Jon Smith Director of Jenison Field House Athletic Performance | Michigan State Spartan Athletics Website
Jon Smith Director of Jenison Field House Athletic Performance | Michigan State Spartan Athletics Website
Michigan State University's cross country teams showcased notable performances at the Wisconsin Pre-Nationals, held at the Thomas Zimmer Championship Course in Madison, Wisconsin. This event marked the final major competition for the Spartans before the postseason begins.
The competition featured some of the top-ranked teams in the nation. On the men's side, 19 of the top-30 teams participated, including seven from the top 10 as per the USTFCCCA Coaches Poll. The women's race included 19 ranked teams, with five from the Big Ten Conference. Currently, Michigan State's women hold a No. 30 ranking in this poll, while their male counterparts are receiving votes.
In the women's "A" 6k race, Brigham Young University secured first place with 105 points. Washington, a new member of the Big Ten Conference, followed in second place with 157 points. Michigan State's women finished in 17th place with a total of 490 points.
Junior Kaitlyn Hynes led Michigan State's women's team by finishing 48th with a time of 20:12.8, surpassing her previous personal best set in 2021. Freshman Rachel Forsyth made her collegiate debut by placing second for MSU and finishing 53rd overall with a time of 20:16.0. Other scorers for Michigan State included Taylor Ewert (20:39.5), Sophia Lucki (20:47.4), and Olivia Millen (21:07.3). Notably, Lucki and Millen achieved personal records during this race.
In the men's "A" 8k race, Arkansas emerged victorious with 89 points while Iowa State took second place with 128 points. Michigan State finished in 18th position scoring a total of 478 points.
Senior Andrew Nolan was Michigan State's top finisher on the men's side, coming in at 76th place with a time of 23:43.1. Riley Hough was close behind as another scorer for MSU at position number eighty-three clocking a time of twenty-three minutes forty-four point three seconds (23:44). Additional contributors to MSU’s score were Lezawe Osterink (23:52), Jack Pennewell (23:59), and Andrew Lane (24:01).
Some Spartans also participated in an "Open" category race over six kilometers where Katelyn Stewart-Barnett placed ninth completing it within twenty-one minutes fifteen point eight seconds; Madison Price ran unattached yet still managed to secure sixteenth spot finishing just twelve seconds later than Stewart-Barnett.
Looking ahead toward concluding their regular season schedule prior Eastern Michigan Classic awaits them next week dated October twenty-fifth.
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