| The MSU Finish Line Club The Official Booster Club for the Michigan State University Cross Country and Track & Field Program |
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| HISTORY OF MSU CROSS COUNTRY AND TRACK & FIELD |
| Learn about the 150-year history of the nation's first land-grant university through the pages of "The Spirit of Michigan State" by MSU alumnus J. Bruce McCristal |
Michigan State Track & Field and Cross Country:
A Heritage of World Records; Olympic, NCAA and Big Ten
Champions
by J. Bruce McCristal
Author, The Spirit of Michigan State (spiritofmichiganstate.com),
the first comprehensive MSU history in 50 years.
(300 of the records, titles and honors listed below are included
in the book).
1884--
Michigan State’s first intercollegiate athletic competition–in any sport--was in a “field
meet” at Olivet College in 1884. From that historic start, MSU’s Track & Field and Cross
Country teams have established a proud heritage.
World records, Olympic gold medals, and many NCAA and Big Ten championships have
been won by Spartan sprinters, distance runners, and field athletes.
1904--
Harry Moon was first to elevate Michigan State to the national stage...winning silver
medals in the 100- and 200-meter dashes at the World Collegiate Championships at St.
Louis, Missouri in 1904. Moon was one of the nation’s first sprinters to run the 100-yard
dash in 10 seconds. Between 1902 and 1905, he won nine Michigan Intercollegiate
Athletic Association sprint titles.
Take the journey and learn more about the history of our program by clicking below:
Cross Country and Track and Field History
A Heritage of World Records; Olympic, NCAA and Big Ten
Champions
by J. Bruce McCristal
Author, The Spirit of Michigan State (spiritofmichiganstate.com),
the first comprehensive MSU history in 50 years.
(300 of the records, titles and honors listed below are included
in the book).
1884--
Michigan State’s first intercollegiate athletic competition–in any sport--was in a “field
meet” at Olivet College in 1884. From that historic start, MSU’s Track & Field and Cross
Country teams have established a proud heritage.
World records, Olympic gold medals, and many NCAA and Big Ten championships have
been won by Spartan sprinters, distance runners, and field athletes.
1904--
Harry Moon was first to elevate Michigan State to the national stage...winning silver
medals in the 100- and 200-meter dashes at the World Collegiate Championships at St.
Louis, Missouri in 1904. Moon was one of the nation’s first sprinters to run the 100-yard
dash in 10 seconds. Between 1902 and 1905, he won nine Michigan Intercollegiate
Athletic Association sprint titles.
Take the journey and learn more about the history of our program by clicking below:
Cross Country and Track and Field History