Sept. 28, 2012

WATCH: Cross Country Preview

EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State cross country programs head to their first team-scored meet of the season as they travel to Kentucky for the 11th Annual Greater Louisville Classic on Saturday, Sept. 29 at the E.P. Tom Sawyer State Park in Louisville, Ky. The men are set to race 8,000 meters at 9:30 a.m. ET, followed by the women running 5,000 meters at 10:15 a.m. ET.

The venue will also be the same course used for the 2012 Cross Country NCAA Championships.

"This is a place we haven't been for a meet in cross country," said Director of Cross Country/Track & Field Walt Drenth. "With it being the course for the national championship, we're going there to see some really good competition and also to get familiar with the greater Louisville area.

In total, two men's (No. 6 Texas, No. 28 Columbia) and four women's teams (No. 1 Washington, No. 8 Vanderbilt, No. 14 Michigan State and No. 29 Wisconsin) ranked in the USTFCCCA national coaches' poll are slated to participate in the two races.

Where We Rank
In the latest U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) weekly poll, the women find themselves ranked 14th after their strong performance at the Spartan Invitational. Regionally, the women are ranked second in the Great Lakes Region standings.

On the men's side, MSU is currently sixth in the USTFCCCA Great Lakes regional rankings.

Last Time Out
Michigan State held it's annual Spartan Invitational on Friday, Sept. 14 at Forest Akers East Golf Course on the University campus. Over 5,000 athletes, including collegiate, high school and middle school teams, breaking the meet-record for participants.

The competition began with the collegiate women's 6K race. Five Spartans finished in the top-25 in the only home race of the season. First to cross the finish line for MSU was redshirt senior Rachel McFarlane, placing 10th overall with a time of 21:38.

On the men's side, redshirt sophomores Ben Carruthers and Alex Wilson were the first Spartans to finish in 10th and 17th place overall, with times of 25:10 and 25:16, respectively.

Next Up
The Spartans will travel to Grand Rapids, Mich., to compete in the Michigan Intercollegiates hosted by Calvin College on Saturday, Oct. 5 at 4 p.m.