Michigan State and Penn State Win Weekly Women’s Cross Country Accolades
Spartans’ Pangburn and Nittany Lions’ Kipruto garner weekly honors
ROSEMONT, Ill. – The Big Ten Conference has announced its Women’s Cross Country weekly awards winner for competitions that occurred between Sept. 10-16.
Athlete of the Week
Taylor Pangburn, Michigan State
Junior – Grand Ledge, Mich. – Grand Ledge High School – Major: Mechanical Engineering
- Placed in second in the Spartan Invite with a 6K time of of 20:53.2
- Helped the Spartans claim the team title as three finished in the top 10
- Last Michigan State Athlete of the Week: Sarah Forsyth (Oct. 29, 2026)
Freshman of the Week
Vivian Kapruto, Penn State
Freshman – Kenya – Major: Undeclared
- Earned a fourth-place finish in the Spiked Shoe Invitational with a 6K time of 20:45.4
- This performance follows a second-place overall finish in the 5k at the Dolan Duals on 9/4 in her collegiate cross country debut (17:34)
- This marks Penn State’s first Freshman of the Week award
2026 Women’s Cross Country Athletes of the Week
Sept. 9
Athlete: Ali Weimer, MINN
Freshman: Katy Zang, IND
Sept. 16
Athlete: Taylor Pangburn, MSU
Freshman: Vivian Kapruto, PSU