Photo by: Angela Fieno
Both Cross Country Teams Earn At-Large Berths to NCAA Championships
11/13/2021 5:30:00 PM | Cross Country
Spartans head to Tallahassee, Florida on Saturday, Nov. 20.
EAST LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan State men's and women's cross country teams were both selected for at-large bids to the 2021 NCAA Cross Country Championships, it was announced Saturday. It marks the 21st-straight appearance for the No. 16 Spartan women at the national championship, while the men will appear in their second-straight national championship after making it last season.
MSU will head next Saturday, Nov. 20, to Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee, Florida, as both teams are coming off fourth-place finishes at the NCAA Great Lakes Regionals on Friday afternoon. Hosted by Florida State University, the national women's 6K race is set for a 10:20 a.m. ET start, while the men's 10K race will follow at 11:10 a.m. ET. The Spartans are part of 31-team fields on each side, earning one of the 13 at-large selections for the women's race as well as the men's race.
"Both teams showed up and competed at the regional meet," said Director of Cross Country/Track & Field Lisa Breznau. "We are looking forward to next Saturday in Tallahassee."
Seniors Jenna Magness and Lynsie Gram finished fourth and fifth in the regional women's race, as the two Spartans were joined by redshirt junior Makayla Perez and freshman Kaitlyn Hynes on the All-Region team after all four posted personal record 6K times. Magness, Gram and Hynes also received All-B1G honors two week ago, with Hynes being named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year as well. On the men's side, senior Morgan Beadlescomb paced the Spartans with a late surge to finish third at regionals and follow up an All-B1G performance at the conference championships. Juniors Fraser Wilson and James Uhlenberg picked up All-Region accolades alongside Beadlescomb after running PR times in the 10K.
"We really try to be at our best this time of year, and we've just seen the momentum coming from both teams as we approached the championship portion of the schedule," added Breznau. "I'm thankful we're in one of the hardest conferences and regions in the country, because I think it keeps that bar high, it keeps our attention high, so that when we get to the national meet, we're ready to go because we've already had that mentality."
The women's team placed fourth in last season's NCAA Championship, led by Magness' 16th-place finish, as Magness, Gram and India Johnson were named All-Americans. Beadlescomb was the leader for the men, getting All-American honors after finishing 33rd and helping the Green and White take 17th overall on March 15 in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
After completing the cross country season on Nov. 20, Michigan State will open its indoor track season on Dec. 3 at the Grand Valley State Holiday Open.
MSU will head next Saturday, Nov. 20, to Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee, Florida, as both teams are coming off fourth-place finishes at the NCAA Great Lakes Regionals on Friday afternoon. Hosted by Florida State University, the national women's 6K race is set for a 10:20 a.m. ET start, while the men's 10K race will follow at 11:10 a.m. ET. The Spartans are part of 31-team fields on each side, earning one of the 13 at-large selections for the women's race as well as the men's race.
"Both teams showed up and competed at the regional meet," said Director of Cross Country/Track & Field Lisa Breznau. "We are looking forward to next Saturday in Tallahassee."
Seniors Jenna Magness and Lynsie Gram finished fourth and fifth in the regional women's race, as the two Spartans were joined by redshirt junior Makayla Perez and freshman Kaitlyn Hynes on the All-Region team after all four posted personal record 6K times. Magness, Gram and Hynes also received All-B1G honors two week ago, with Hynes being named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year as well. On the men's side, senior Morgan Beadlescomb paced the Spartans with a late surge to finish third at regionals and follow up an All-B1G performance at the conference championships. Juniors Fraser Wilson and James Uhlenberg picked up All-Region accolades alongside Beadlescomb after running PR times in the 10K.
"We really try to be at our best this time of year, and we've just seen the momentum coming from both teams as we approached the championship portion of the schedule," added Breznau. "I'm thankful we're in one of the hardest conferences and regions in the country, because I think it keeps that bar high, it keeps our attention high, so that when we get to the national meet, we're ready to go because we've already had that mentality."
The women's team placed fourth in last season's NCAA Championship, led by Magness' 16th-place finish, as Magness, Gram and India Johnson were named All-Americans. Beadlescomb was the leader for the men, getting All-American honors after finishing 33rd and helping the Green and White take 17th overall on March 15 in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
After completing the cross country season on Nov. 20, Michigan State will open its indoor track season on Dec. 3 at the Grand Valley State Holiday Open.
Players Mentioned
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
Competitive Drive | Spartans All-Access
Wednesday, October 09
Spartans All-Access | Setting the Tone
Thursday, August 15
Spartans All-Access: Lauren Freeland
Wednesday, November 15
Spartans All-Access: 2023 XC Big Tens
Tuesday, October 31