Michigan State University
Spartan Invitational
Michigan State Cross Country Dominates Spartan Invitational
9/15/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Cross Country
Sept. 15, 2006
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Alissa McKaig and Stephan Shay captured individual titles with first-place finishes for the Michigan State cross country team at the Nike/Playmakers Spartan Invitational on Sept. 15. Placing six runners in the top 10, the Spartan women also won the team title, while the men took second, placing six runners in the top 15.
The women placed first with 19 points, followed by Western Michigan (74) and Oakland (92). On the men's side, Michigan took the team title with 24 points. Michigan State was not far behind, notching 33 points, while Edinboro took third with a team score of 105.
Entering the race ranked No. 23 in the nation, the Spartan women placed the top three finishers. Michelle Rafferty took second place (21:56) and Nicole Bush finished in third place (22:05), behind McKaig (21:39).
McKaig, who transferred to MSU from Baylor this fall, also took the individual title at the Spartans' first meet of the season, the Jeff Drenth Memorial, on Sept. 1.
"I feel like I fit in well with the team at Michigan State," McKaig stated after the race. "We have had two great meets, and it has been amazing to come together with a new group of girls."
Rounding out the top MSU finishers were Sara Price (fifth, 22:50), Thereseann Zimmerman (eighth, 23:22) and Diane Hamilton (10th, 23:38). Just seconds off the top-10 pace was Emily Adama, who finished 11th at 23:44.
For the No. 28 Spartan men, Shay led the entire race and never looked back, claiming the first individual title of his career. No. 18 Michigan took the next four spots, as the Wolverines edged Michigan State by nine points for the men's team title.
"This is my first title, so it is pretty awesome for it to be here at our home course," Shay commented. "As a team we try to get everyone tightly together. We have a very deep squad this year, which is much different from past years. I know Michigan has some tough runners, so to get this win is definitely a confidence boost."
Jason Zanotti and Dustin Voss were the next Spartans to cross the finish line, finishing in sixth (25:31) and seventh place (25:39), respectively. David Bills (11th, 26:01), Josh Hofbauer (12th, 26:06) and Bobby Sherman (15th, 26:20) closed out the top finishers for MSU.
"Today was a learning process, we are learning more and more everyday," MSU associate head coach Rita Arndt-Molis said. "After four days of rain, we knew it was going to be a challenging race, both mentally and physically. I think the women managed themselves well. They were patient, and they took advantage of turns, hills and dry ground and made their race come back to them."
"On the men's side we really saw some outstanding races," Arndt-Molis added. "Stephan Shay led the race from start to finish. He was in charge the entire way, and to have that kind of patience when you are being pursued by four people shows that he is running well beyond his years right now."
Michigan State is back in action on Sept. 23, when it travels to the Roy Griak Invitational, hosted by Minnesota.
Players Mentioned
