Michigan State opened its season in style Friday morning, taking both team titles at the 45th-annual Spartan Invitational presented by Auto-Owners Insurance at Forest Akers East Golf Course in East Lansing.
The men continued their run of control in the 8k, winning the event for the third straight season and piling up just 15 points. Butler was a distant second with 64. The women were just as sharp in the 6k, edging Toledo 40-42 to claim first place.
The meet also offered a useful early look at the regional field, with several teams expected to factor in the NCAA Great Lake Regional when it comes to East Lansing on Nov. 13.
On the men’s side, Ohio State and Ohio followed Michigan State in third and fourth. In the women’s race, Michigan, Ohio, Butler and Southern Indiana rounded out places three through seven behind MSU and Toledo.
Director of Cross Country and Track & Field Lisa Breznau said both groups handled the opener well.
"It's certainly always fun to get the season going. But as you mentioned, having expectations for both programs and having kind of a new standard all around.
So it's never easy, but it's always just a fun exploration. And I think both groups handled it really well today," Director of Cross Country and Track & Field Lisa Breznau said.
"For the women, it's kind of a completely new team compared to last year. I think we return maybe two from our top five, even top seven.
And so they're aware of that, but they're also aware of our mentality over time and history and they're really just been digging into that and super proud of them, just to have an open mind and be willing to engage."
Michigan State’s men were bunched tightly at the front, with Jasper Cane and Moses Osterink tying for the individual win in 24:34.1. Thomas Westphal, last season’s Big Ten Freshman of the Year, was right behind them in third at 24:34.7, followed by Michael Hegarty in fourth at 24:35.7. The Spartans’ depth showed again with Beckett Crooks taking seventh in 24:41.3 and Kyle O'Rourke placing eighth in 24:43.8, as MSU finished 1-2-3-4-5-7-8.
Head coach Aaron Simoneau said the men stuck to the plan.
"We just wanted to be really controlled, throughout the whole run. And I thought, the guys did a really good job of that," MSU Head Men's Cross Country Coach Aaron Simoneau said.
"Did a nice job being patient early, running through the field, finding themselves, finding each other and finishing strong. So, we checked that box.
We've got another race in eight days, so we weren't trying to pin our ears back. Just wanted a good, controlled effort.
I thought the guys did a great job of that."
The women got a strong start from Taylor Pangburn, who finished second overall in 20:53.1. Freshman Klaire Eighner made a strong collegiate debut, placing fourth in 21:08.4, and Sarah Forsyth added a ninth-place finish in 21:21.6. Transfer Maya Ledesma also made her Michigan State debut, taking 12th in 21:23.9, giving the Spartans three runners inside the top 10.
Michigan State returns to action Saturday, Sept. 19, at the John McNichols Invitational hosted by Indiana State. The Sycamores will host the NCAA Championships on Nov. 21.
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