Sept. 12, 2012

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State women’s cross country team travels to East Lansing, Mich., this Friday, Sept. 14, for the Auto Owners Spartan Invitational.

The Buckeyes return to action following a dominating win at the Flyer 5k Challenge Sept. 1. This weekend’s run will provide more of a challenge as the squad faces a pair of top-15 teams in No. 11 Michigan and 13th-ranked and host Michigan State on the 6k course that will host the Big Ten championship meet in late October .

The race at Forest Akers East Golf Course is slated for noon ET. A complete recap will available later in the day at www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com.

Notable Competing Teams
No. 11 Michigan
No. 13 Michigan State
Miami (Ohio)
Oakland
Ohio State
Western Michigan

Buckeyes Ranked Eighth in Great Lakes Region
The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) released its Great Lakes regional cross country rankings on Sept. 11, with Ohio State checking-in at No. 8. Michigan is the top-ranked team in the region, followed by Michigan State, Toledo, Notre Dame, Wisconsin, Indiana, Butler and the Buckeyes.

Follow the Buckeyes on Facebook and Twitter!
The women's cross country program is on Facebook and Twitter. Visit www.facebook.com/OSUwtrackXC  and www.twitter.com/OhioState_WTRK to get the latest news and notes on the Buckeyes.

Last Time Out
Ohio State opened the 2012 season with an impressive victory at the Flyer 5k Challenge on Sept. 1.

The Buckeyes finished with a team score of 19, 19 points better than second-place finisher Miami (Ohio). Dayton finished third with 85 points, followed by Cincinnati (108), Wright State (153) and Cleveland State (170).

The top-3 finishers (and five of the top seven) were all Buckeyes. Junior Meredith Wagner had the top time of 18:12 followed by sophomore Michelle Thomas (18:21) and freshman Alexandra Aughenbaugh (18:23). Freshman Helen Willman (18:41) placed sixth and sophomore Nicole Hilton (18:47) claimed seventh. 

Up Next
Ohio State takes a week off prior to a Sept. 28 trip to the Notre Dame Invitational in Notre Dame, Ind.