Michigan State sends largest group since 2019 to NCAA East Regional

Casey Akenberger Director of Athletic Performance/Munn | Michigan State Spartan Athletics Website

By Lansing Sun

May 16, 2024

Eighteen student-athletes from Michigan State University have been selected to compete in the NCAA East First Round Regional in Lexington, Kentucky. The event will take place from May 22 to May 25. This group consists of eight women and ten men who qualified by achieving top-48 marks in their respective events during the outdoor season.

Success at this regional competition could lead these athletes to the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, scheduled for June 5-8. To advance, competitors must place within the top 12 of their events.

The MSU track and field team is coming off a strong performance at the Big Ten Outdoor Championships, where the men's team had its best finish in 15 years. This year’s selection of 18 Spartans is a significant increase compared to last year's 12 participants and marks an improvement over previous years' numbers: 17 athletes in 2022 and 15 in 2021. In contrast, no championships were held in 2020 due to COVID-19.

For multis events such as the decathlon and heptathlon, preliminary rounds are not held. Instead, athletes with top season-best scores automatically qualify for the NCAA Championships. Ryan Talbot, the Big Ten Decathlon Champion ranked seventh in the East Region, along with Heath Baldwin who holds the region's top rank, have secured their spots but may still compete individually if they qualify.

The list of Spartan athletes heading to Lexington includes:

MSU Women:

- Shae Harbaugh (800m)

- Lauren Freeland (1500m)

- Katie Osika (5000m)

- Kaia Scheffler (100m Hurdles)

- Sophia Mettes (Pole Vault)

- Natalie Blake (Pole Vault)

- Jessica Stieb (Shot Put)

- Opal Jackson (Shot Put & Discus)

MSU Men:

- Noah Sage (200m)