Cross Country Takes Top Spots at Drenth Memorial

Friday, September 3

Mt. Pleasant, Mich.

11 a.m.

Michigan State University

Jeff Drenth Memorial

Photo by: Central Michigan Athletics

9/3/2021 5:00:00 PM | Cross Country

Men's Results Women's Results

SHEPHERD, Mich. - With both squads winning their respective races, Michigan State's men and women's cross country teams opened their 2021 season on Friday afternoon at the Jeff Drenth Memorial in Shepherd, Michigan.

The race, hosted by Central Michigan, provided a chance for many of the programs' younger runners to display their abilities for the first time in two years. On the men's side, senior John Petruno placed first with a 15:08.9 5K time, while sophomore Emily Bardwell claimed the top spot in the women's 5K with a time of 17:52.6. Overall, the Spartan men bested the Chippewas with an average time of 15:22.2 to CMU's 16:00.2, and the MSU women averaged 18:23.9 to CMU's 18:48.8.

"This event was a great way for us to start the season with our healthy team dynamic, giving many of our younger runners experience that will be valuable heading into the Spartan Invitational in two weeks and some longer-distance races down the road," said Director of Track & Field/Cross Country Lisa Breznau. "We got done what we needed to get done today, and it is all part of the journey this season."

Entering the week at No. 5 in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Preseason National Poll, the MSU women took six of the top-10 spots at the Drenth Memorial. Bardwell was closely followed by fellow sophomore Fatima Giron, who finished second (18:00.8), while another sophomore, Taylor Visscher, took fourth place (18:17.2).

"It was really good to see Bardwell, Giron and Visscher do so well, as it was the first time any of the three have raced since their high school seasons in 2019," added Breznau.

Juniors Melanie Helder (Sixth, 18:49.0) and Courtney Krupp (Eighth, 18:59.9), as well as redshirt junior Annika Linzmeier (10th, 19:02.3), were the other three Spartans to finish in the top-10.

Petruno was one of four Spartan men to place in the top-5. Picked No. 16 in the USTFCCCA National Poll, the MSU men saw sophomore Alexander Penski run for the first time since the Big Ten Championship in January, as he finished third with a 15:18.1 time. Juniors Aden Smith (Fourth, 15:24.5) and Justin Ferraro (Fifth, 15:29.1) posted top-5 finishes as well.
"Petruno and Penski both raced well, and, really, the men's side ran well across the board," said Breznau.

Many of Michigan State's most experienced returners did not compete in Friday's opening race.

The Jeff Drenth Memorial is named after the late Jeff Drenth, brother to MSU's former Director of Cross Country and Track & Field Walt Drenth. Jeff, who passed away while training in 1986, is a member of the Central Michigan University Marcy Weston Athletics Hall of Fame.

The Green and White return to action on Sept. 17 at the Spartan Invitational.