Cross Country Set For Big Ten Championships

Oct. 27, 2006

EAST LANSING, Mich. -

Big Ten Chmpionships Link

The Michigan State men's and women's cross country teams will compete in the Big Ten Championships on Sunday, Oct. 29, at Indiana's IU Cross Country Course. Three teams from the men's side and six from the women's field are ranked in the top 25 in the nation in 2006. The Spartan men are currently ranked sixth in the Great Lakes Region, while the women are ranked No. 13 in the nation and third in the region.

"The strength of the conference on both sides is as good as it gets anywhere in the country," MSU Director of Cross Country and Track and Field Walt Drenth said. "But that also is good preparation for the two meets after the conference championship, the regional and national meets coming up. It gets us in a competitive mindset. Frankly it's one of the advantages of coming to a school like MSU, because we can hold our own with the best athletes in the country. When we step into the NCAA meet it's not unfamiliar territory."

With strong showings in the four meets leading up to the conference championship, both Spartan squads are confident they can improve on last year's performance, in which the men finished seventh and the women took fifth.

"I think we have a chance to do some damage that hasn't really been done on the men's side in a while," Drenth said. "Our goal is to score under 130 points. On the women's side, the way the team's made progress has been incredible. I think they have a legitimate shot to beat some teams ranked above them this weekend."

"I think both groups are as ready to run as we've been all year," Drenth added. "For our season, everything leading up to this is preparation because we're measured by how we do in championships. We can't change the strategy of anybody else, we just have to go into the meet and maximize what we're capable of."

A CLOSER LOOK AT THE SPARTAN MEN
For the Spartan men's team, depth is its strength. Michigan State has collected top-10 finishes in two of the three scored meets this season, including taking the team title at the Spartan Invitational on Sept. 15.

SHAY SETTING THE PACE
Junior Stephan Shay has led the Spartan men in each of the four races this season, producing three top-20 finishes. Shay captured the individual title at the Spartan Invitational and earned Big Ten Runner of the Week honors for the performance.

WHO TO LOOK FOR
Other top runners to watch for Michigan State will be Adam Sprangel, Justin Zanotti, Matt Bartlebaugh, Jim Pancoast, Dustin Voss and Nick Katesfaras.

MEN'S BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIPS IN REVIEW
The Spartan men have finished seventh at the Big Ten Championships in each of the past three seasons. Michigan State has not placed in the top five since 2000, when it took third. The Green and White has a very reputable history at the Big Ten stage, collecting 14 team titles, the last of those in 1971. A total of four Spartans have claimed individual Big Ten titles in school history, but MSU has not had a runner accomplish the feat since Gerald Young last did it in 1960.

A CLOSER LOOK AT THE SPARTAN WOMEN
A high-caliber team, the Spartan women have produced top-10 finishes in each of the three scored races this season. MSU won the team title at its home event, the Spartan Invitational, on Sept. 15.

McKAIG MAKING AN IMPACT
Pacing the women's team in 2006 is Baylor transfer Alissa McKaig. McKaig took first at both the Jeff Drenth Memorial and the Spartan Invitational. She has finished sixth or higher in every meet this season. McKaig was named Big Ten Runner of the Week on Sept. 5 (MSU's first since 2004).

WHO TO LOOK FOR
Returning in 2006 is Nicole Bush, who was unable to compete during last year's cross country season due to mononucleosis. Bush recovered for the 2006 track season, garnering All-America honors in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. Other top runners to look for will be Michelle Rafferty, Katie Kelly and Sarah Price.

WOMEN'S BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIPS IN REVIEW
The fifth-place finish by the MSU women last season was the lowest since 2000. The Spartans won their third Big Ten Championship in school history in 2001 and finished runners-up from 2002-2004. Michigan State has produced three individual Big Ten Champions, most recently Danette Doetzel in 2004.

IN THE RANKINGS
National Ranking (Great Lakes Regional Ranking)

MEN:
1. Wisconsin (1)
14. Minnesota
18. Michigan (3)
NR Michigan State (6)

WOMEN:
3. Michigan (T1)
5. Wisconsin (T1)
6. Minnesota
9. Illinois
13. Michigan State (3)
23. Iowa