Michigan State University Athletics
Cross Country Hosts 2010 Spartan Invitational
9/16/2010 12:00:00 AM | Cross Country
Sept. 16, 2010
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State cross country team will hold the annual Spartan Invitational on Friday, Sept. 18, at Forest Akers East Golf Course on the campus of MSU. Racing is slated to begin at 1 p.m., with the women's collegiate 6k scheduled first and men's 8k to immediately follow. In all, 24 collegiate women's teams and 23 collegiate men's team will participate, while well over 3,200 runners will compete in the high school and middle school divisions.
The men enter the weekend ranked 18th in the first regular season U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) poll. The men were the highest-moving team on the men's side as they bumped up three spots in the poll from 21st in the preseason. The women find themselves ranked 21st in the USTFCCA poll, moving up two spots from the preseason poll. Regionally, MSU is ranked second on both the men's and women's side.
The women's 6K race will begin at 1 p.m., with runners participating from Bowling Green, Brescia, Central Michigan, Central Michigan University Club, Edinboro, Findlay, Glen Oaks Community College, Grand Valley State, Hillsdale Community College, Jackson Community College, Lansing Community College, M. M. Track Club, Macomb Community College, Madonna, Marygrove, Miami (Ohio), Michigan, Michigan State, Mott Community College, Muskegon Community College, Saginaw Valley State, Schoolcraft, Wayne State and Valparaiso.
The men's 8K race is scheduled to follow at 1:35 p.m., and will include runners from Bowling Green, Brescia, Central Michigan, Central Michigan University Club, Edinboro, Findlay, Glen Oaks Community College, Grand Valley State, Hillsdale Community College, Jackson Community College, Lansing Community College, Macomb Community College, Madonna, Marygrove, Miami (Ohio), Michigan State, Mott Community College, Muskegon Community College, Playmakers, Saginaw Valley State, Schoolcraft, Wayne State and Valparaiso.
The invitational will also include high school and middle school runners, who will also be competing in a total of 12 events. The first high school race is scheduled to begin at 2:10 p.m., with the final race slated for a 5:45 p.m., start. The middle school events will begin at 6:15 p.m., while the second race follows at 6:25 p.m.
All spectators must park in lot 89, at the corner of Mount Hope and Farm Lane. A free shuttle will be provided for all fans attending the meet. Admission to the meet is $7 for adults and $5 for students with valid student ID and/or under-18, and there are no pets allowed. Directions can be found on msuspartans.com.
