Michigan State University Athletics
Friday, October 19
Pinkney, Mich.
Michigan State University
at
EMU Classic
Cross Country Finishes Regular Season Friday at EMU Classic
10/18/2018 10:00:00 AM | Cross Country
Both races will cover 5,000-meters Friday afternoon at Hudson Mills Metropark
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Michigan State cross country will send younger runners from both sides to the EMU Classic at Hudson Mills Metropark in Dexter, Mich., Friday afternoon for the final regular-season race of the year.
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Both races will cover 5,000-meters at the the Metropark, with the women's race set to begin at 4:30 p.m., followed by the men's race at 5 p.m. The cross country championship season begins next week, with the Big Ten Championships taking place Oct. 28 in Lincoln, Nebraska.
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"It will be a nice test for some of our half-mile runners, and our middle-distance runners who run cross country," Director of Cross Country and Track & Field Walt Drenth said. "We'll also get some of our younger runners, and freshmen out there who we'd like to see have an aggressive run at the 5k before going to the longer distances."
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The women's team held steady at No. 14 in this week's USTFCCCA National Division I Coaches' poll this week after a strong showing at the Penn State National Open. The Spartan men are now the top team in the receiving votes category of the Coaches' Poll after last week's race.
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Friday's race will provide an opportunity for athletes transitioning to shorter races for the track season to get a final longer race in, while top runners on each team will get a chance to rest for the beginning of the championship season.
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"It's a nice cross country course and usually we come away with some pretty fast times depending on the footing," Drenth said. "Many of our kids ran there in high school and we're looking forward to getting out there."
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The women's side is coming off a second place finish at the PSU National Open a week ago, while the men finished fourth, beating two ranked teams along the way. It was another stepping-stone for the Spartans in the process of getting ready for next week's conference championships and beyond.
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"It's exciting to look back at last week and see how well we ran on both sides without a couple of our top people," Drenth said. "I see some great growth on both sides, particularly from our women. I don't think we've seen our women at their best yet. We have a chance to put a couple things together down the stretch and really get going. I think we've taken a significant step forward." Â Â Â
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Results from the EMU Classic will be posted to msuspartans.com following the conclusion of the races.
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Both races will cover 5,000-meters at the the Metropark, with the women's race set to begin at 4:30 p.m., followed by the men's race at 5 p.m. The cross country championship season begins next week, with the Big Ten Championships taking place Oct. 28 in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Â
"It will be a nice test for some of our half-mile runners, and our middle-distance runners who run cross country," Director of Cross Country and Track & Field Walt Drenth said. "We'll also get some of our younger runners, and freshmen out there who we'd like to see have an aggressive run at the 5k before going to the longer distances."
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The women's team held steady at No. 14 in this week's USTFCCCA National Division I Coaches' poll this week after a strong showing at the Penn State National Open. The Spartan men are now the top team in the receiving votes category of the Coaches' Poll after last week's race.
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Friday's race will provide an opportunity for athletes transitioning to shorter races for the track season to get a final longer race in, while top runners on each team will get a chance to rest for the beginning of the championship season.
Â
"It's a nice cross country course and usually we come away with some pretty fast times depending on the footing," Drenth said. "Many of our kids ran there in high school and we're looking forward to getting out there."
Â
The women's side is coming off a second place finish at the PSU National Open a week ago, while the men finished fourth, beating two ranked teams along the way. It was another stepping-stone for the Spartans in the process of getting ready for next week's conference championships and beyond.
Â
"It's exciting to look back at last week and see how well we ran on both sides without a couple of our top people," Drenth said. "I see some great growth on both sides, particularly from our women. I don't think we've seen our women at their best yet. We have a chance to put a couple things together down the stretch and really get going. I think we've taken a significant step forward." Â Â Â
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Results from the EMU Classic will be posted to msuspartans.com following the conclusion of the races.
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