Michigan State University Athletics
Spartans Pick up a Trio of Big Ten Cross Country Honors
9/16/2026 10:15:00 PM | Cross Country
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Three Michigan State cross country athletes were honored by the Big Ten Conference, as announced by the league office on Wednesday.
Jasper Cane earned Big Ten Men's Athlete of the Week, while Taylor Pangburn was named Women's Athlete of the Week. Beckett Crooks picked up Men's Freshman of the Week honors.
Cane, who hails from Kalamazoo, Michigan, earned his first Big Ten Men's Athlete of the Week honors after finishing first at the Spartan Invitational. He won the Spartan Invitational with an 8K time of 24:34.5.Â
He helped Michigan State win the team title, as the first-five finishers were all Spartans for 15 points.
Â
The last Michigan State man to win Athlete of the Week honors was Riley Hough on Oct. 22, 2026.
Pangburn, a native of Grand Ledge, Michigan, captured her first Big Ten Women's Athlete of the Week honor by helping the Spartan women dominate the Spartan Invitational. She placed in second in the Spartan Invitational with a 6K time of 20:53.2. Pangburn helped the Spartans claim the team title, as three finished in the top 10.
Â
The last Spartan woman to earn B1G Athlete of the Week was Sarah Forsyth on Oct. 29, 2026.
Crooks, a native of Ann Arbor, Michigan, finished seventh overall at the Spartan Invitational with an 8K time of 24:41.4. He was the fastest freshman in the event. He was part of the Spartans' dominating performance to open the season.
Â
Thomas Westphal was the last MSU rookie to win Freshman of the Week honors on Oct. 22, 2026.
These were the first Big Ten honors for the MSU this season.
Michigan State will now prepare for the John McNichols Invitational in Terre Haute, Indiana on Saturday, Sept. 19.
Â
Jasper Cane earned Big Ten Men's Athlete of the Week, while Taylor Pangburn was named Women's Athlete of the Week. Beckett Crooks picked up Men's Freshman of the Week honors.
Cane, who hails from Kalamazoo, Michigan, earned his first Big Ten Men's Athlete of the Week honors after finishing first at the Spartan Invitational. He won the Spartan Invitational with an 8K time of 24:34.5.Â
He helped Michigan State win the team title, as the first-five finishers were all Spartans for 15 points.
Â
The last Michigan State man to win Athlete of the Week honors was Riley Hough on Oct. 22, 2026.
Pangburn, a native of Grand Ledge, Michigan, captured her first Big Ten Women's Athlete of the Week honor by helping the Spartan women dominate the Spartan Invitational. She placed in second in the Spartan Invitational with a 6K time of 20:53.2. Pangburn helped the Spartans claim the team title, as three finished in the top 10.
Â
The last Spartan woman to earn B1G Athlete of the Week was Sarah Forsyth on Oct. 29, 2026.
Crooks, a native of Ann Arbor, Michigan, finished seventh overall at the Spartan Invitational with an 8K time of 24:41.4. He was the fastest freshman in the event. He was part of the Spartans' dominating performance to open the season.
Â
Thomas Westphal was the last MSU rookie to win Freshman of the Week honors on Oct. 22, 2026.
These were the first Big Ten honors for the MSU this season.
Michigan State will now prepare for the John McNichols Invitational in Terre Haute, Indiana on Saturday, Sept. 19.
Â
Players Mentioned
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
Wednesday, October 09
Thursday, August 15
Wednesday, November 15
Tuesday, October 31