Michigan State and Wisconsin Collect Weekly Men’s Cross Country Honors

ROSEMONT, Ill. – The Big Ten Conference has announced its Men’s Cross Country weekly award winners for competitions that occurred between Sept. 17-Sept. 23.  

Athlete of the Week  
Thomas Westphal, Michigan State 
Sophomore – Fair Haven, Mich. – New Baltimore Anchor Bay High School – Major: Kinesiology  

• Finished sixth overall at the John McNichols Invitational with an 8K time of 23:54.6 
• Helped Michigan State finish sixth as a team, which was best among other Big Ten teams 
• Last Michigan State Athlete of the Week Award: Jasper Cane (Sept. 16, 2026) 

Freshman of the Week
Grady Lenn, Wisconsin 
Freshman – De Pere, Wis. – De Pere High School – Major: Undecided 

• Finished with an 8K time of 24:26.1 at the John McNichols Invitational 
• Ended up third among all true-freshman competitors at the meet and was best among Big Ten Freshman 
• His efforts helped Wisconsin to a top-10 team finish 
• This marks Lenn’s second Freshman of the Week Award. Last: Sept. 9, 2026 

2026 Men’s Cross Country Athletes of the Week
Sept. 9 
Athlete: Will McGraw, Ohio State 
Freshman: Grady Lenn, Wisconsin 

Sept. 16 
Athlete: Jasper Cane, MSU 
Freshman: Beckett Crooks, MSU