Hough and Westphal Help MSU Sweep Big Ten Men’s Cross Country Honors
9/17/2025 3:31:00 PM | Cross Country
EAST LANSING, MICH. - After a strong showing at the Spartan Invite/B1G Preview, Michigan State men's cross country runners Riley Hough and Thomas Westphal captured Big Ten Cross Country honors on Wednesday, as announced by the conference office.
Riley Hough, who hails from Hartland, Michigan, earned Big Ten Male Athlete of the Week honors after winning the Spartan Invite/B1G Preview and leading the Michigan State men's team to the team title in the meet. Individually, the MSU senior won the men's race with a time of 23:41.1, just shy of his personal-best time of 23:04.4 set at the Big Ten Championships last season. This is his first-ever Cross Country Athlete of the Week honor. Hough is the first Spartan male since Aden Smith on Sept. 28, 2022 to earn the honor.
Thomas Westphal, a native of Fair Haven, Michigan, captured Freshman of the Week honors in his first collegiate race. Westphal helped the Spartans win with 28 points. He finished seventh with a time of 23:57.8. Westphal is the first-ever MSU male athlete to earn freshman honors in the second year of the award.
Michigan State finished first ahead of four other Big Ten teams: Ohio State, Purdue, Indiana and Rutgers.
The Spartans are back in action on Friday, Sept. 26 at the Gans Creek Classic at Columbia, Mo., hosted by the University of Missouri.
Riley Hough, who hails from Hartland, Michigan, earned Big Ten Male Athlete of the Week honors after winning the Spartan Invite/B1G Preview and leading the Michigan State men's team to the team title in the meet. Individually, the MSU senior won the men's race with a time of 23:41.1, just shy of his personal-best time of 23:04.4 set at the Big Ten Championships last season. This is his first-ever Cross Country Athlete of the Week honor. Hough is the first Spartan male since Aden Smith on Sept. 28, 2022 to earn the honor.
Thomas Westphal, a native of Fair Haven, Michigan, captured Freshman of the Week honors in his first collegiate race. Westphal helped the Spartans win with 28 points. He finished seventh with a time of 23:57.8. Westphal is the first-ever MSU male athlete to earn freshman honors in the second year of the award.
Michigan State finished first ahead of four other Big Ten teams: Ohio State, Purdue, Indiana and Rutgers.
The Spartans are back in action on Friday, Sept. 26 at the Gans Creek Classic at Columbia, Mo., hosted by the University of Missouri.
Players Mentioned
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
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