.png&type=webp)
Bowling Green State University Athletics
Friday, September 17
East Lansing, Mich.
11:40 a.m.
Bowling Green State University
at
Spartan Invitational
Photo by: Mallory Hiser, BGSU Athletics
Cross Country To Compete In 2021 Spartan Invitational
September 16, 2021 | Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – The Bowling Green State University men's and women's cross country teams are set to continue their respective seasons on Friday, Sept. 17, when they travel to East Lansing, Mich., for the Michigan State-hosted Spartan Invitational.
Spartan Invitational
The 2021 Spartan Invitational will take place on Friday, Sept. 17, at Forest Akers East Golf Course, located on the south end of campus. The meet will begin with the women's 6k at 11 a.m. The men will follow, competing in their 8k at 11:40 a.m. The Falcons last competed in the Spartan Invitational in 2019, where both squads posted top ten team scores.
For more information on the Spartan Invitational, click HERE.
To keep up with the event's live finishing results, click HERE.
Against the Field
Both events will feature 21 teams competing, with Bowling Green, Central Michigan, and Toledo representing the Mid-American Conference. This will be the Falcons' second meeting with Toledo this season, as both teams competed in the BGSU-hosted Mel Brodt Collegiate Invite on Sept. 3. Other competitors include four fellow Great Lakes Region members: Oakland, Purdue Fort Wayne, Youngstown State, and nationally ranked Michigan State.
Last Time Out
The Falcons competed in their first meet of the 2021 season on Sept. 3, when they played host to the Mel Brodt Collegiate Invite. The women's team finished second of four schools, while the men's team placed third behind Eastern Michigan and Toledo.
Seniors Katerina Shuble and Sydney Niekamp led the way for the women, earning second and third place finishes in the season-opening 5k. Libbie Gleason, Elise Johnson, and Raegan Burkey rounded out the top five.
Junior AJ Haffa finished 14th overall in the men's 5k, taking the top spot for the Falcons in his second straight Mel Brodt Collegiate Invite. Cesar Arellano, Michael Nowinski, and Vince Manning placed 16th, 17th, and 18th, with Jorge Vazquez rounding out the top five for the Orange and Brown with a 21st place finish.
2019 Spartan Invitational
Bowling Green last competed in the Spartan Invitational in 2019, where both teams earned top ten finishes. The women posted a fifth place score out of the 26 teams in attendance, and the men finished ninth out of 23 teams.
Katerina Shuble (29th), Sydney Niekamp (33rd), and Sydnie Firment (48th) were the top three finishers for the women, earning top 50 times out of 291 athletes competing. Cesar Arellano and AJ Haffa finished 64th and 79th, respectively, in the men's event, which saw 326 participants.
Up Next
Both cross country teams will compete in their third event of the 2021 season in two weekends. The women's team will travel to Bethlehem, Pa., to compete in the Paul Short Run, hosted by Lehigh, on Friday, Oct. 1, at 11:45 a.m. The men's team will compete in the Louisville-hosted Live in Lou Cross Country Classic on Saturday, Oct. 2, at 9:30 a.m.
Follow The Falcons
Be sure to follow the Falcons cross country teams throughout the season on social media.
Twitter – @BGAthletics and @BG_XCTrack
Instagram – 'bgfalcons' and 'bg_xctrack'
Facebook – 'BGSU Athletics'
YouTube – 'Falcon Athletics'
Spartan Invitational
The 2021 Spartan Invitational will take place on Friday, Sept. 17, at Forest Akers East Golf Course, located on the south end of campus. The meet will begin with the women's 6k at 11 a.m. The men will follow, competing in their 8k at 11:40 a.m. The Falcons last competed in the Spartan Invitational in 2019, where both squads posted top ten team scores.
For more information on the Spartan Invitational, click HERE.
To keep up with the event's live finishing results, click HERE.
Against the Field
Both events will feature 21 teams competing, with Bowling Green, Central Michigan, and Toledo representing the Mid-American Conference. This will be the Falcons' second meeting with Toledo this season, as both teams competed in the BGSU-hosted Mel Brodt Collegiate Invite on Sept. 3. Other competitors include four fellow Great Lakes Region members: Oakland, Purdue Fort Wayne, Youngstown State, and nationally ranked Michigan State.
Last Time Out
The Falcons competed in their first meet of the 2021 season on Sept. 3, when they played host to the Mel Brodt Collegiate Invite. The women's team finished second of four schools, while the men's team placed third behind Eastern Michigan and Toledo.
Seniors Katerina Shuble and Sydney Niekamp led the way for the women, earning second and third place finishes in the season-opening 5k. Libbie Gleason, Elise Johnson, and Raegan Burkey rounded out the top five.
Junior AJ Haffa finished 14th overall in the men's 5k, taking the top spot for the Falcons in his second straight Mel Brodt Collegiate Invite. Cesar Arellano, Michael Nowinski, and Vince Manning placed 16th, 17th, and 18th, with Jorge Vazquez rounding out the top five for the Orange and Brown with a 21st place finish.
2019 Spartan Invitational
Bowling Green last competed in the Spartan Invitational in 2019, where both teams earned top ten finishes. The women posted a fifth place score out of the 26 teams in attendance, and the men finished ninth out of 23 teams.
Katerina Shuble (29th), Sydney Niekamp (33rd), and Sydnie Firment (48th) were the top three finishers for the women, earning top 50 times out of 291 athletes competing. Cesar Arellano and AJ Haffa finished 64th and 79th, respectively, in the men's event, which saw 326 participants.
Up Next
Both cross country teams will compete in their third event of the 2021 season in two weekends. The women's team will travel to Bethlehem, Pa., to compete in the Paul Short Run, hosted by Lehigh, on Friday, Oct. 1, at 11:45 a.m. The men's team will compete in the Louisville-hosted Live in Lou Cross Country Classic on Saturday, Oct. 2, at 9:30 a.m.
Follow The Falcons
Be sure to follow the Falcons cross country teams throughout the season on social media.
Twitter – @BGAthletics and @BG_XCTrack
Instagram – 'bgfalcons' and 'bg_xctrack'
Facebook – 'BGSU Athletics'
YouTube – 'Falcon Athletics'
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
XC: Falcon Invitational - Rachel Rhynard (Oct. 17, 2025)
Saturday, October 18
Lou Snelling Post-NCAA Great Lakes Regional Interview (November 15, 2024)
Friday, November 15
Lou Snelling Post-MAC Championships Interview (November 2, 2024)
Friday, November 15
Candace Archer Post-Meet Interview (October 18, 2024)
Monday, October 21