Cross Country, first run as an intramural competition in 1907 and as an intercollegiate competition in 1910, has historically been Michigan State's most successful men's sport; especially during a four-decade period spanning roughly 1930-1970 during which the Spartans won eight NCAA championships and numerous IC4A and Big Ten titles. Having outgrown the MIAA, then Michigan Agricultural College initially ran cross country as an independent. Between WWI and WWII, Michigan State College competed in the Central Collegiate Conference, winning titles in 1926-1929, 1932, 1933, and 1935. Michigan State also experienced success in the IC4A, at New York'sVan Cortlandt Park, winning 15 team titles. Since entering the Big Ten in 1950, Michigan State has won 14 men's team titles. Michigan State hosted the inaugural NCAA cross country championships in 1938 and every year thereafter through 1964. The Spartans won NCAA championships in 1939, 1948, 1949, 1952, 1955, 1956, 1958, and 1959. The following coaches led Michigan State to major titles: CCC, IC4A, Big Ten, and NCAA.
Men's individual champions
Individual champions include: CCC ; IC4A ; Big Ten. Athletes who ran cross country at Michigan State and also made Olympic rosters in various events include Tom Ottey, Warren Druetzler, Lyle Garbe, and David Lean. In addition to champions listed previously, the following MSU athletes achieved All-American status at the NCAA championship :
Women's cross country competition commenced in 1974 as a club sport and gained varsity status in 1975. Michigan State won Big Ten championships in 1981, 2001, 2010, 2011, and 2019 and finished in the top 15 at the NCAA championship nine times, making this decade tops in the history of the program. Michigan State won the NCAA Championship in 2015 at Terra Haute. The MSU women have also qualified as a team for the NCAA championships for 19 straight seasons dating from 2001 through the 2019 season. Individual Big Ten champions include Misty Allison, Michelle Carson, Danette Doetzel, Nicole Bush, and Emily MacLeod. In addition to champions listed previously, the following MSU athletes achieved All-American status at the NCAA championship:
