Cross Country Travels to Terre Haute for NCAA Championships

Nov. 22, 2009

EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State cross country team will round out the 2009 season on Monday, Nov. 23, at the NCAA Championships in Terre Haute, Ind. The meet, which is hosted by Indiana State University, is scheduled to begin at 12:08 p.m. with the men's 10K race, followed by the women's 6K at 12:58 p.m.

The men qualified to compete in the NCAA Championships with an automatic bid after a standout performance last weekend at the NCAA Regional. The team raced to its best team finish in program history, claiming second-place overall, with junior Patrick Grosskopf (Corunna, Mich.) leading the way. Grosskopf recorded the best individual finish for a male runner since 1995, with a time of 31:12.98. Monday will mark the men's 39th NCAA Championships appearance all-time as a team.

The women placed 11th at the NCAA Regionals, and claimed one of the 13 at-large bids, earning its 11th-consecutive appearance in the NCAA Championships. Junior Emily MacLeod (Loveland, Ohio) recorded the Spartans' second-consecutive first-place finish with a time of 20:42.70, becoming the fourth Spartan all-time to place first at the NCAA Regionals.

On Thursday, Nov. 19, MacLeod became the second-consecutive Spartan to be named Great Lakes Region Athlete of the Year, and second in school history.

Grosskopf, junior Spencer Beatty (Harbor Spring, Mich.) and freshman Josh McAlary (Jackson, Mich.), as well as McLeod, junior Carlie Green (Milford, Mich.) and sophomore Rebekah Smeltzer (Monroe, Mich.) each received All-Region honors after their performances at the Regional.

At last year's NCAA Championships, the women raced to an 11th-place team finish, with MacLeod being the top-returning finisher from a year ago.

The NCAA Championships can be seen live on VERSUS, and for the first time ever the cross country championships will be broadcast in High Definition. The NCAA will also be streaming the event live at NCAA.com.

For complete news and results following the conclusion of Monday's races, visit msuspartans.com.