
The meet’s championship history includes several repeat winners and standout performances. Edward Cheserek captured two consecutive men’s titles in 2014 and 2015, while the list of past champions includes accomplished athletes such as Olympic gold medalist Matthew Centrowitz and American record holder Conner Mantz on the men’s side, along with professional American distance runner Jordan Hogan (née Hasay) and Olympian Susan Lokayo Ejore-Sanders on the women’s side.
Bill Dellinger Invitational Individual Champions
Men's Individual Champions
2006–2025
Women's Individual Champions
2006–2025
The 20th edition of the Bill Dellinger Invitational is set for Friday, October 9, 2026 at Pine Ridge Golf Club in Springfield, Oregon. The men’s 8,000m will begin at 11:15 a.m. PT, followed by the women’s 6,000m at 12:00 p.m. PT. Meet information is available here.
Follow TrackTown USA on social media for additional content and meet day coverage of the 2026 Bill Dellinger Invitational.
Photos courtesy of University of Oregon Athletics and BYU Athletics.