Michigan State University Athletics
Friday, September 11
East Lansing, Mich.
Michigan State University
vs
Spartan Invitational
Spartan Cross Country Teams Sweep Spartan Invitational
9/11/2026 3:40:00 PM | Cross Country
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State cross country dominated the 45th-annual Spartan Invitational presented by Auto-Owners Insurance at the Forest Akers East Golf Course Friday morning.Â
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The MSU men won the 8k race for the third-straight season with a sweep earning 15 points, while Butler finished second with 64 points. The Spartan women also finished first in the 6k race with 40 points, just ahead of Toledo with 42 points.
As a preview to the NCAA Great Lake Regional in East Lansing on Nov. 13, there were several regional teams participating. After MSU men's first-place finish, Ohio State and Ohio went, 3-4, respectively. On the women's side after MSU and Toledo's 1-2 finish, Michigan, Ohio, Butler and Southern Indiana went 3-4-5-6-7.
"It's certainly always fun to get the season going. But as you mentioned, having expectations for both programs and having kind of a new standard all around. So it's never easy, but it's always just a fun exploration. And I think both groups handled it really well today," Director of Cross Country and Track & Field Lisa Breznau said. "For the women, it's kind of a completely new team compared to last year. I think we return maybe two from our top five, even top seven. And so they're aware of that, but they're also aware of our mentality over time and history and they're really just been digging into that and super proud of them, just to have an open mind and be willing to engage." Â
Individually, Jasper Cane and Moses Osterink tied for the win in the men's race with a time of 24:34.1. The Spartans finished in a pack going 1-2-3-4-5-7-8. Thomas Westphal, the 2025 Big Ten Freshman of the Year, was third, crossing the line in 24:34.7. Michael Hegarty finished fourth in 24:35.7. Spartan freshmen Beckett Crooks (24:41.3) and Kyle O'Rourke (24:43.8) were seventh and eighth, respectively.
"We just wanted to be really controlled, throughout the whole run. And I thought, the guys did a really good job of that," MSU Head Men's Cross Country Coach Aaron Simoneau said. "Did a nice job being patient early, running through the field, finding themselves, finding each other and finishing strong. So, we checked that box. We've got another race in eight days, so we weren't trying to pin our ears back. Just wanted a good, controlled effort. I thought the guys did a great job of that." Â
Taylor Pangburn was the top Spartan finisher, finishing second with a time of 20:53.1. The new-look MSU squad had three finish in the top 10. Freshman Klaire Eighner crossed the line in 21:08.4 in her first collegiate race to take fourth. Sarah Forsyth was ninth with a time of 21:21.6. Transfer Maya Ledesma made her Michigan State debut, finishing 12th (21:23.9).
The Spartans are back in action on Saturday, Sept. 19 at the John McNichols Invitational hosted by Indiana State. The Sycamores will host the NCAA Championships on Nov. 21.
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The MSU men won the 8k race for the third-straight season with a sweep earning 15 points, while Butler finished second with 64 points. The Spartan women also finished first in the 6k race with 40 points, just ahead of Toledo with 42 points.
As a preview to the NCAA Great Lake Regional in East Lansing on Nov. 13, there were several regional teams participating. After MSU men's first-place finish, Ohio State and Ohio went, 3-4, respectively. On the women's side after MSU and Toledo's 1-2 finish, Michigan, Ohio, Butler and Southern Indiana went 3-4-5-6-7.
"It's certainly always fun to get the season going. But as you mentioned, having expectations for both programs and having kind of a new standard all around. So it's never easy, but it's always just a fun exploration. And I think both groups handled it really well today," Director of Cross Country and Track & Field Lisa Breznau said. "For the women, it's kind of a completely new team compared to last year. I think we return maybe two from our top five, even top seven. And so they're aware of that, but they're also aware of our mentality over time and history and they're really just been digging into that and super proud of them, just to have an open mind and be willing to engage." Â
Individually, Jasper Cane and Moses Osterink tied for the win in the men's race with a time of 24:34.1. The Spartans finished in a pack going 1-2-3-4-5-7-8. Thomas Westphal, the 2025 Big Ten Freshman of the Year, was third, crossing the line in 24:34.7. Michael Hegarty finished fourth in 24:35.7. Spartan freshmen Beckett Crooks (24:41.3) and Kyle O'Rourke (24:43.8) were seventh and eighth, respectively.
"We just wanted to be really controlled, throughout the whole run. And I thought, the guys did a really good job of that," MSU Head Men's Cross Country Coach Aaron Simoneau said. "Did a nice job being patient early, running through the field, finding themselves, finding each other and finishing strong. So, we checked that box. We've got another race in eight days, so we weren't trying to pin our ears back. Just wanted a good, controlled effort. I thought the guys did a great job of that." Â
Taylor Pangburn was the top Spartan finisher, finishing second with a time of 20:53.1. The new-look MSU squad had three finish in the top 10. Freshman Klaire Eighner crossed the line in 21:08.4 in her first collegiate race to take fourth. Sarah Forsyth was ninth with a time of 21:21.6. Transfer Maya Ledesma made her Michigan State debut, finishing 12th (21:23.9).
The Spartans are back in action on Saturday, Sept. 19 at the John McNichols Invitational hosted by Indiana State. The Sycamores will host the NCAA Championships on Nov. 21.
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