Michigan State University Athletics
Friday, September 14
East Lansing, Mich.
Michigan State University
vs
Auto Owners/Playmakers Spartan Invitational
Cross Country Hosts 38th Annual Auto-Owners Spartan Invite
9/12/2018 4:16:00 PM | Cross Country
It will be the first full 8k race of the season for the men, and 6k for the women.
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Michigan State cross country hosts the 38th annual Auto-Owners Spartan Invitational sponsored by Playmakers Friday, Sept. 14 at Forest Akers East Golf Course. The meet begins with the men's 8,000 meter race at 11:40 a.m., followed by the women's 6,000 meter race at 12:15 p.m.
Click Here To Visit Meet Website
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MSU is coming off its season-opening race at the 33rd annual Jeff Drenth Memorial on Aug. 31, where the women came in first place with 29 points, while the men took second with 35. The opener provided a chance to showcase young runners on both sides, several of whom saw their first action as a Spartan. Friday's race will allow the coaches a chance to get another look at younger runners. Â Â
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"I want to see both of our groups run together and get a look at our team dynamics," MSU Director of Cross Country and Track & Field Walt Drenth said. "We're going to run a few kids out of uniform and all the freshmen again. We'll get a chance to sort through what we look like this year, and see whether we might want to put uniforms on a few people or wait a year."
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The men come into this week's race ranked No. 24 in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches' Association poll, dropping two spots from the preseason rankings, while the women held steady at No. 15 in the Week 1 poll.
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After losing some significant upperclassmen from last year's team, part of the early-season races is looking to see who will step up as a leader, specifically on the men's side.
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"I'll be looking to see how we behave in race situations and where our leaders come from on the men's side," Drenth said. "On the women's side, I think we're pretty good. Our depth on the women's side is really good. By the end of the year, I think we have enough depth on both sides to have two teams in the Top 20." Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
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The Spartan Invitational marks the first race this season where the men will run a full 8k race, and the women will run their usual 6k, after the Jeff Drenth Memorial featured 5k races on both sides. It will also give the Spartans their only chance of the season to run at home in front of many friends and family members.
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The meet features 32 different college teams competing, along with several high school and middle school teams that will make up a total of 17 races throughout the day.
Â
"For us, this is step one in the direction towards the championship season," Drenth said. "It's exciting for our athletes to be able to run here at home, and we look forward to it every year."
Click Here To Visit Meet Website
Â
MSU is coming off its season-opening race at the 33rd annual Jeff Drenth Memorial on Aug. 31, where the women came in first place with 29 points, while the men took second with 35. The opener provided a chance to showcase young runners on both sides, several of whom saw their first action as a Spartan. Friday's race will allow the coaches a chance to get another look at younger runners. Â Â
Â
"I want to see both of our groups run together and get a look at our team dynamics," MSU Director of Cross Country and Track & Field Walt Drenth said. "We're going to run a few kids out of uniform and all the freshmen again. We'll get a chance to sort through what we look like this year, and see whether we might want to put uniforms on a few people or wait a year."
Â
The men come into this week's race ranked No. 24 in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches' Association poll, dropping two spots from the preseason rankings, while the women held steady at No. 15 in the Week 1 poll.
Â
After losing some significant upperclassmen from last year's team, part of the early-season races is looking to see who will step up as a leader, specifically on the men's side.
Â
"I'll be looking to see how we behave in race situations and where our leaders come from on the men's side," Drenth said. "On the women's side, I think we're pretty good. Our depth on the women's side is really good. By the end of the year, I think we have enough depth on both sides to have two teams in the Top 20." Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Â
The Spartan Invitational marks the first race this season where the men will run a full 8k race, and the women will run their usual 6k, after the Jeff Drenth Memorial featured 5k races on both sides. It will also give the Spartans their only chance of the season to run at home in front of many friends and family members.
Â
The meet features 32 different college teams competing, along with several high school and middle school teams that will make up a total of 17 races throughout the day.
Â
"For us, this is step one in the direction towards the championship season," Drenth said. "It's exciting for our athletes to be able to run here at home, and we look forward to it every year."
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