UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State cross country teams are set to host the annual Harry Groves Spiked Shoe Invitational on Friday, Sept. 12 at the Blue & White Golf Courses. The collegiate women’s 6K is slated for a 10 a.m. start, while the men’s college 5.2-mile race is set to begin at 10:45 a.m.
The Penn State women’s team is currently ranked 15th in the country and third in the Mid-Atlantic region in the USTFCCCA polls, while the Nittany Lion men rank fifth in the Mid-Atlantic region.
Friday’s Spiked Shoe Invitational marks Penn State’s only home meet of the 2025 season. The competition field includes:
Women’s Field: American, Buffalo, Colgate, Maryland, Monmouth, Penn State, Pittsburgh, St. Joseph’s, Syracuse, Temple
Men’s Field: American, Buffalo, Colgate, Monmouth, Penn State, Pittsburgh, St. Joseph’s, Syracuse, Temple
The Nittany Lions are coming off a strong showing at the season-opening Dolan Duals meet as Penn State swept the annual meet in Lock Haven last Friday. Sophomore Ada Rand led the 15th-ranked Penn State women’s squad through the finish line, clocking in at 14:06.9 in the women’s 4K to place second overall. The top five Penn State men all finished the 6K race under 18 minutes, led by senior Ryan Watson’s first-place time of 17:39.6. Freshman Isaac Oppermann earned Big Ten Men’s Cross Country Freshman of the Week honors Wednesday following his third-place finish (17:51.5) at the Dolan Duals.
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