Stephan Shay Named Big Ten Runner Of The Week

9/19/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Cross Country

Sept. 19, 2006

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State junior Stephan Shay was named Big Ten Runner of the Week, as announced by the conference office on Sept. 19. Shay earns the honors after claiming the individual title at the Nike/Playmakers Spartan Invitational on Sept. 17 with an 8K time of 24:58.

The first title of his career, Shay was the only athlete to turn in a time of under 25 minutes at the Nike/Playmakers Spartan Invitational, placing ahead of 111 other runners. His efforts helped lead Michigan State to a second-place finish and mark the first individual title for an MSU runner since Jason Mueller accomplished the feat on Oct. 10, 2003. This is Shay's second Big Ten Runner of the Week honor of his career.

Having ran in two events this season, Shay also faired well in the Spartans' opening race, the Jeff Drenth Invitational on Sept. 1. Shay was the first to cross the finish line for MSU, taking second place in the 6K event with a time of 14:38.