Michigan State University Athletics
Saturday, September 19
Terre Haute, Ind.
Michigan State University
at
John McNichols Invitational
MSU Cross Country Earns Two Top-10 Finishes at John McNichols Invitational
9/19/2026 4:09:00 PM | Cross Country
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State cross country teams earned a pair of top-10 finishes at the prestigious John McNichols Invitational in Terre Haute, Indiana on Saturday, which is the site of the 2026 NCAA Championships.
Â
The No. 17 MSU men finished sixth in the men's 8k championship race with 212 points. No. 9 BYU won the race with 71 points. The Spartans were the top Big Ten team, finishing ahead of No. 10 Wisconsin and No. 7 Northern Arizona.
The Spartan women were ninth with 267 points in the 6k championship race with No 8 Northern Arizona finishing first with 61 points. The Michigan State women were also the top Big Ten finishers ahead of Indiana, Wisconsin and Purdue.Â
Individually on the men's side, reigning Big Ten Freshman of the Year Thomas Westphal finished eight with a time of 23.54.6. Moses Osterink finished 31st with a time of 24:18.5. Freshman Beckett Crooks ran a personal best, crossing the line 24:34.6 to finish 60th.
On the women's side, Taylor Pangburn was the top Spartan, finishing in 28th with a time of 20:47.7. Â Freshman Klaire Eighner was the next to cross the line for MSU in 21:10.7, which was good for 52nd.
Michigan State also had a strong finish in both the men's and women's open races. In the women's open 6k race, the Spartans finished third with 83 points. Kaitlyn Reese was the top finisher in the open race with a personal-best time of 22:10.7. Valerie Beeck also set a personal best with a time of 22;25.7.
In the men's open race, MSU was outstanding with a second-place finish with 40 points. Â Evan Loughridge was MSU's top finisher, crossing the line in 25:46.6 to earn fifth place. Brady McArdle was eighth, crossing the line in 25:53.0.
Michigan State continues its fall campaign on Friday, Oct. 9, traveling to Wisconsin to compete in the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational at the Thomas Zimmer Championship Course in Madison, Wisconsin.
Â
Â
The No. 17 MSU men finished sixth in the men's 8k championship race with 212 points. No. 9 BYU won the race with 71 points. The Spartans were the top Big Ten team, finishing ahead of No. 10 Wisconsin and No. 7 Northern Arizona.
The Spartan women were ninth with 267 points in the 6k championship race with No 8 Northern Arizona finishing first with 61 points. The Michigan State women were also the top Big Ten finishers ahead of Indiana, Wisconsin and Purdue.Â
Individually on the men's side, reigning Big Ten Freshman of the Year Thomas Westphal finished eight with a time of 23.54.6. Moses Osterink finished 31st with a time of 24:18.5. Freshman Beckett Crooks ran a personal best, crossing the line 24:34.6 to finish 60th.
On the women's side, Taylor Pangburn was the top Spartan, finishing in 28th with a time of 20:47.7. Â Freshman Klaire Eighner was the next to cross the line for MSU in 21:10.7, which was good for 52nd.
Michigan State also had a strong finish in both the men's and women's open races. In the women's open 6k race, the Spartans finished third with 83 points. Kaitlyn Reese was the top finisher in the open race with a personal-best time of 22:10.7. Valerie Beeck also set a personal best with a time of 22;25.7.
In the men's open race, MSU was outstanding with a second-place finish with 40 points. Â Evan Loughridge was MSU's top finisher, crossing the line in 25:46.6 to earn fifth place. Brady McArdle was eighth, crossing the line in 25:53.0.
Michigan State continues its fall campaign on Friday, Oct. 9, traveling to Wisconsin to compete in the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational at the Thomas Zimmer Championship Course in Madison, Wisconsin.
Â
Players Mentioned
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
Wednesday, October 09
Thursday, August 15
Wednesday, November 15
Tuesday, October 31