Purdue Cross Country Star Curt Eckstein Earns All-American Honors

The Oldenburg Academy grad is putting together quite the collegiate career.

Curt Eckstein at the NCAA Cross Country Championships in Terre Haute. Photo by Purdue Athletics. 

(West Lafayette, Ind.) – A former Oldenburg Academy cross country star is blazing quite the trail at the collegiate level.

Junior Curt Eckstein and the Purdue Boilermakers competed at the NCAA Cross Country Championships in Terre Haute on Saturday.

Eckstein, place in the top-25, helping the Boilermakers secure their best team finish at since 1950, placing 11th at the NCAA Championships.

Finishing 24th overall, Eckstein did well enough to receive All-American honors. He and teammate, Jaret Carpenter, are Purdue’s first men’s cross country All-Americans since 1987. They are just the eighth and ninth Boilermakers to earn the honor.

Eckstein has had quiet the collegiate career already, capturing Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2017, earning Second-Team All-Big Ten in 2018 and being named to the 2018-19 fall Academic All-Big Ten Team.

More from Local Sports


Events

Applications Available for OCCF 2026 Scholarships

Application deadlines are February 27.

Whitewater Canal Historic Site Receives Commitment for $7 Million Matching Grant

The grant will support crucial work to restore and preserve the site. 

SEI Football Stars Earn Academic All-State Honors

Congratulations to all the honorees!

Local Sports Report - January 22, 2026

Report missing stats and scores to news@eaglecountryonline.com

On Air

Hank Williams Jr. Young Country 6:26
Midland and Mackenzie Carpenter I Wish You Would 6:23
Gary Allan Watching Airplanes 6:19
Chris Stapleton Nobody to Blame 6:15