MADISON, Wis. - Behind a stellar performance from freshman Rachel Forsyth, the Michigan State women's cross country team finished 21st in the NCAA Championship Saturday morning at the Thomas Zimmer Championship Course in Madison, Wisconsin.
The young Spartan squad returned none of their scorers from last season's squad that finished 16th in the 6k race. Despite the changing of the guard, Michigan State got a strong showing led by Forsyth, who finished 16th with a time 19.49.1. Forsyth methodically made her way up the pack to reach the top 20. She was the top finisher in the Big Ten.
Forsyth earned first-team All-American honors for her strong performance. She is the first Spartan to earn first-team honors since Jenna Magness in 2021.
"I just think it speaks to our program and the choices that our women are making on a consistent basis to be able to handle a season of growth and keep coming and believe in our model that we are going to run at our best at the end of the season and staying with it," MSU Director of Cross Country and Track & Field Lisa Breznau said. "We've told them after each race you're literally learning in the moment. Right now, you're doing a great job. Let's keep going. Kaitlyn Hynes has kind of adopted this philosophy of breathe and believe when she races. And I think it suits us really well just to keep reminding ourselves of, hey, at our best, we do these things really well. And so super proud of them."
Kaitlyn Hynes was the next Spartan to finish, crossing the line in 20:26.5, while Taylor Ewert finished 151st with a time of 20:51.6 on a brisk morning in Madison. Olivia Millen (21:12.3) and Sophia Lucki (21:19.1) rounded out the scoring for the Spartans.
The Spartan women have advanced to the NCAA Championships 24-straight years. The Michigan State women earned an at-large bid after finishing fourth in the Great Lakes Regionals in Norton, Ohio.
Riley Hough represented the Michigan State men as an at-large bid in the men's 10k race. In his first NCAA Championship, he had a strong showing finishing 80th with a time of 29:47.2.
"Similar for our guys as well, just to not make it to this meet, but know that the team we tied with t Regionals finished 20th (Butler)," Breznau said. "I think our men are ready to go. And I'm so excited for a year from now to have both genders here. Just having a phenomenal day."
Michigan State will now take a break before opening the indoor track & field season in December.
Recap courtesy of MSU Athletics.
