MSU Cross Country Study

Michigan State University Cross Country Study

Supported by

University of Waterloo

MSU Track and Field Alumni Association, The Finish Line Club

Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada

Your MSU Action Photos

Hello and welcome to the MSU Cross Country study Web site! This project was initiated in 2007 and will run at least through the end of 2017. Our primary goal is to compile a comprehensive history of MSU cross country. We've included information about the research project as well as team and contemporary photos of past MSU cross country runners. We hope that you'll consider participating in our comprehensive study of the history of MSU Cross Country by completing a survey and sharing relevant photos or documents from your time at MSU and beyond.

Over 400 MSU athletes and family members have contributed to date!

Our on-line survey site closed summer of 2015 (as my research ethics clearance expired after 5 years plus 6 months' extension). However, it is not too late to get involved. You can still contribute to the conversation and book by e-mailing me at mhavitz@uwaterloo.ca or by joining those us us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/mark.havitz and friending me.

Mark E. Havitz, Professor, University of Waterloo (Canada), MSU cross country alumnus 1977-78

What's happening with the book? Click here for a Working Draft Table of Contents. The book is about 80 percent complete in rough draft form.

Winter 2017 Progress Report: Working drafts of 19 of 22 book chapters are complete and the remaining three are well in progress. Sixteen chapters cover Michigan State Cross Country history from 1907 through 2016 for men, and 1974 through 2016 for women. Over the next year, draft copies of those chapters will be available to all who have contributed to them for the purposes of ensuring accuracy and gathering additional insights. Four of the remaining six chapters are based on survey and interview responses regarding our individual and collective running origins, on-campus social worlds, running beyond college as adults, and how running relates to our lives in terms of well-being and influences on future generations. Another chapter will document research methods used in this project, and the final one will summarize the book and draw some general conclusions. Please refer to the Working Draft Table of Contents link above for information on specific book chapters.

We share a long proud history -- from the here and now to way back when!

NATIONAL CHAMPIONS! Coach Walt Drenth and members of Michigan State's women's cross country team flank senior Sarah Kroll as she hoists the NCAA trophy on 22 November 2014. For more on the that and the current season see the Upcoming Events link on this site. Photo by Ron Berby		MEN FINISH 24th AT NCAAS. Caleb in a crowd! Every feel like the whole world is trying to chase you down? That may have been Caleb Rhynard's (#644) feeling at the 2014 Wisconsin Invitational. MSU's men ran a great Regional race to take second to Wisconsin to secure an NCAA berth. Photo source: University of Wisconsin Athletic Department

This photo shows varsity members of our 1939 NCAA champions running on campus. Seven young men: Not long after, most found themselves fighting in World War Two. One of them died in Europe and another shortly after the war - mistakenly shot while running near a military base stateside; another made a career in the armed forces, rising to the rank of Lt. Colonel. Another was later elected into the MSU Athletics Hall of Fame. Most eventually turned their focus from distance running to making a living and raising families, but they carried important memories, as well as valuable work and leisure habits with them throughout their lives. They’re all gone now though one rests permanently on campus; his ashes spread by family on portions of the cross country course that he loved. Our goal is to recapture and share their legacy with the world. It’s a story worth telling.		This photo shows our 2010 Big Ten champions posing with the coveted, hard-earned conference trophy. Nine accomplished young women and two proud coaches: One is a Big Ten Individual Champion; several are Big Ten and Academic All-Americans. How will their lives unfold? What stories will they cherish? What parts of the experience would they just as soon set aside? How will they change the world? Our goal is to capture and share that promise. It’s a story worth telling. What about you? What about your story?
	What do you remember? Here's some hill cresting, chalk dust flying, muscles straining, leaves blowing, long hair tossing, race strategy plotting, number bib ripping, lungs burning action from an epic early-1970s dual meet between Michigan State and highly ranked Eastern Michigan in Ypsilanti. Herb Lindsay (#66), shown here with teammate Stan Mavis over his right shoulder, recently wrote his recollection of that action in his survey. Do you have some stories you want to tell and some photos or videos you'd like to share? You've come to the right place! Yours is a story worth telling.
	Runners' set? Let's get started! This photo shows part of the MSU men's team reacting to the starter's pistol vs. University of Michigan, October 1978. From left: Martin Schulist, Steve Carlson, Harold Rutila, Michael White, Mark Havitz, John Young, Mark Mesler, Tim Kerr (not pictured, Keith Moore). In background (with stop watch) is a former teammate Bob West. These guys are now middle aged. Three are now successful businessmen, one is a physician, one is an engineer, another is a high school principal and another is a college professor. Most of them still run, though not as fast as they did “back in the day”. But you should see their children . . . ! For further information or to request your survey, contact Mark Havitz at mhavitz@uwaterloo.ca
	"Wondered how I'd meet you" (To play, click on this link) This song was written by David Lean, a 1950's era MSU Cross Country Alumnus. David was British Empire Games gold medalist in 1954 (intermediate hurdles) and Australian Olympic Team Member and silver medalist in1956 (4 x 400 meters). Following a prominent career as an economist, David is happily retired in northern Michigan where he composes and plays jazz piano and is active in his community. He is pictured recently on the back deck of his home holding his cherished green and white MSU track spikes. He still remembers . . . boy does he remember! Yours is also a story worth telling.
	David's Lean's song is performed by David Chown CD Title: In A Mello Mood: Piano Ballads Copyright 2001 Shmooze Music www.davidchown.com The song is also available on David Lean's 2011 CD David Lean plays David Lean from that same record label. The CD jacket contains information regarding both his musical and running careers.