Spartans Remain in State for Michigan Intercollegiate Championships
10/7/2010 12:00:00 AM | Cross Country
Oct. 7, 2010
EAST LANSING, Mich. - After such a successful weekend last time out at the Wisconsin adidas Invitational, the Michigan State cross country program returns to action this Friday, Oct. 8 for the Michigan Intercollegiate Championships hosted by Oakland University in Rochester, Mich. Racing begins at the Katke Cousins Golf Course with the men's 8k at 3:15 p.m., followed by the women's 5k at 4 p.m.
This race will provide the Spartans a glimpse of course for the 2010 NCAA Great Lakes Regional Championships, as OU will host the event on November 13.
Where We Rank
In the latest U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) weekly poll, the women find themselves ranked 18th after their strong performance at the Wisconsin adidas Invitational. Regionally, the women continue to sit atop the Great Lakes Region standings while also holding the best national ranking in the Big Ten Conference.
On the men's side, MSU is currently 20th in the latest USTFCCCA rankings. The men are also third in the Great Lakes Region, sitting behind Indiana and Wisconsin in first and second, respectively. The Spartans are the third-best team ranked in the conference based on the national poll.
Conference Recognition
As a result of her two solid races this season, senior Emily MacLeod has received Big Ten Runner of the Week honors after both of the events she has competed in this season. MacLeod earned the honor after placing second at the Wisconsin adidas Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 2 when she turned in a career-best time of 20:15.8, just behind Charlotte Browning of Florida in first (20:13.4). The native of Loveland, Ohio earned her second career honor, and first of the season, following her impressive performance in her first race of the season at the Spartan Invitational. MacLeod started the day off at the Spartan Invitational on Friday, Sept. 17 by winning the event for the second straight year. MacLeod finished the 6k in 20:46, besting her time last year by 21 seconds.
Following the Spartan Invitational, MacLeod was joined by junior Aaron Simoneau as male runner of the week following his performance at the lone Green and White home race of the season. Simoneau earned his first career conference distinction after tracking down Nick Willis, a silver medalist at the 2008 Beijing Olympics in the 1,500m, for the his first collegiate win. The Traverse City, Mich., native, bested his previous fastest race by 50 seconds to finish the 8k race in 24:28.Simoneau and MacLeod gave MSU the only weekly sweep by a school this season.
Last Time Out
MSU concluded action at the Wisconsin adidas Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 2 at the Thomas Zimmer Championship Cross Country Course in Madison, Wis. Overall, the women placed third with 109 points, while the men were sixth with 191 points. Six of the top 30 teams in the latest U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Association (USTFCCCA) poll were featured in each race. The women topped three of the five ranked teams they faced in the race.
Leading the way on the women' side was senior Emily MacLeod who placed second overall with a time of 20:15.8. Junior Carlie Green was not far behind in eighth place with a time of 20:26.7. Both MacLeod and Green posted career-best times and their top-10 finishes allowed the women to be the only team to place two runners in the top-10 overall.
Senior Patrick Grosskopf paced the men with his 30th-place time of 24:10.4. Senior Aaron Simoneau was just behind Grosskopf in 32nd with a 24:12.7 mark.
Next Up
The Spartans will travel to Terre Haute, Ind. on Saturday, Oct. 16 for Pre-Nationals hosted by Indiana State. Racing begins at 12 p.m. at the LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course, site of the 2010 NCAA Cross Country Championships on November 22.
Players Mentioned
