Cross Country Ready to Host Spartan Invitational

Auto-Owners Insurance Spartan Invitational sponsored by Playmakers
Date: Friday, Sept. 13
Time: 10 a.m. (women’s 6k); 10:40 a.m. (men’s 8k)
Location: Forest Akers East Golf Course (East Lansing, Mich.)
Meet Website/More Info
 
EAST LANSING, MICH. – The Michigan State Cross Country teams are prepared to host the 42^nd-annual Spartan Invitational presented by Auto-Owners Insurance at the Forest Akers East Golf Course Friday morning.
 
The Forest Akers East Course will open for spectators at 9 a.m. with the women’s collegiate 6K starting at 10 a.m., the men’s 8K at 10:40 a.m., followed by the high school races starting at 11:20 a.m. and middle school fleets at 4:20 p.m..
 
With many names on both sides of the program making their debuts two weeks ago in the 2023 opener, more are expected to emerge among the top finishers at this the second meet of the season.
 
Coming off a season-opening win at the Jeff Drenth Memorial on Sept. 1, the men’s team will hope to replicate their results on home turf in what is the Spartans lone home meet of the season.
 
Led by junior Jack Pennewell, the Spartans dominated at the first meet of 2023, claiming each step of the podium one through four while all five finishers finished in the top-10. True freshmen Michael Hegarty and Moses Osterink ran unattached, finishing first and second overall and could produce similar results Friday.
 
The women’s side look to earn their first win of 2023 after placing third to open the season at the Jeff Drenth Memorial in Shepherd, Michigan.
 
Sophomore Cookie Baugh was the top Spartans finisher while freshmen Taylor Pangburn and Allison Cornell are runners to look out for as they ran unattached but finished fourth and sixth overall respectively.