Beadlescomb Named B1G Men’s Cross Country Athlete of the Year
11/23/2021 3:01:00 PM | Cross Country
The All-American becomes the first Spartan to earn the award
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State graduate student Morgan Beadlescomb, following up a fifth-place finish at the NCAA Championships on Saturday, has been named the 2021 Big Ten Cross Country Men's Athlete of the Year, the conference office announced Tuesday.
This marks the first time in program history a MSU runner has been named the conference's top men's cross country athlete, with the award being established in 1987.
Beadlescomb posted a 10K personal record of 28:50.6 to take fifth at the NCAA Championships, the best NCAA placing and NCAA 10K time by a Spartan men's runner since Herb Lindsay placed fourth in 1976 with a time of 28:30.69. It was also the fastest time of any Big Ten men's runner at the 2021 national championship and the only top-25 time in the conference. The time also earned Beadlescomb All-American honors for the third-straight season, capping a campaign that saw the Spartan finish fifth or better in five of his six races.
Starting his season in East Lansing at the Spartan Invitational, Beadlescomb used a 24:15.8 time to win the men's 8K race and helping MSU place second. The Algonac, Michigan native then placed third at the Griak Invitational at 24:18.5, trailing only back-to-back national champion Conner Mantz of BYU and back-to-back NCAA medalist Wesley Kiptoo of Iowa State. The Griak performance helped the MSU men place third and led to Beadlescomb being named the Big Ten Cross Country Men's Athlete of the Week on Sept. 29. Beadlescomb then posted a PR time of 23:32.2 to finish eighth at the 8K Nuttycombe Invitational.
At the Big Ten Championships, Beadlescomb ran a 24:46.3 on the 5.2-mile course, finishing fourth in the conference and leading the team to a fifth-place finish. Picking up All-B1G First Team accolades, Beadlescomb followed that by taking third at the NCAA Great Lakes Regionals with a then-PR of 29:53.2 in the 10K race, receiving all-region distinction and highlighting the MSU men's fourth-place finish.
Beadlescomb concludes his collegiate cross country career as a three-time All-B1G First Team selection, three-time all-region honoree and three-time Academic All-B1G recipient, in addition to his three NCAA All-American finishes (2019, 2020. 2021). With his All-American performance on Saturday, he became the first Spartan to be a three-time All-American in cross country since Anthony Hamm claimed All-American honors four-straight years (1988-91), and only the fifth MSU men's runner all-time to earn All-American status three times.
He is also a two-time Big Ten Cross Country Athlete of the Week selection, first earning that award on Oct. 1, 2019.
Beadlescomb will begin his final collegiate indoor track season on Dec. 3, when Michigan State heads to the GVSU Holiday Open.
This marks the first time in program history a MSU runner has been named the conference's top men's cross country athlete, with the award being established in 1987.
Beadlescomb posted a 10K personal record of 28:50.6 to take fifth at the NCAA Championships, the best NCAA placing and NCAA 10K time by a Spartan men's runner since Herb Lindsay placed fourth in 1976 with a time of 28:30.69. It was also the fastest time of any Big Ten men's runner at the 2021 national championship and the only top-25 time in the conference. The time also earned Beadlescomb All-American honors for the third-straight season, capping a campaign that saw the Spartan finish fifth or better in five of his six races.
Starting his season in East Lansing at the Spartan Invitational, Beadlescomb used a 24:15.8 time to win the men's 8K race and helping MSU place second. The Algonac, Michigan native then placed third at the Griak Invitational at 24:18.5, trailing only back-to-back national champion Conner Mantz of BYU and back-to-back NCAA medalist Wesley Kiptoo of Iowa State. The Griak performance helped the MSU men place third and led to Beadlescomb being named the Big Ten Cross Country Men's Athlete of the Week on Sept. 29. Beadlescomb then posted a PR time of 23:32.2 to finish eighth at the 8K Nuttycombe Invitational.
At the Big Ten Championships, Beadlescomb ran a 24:46.3 on the 5.2-mile course, finishing fourth in the conference and leading the team to a fifth-place finish. Picking up All-B1G First Team accolades, Beadlescomb followed that by taking third at the NCAA Great Lakes Regionals with a then-PR of 29:53.2 in the 10K race, receiving all-region distinction and highlighting the MSU men's fourth-place finish.
Beadlescomb concludes his collegiate cross country career as a three-time All-B1G First Team selection, three-time all-region honoree and three-time Academic All-B1G recipient, in addition to his three NCAA All-American finishes (2019, 2020. 2021). With his All-American performance on Saturday, he became the first Spartan to be a three-time All-American in cross country since Anthony Hamm claimed All-American honors four-straight years (1988-91), and only the fifth MSU men's runner all-time to earn All-American status three times.
He is also a two-time Big Ten Cross Country Athlete of the Week selection, first earning that award on Oct. 1, 2019.
Beadlescomb will begin his final collegiate indoor track season on Dec. 3, when Michigan State heads to the GVSU Holiday Open.
Players Mentioned
/ Cross Country
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