University of Minnesota Athletics
Minnesota Hosts Oz Memorial on Friday
9/10/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Cross Country
| 2015 Oz Memorial | |||||||||||
| Date | Friday, Sept. 11, 2015 | ||||||||||
| Location | Les Bolstad Course | Falcon Heights, Minn. | ||||||||||
| Time | 6:30 p.m. men's 6K | 7 p.m. women's 6K | ||||||||||
| Notes | Minnesota | ||||||||||
| Entries | Oz Memorial Entries | ||||||||||
| Teams | Drake, Iowa State (women only), Minnesota, South Dakota State | ||||||||||
Sept. 10, 2015
MINNEAPOLIS (GopherSports.com) -- The University of Minnesota men's cross country program opens the home schedule on Friday night with the Oz Memorial at Les Bolstad Golf Course in Falcon Heights, Minn.
The Gopher men kick off the meet at 6:30 p.m. CT while the Gopher women run at 7:00 p.m. CT. Both races will cover six-kilometers. Joining Minnesota are Drake, Iowa State (women only) and South Dakota State.
Last Time Out -- Bill Timmons Dual Classic
The Gophers kicked off the season with a team title at the Bill Timmons Dual Classic on Sept. 1 at Rim Rock Farm in Lawrence, Kan. Aaron Bartnik and Adam Zutz paced the race with a 1-2 finish for Minnesota while the Maroon & Gold put four runners in the top 10 and all six runners in the top 25 to snap Kansas' 11-meet winning streak at the event. Riley Macon finished eighth and Matt Welch finished ninth while Eric Colvin closed out the team's scoring at 22nd. Cole O'Brien was right behind him in 24th. Minnesota returns to Rim Rock Farm for the 2015 NCAA Midwest Regional on Nov. 16.
Three to Lead in 2015
A trio of redshirt seniors will serve as team captains for the Minnesota men's cross country team this year. Christian Skaret (Minnetonka, Minn.), Adam Zutz (St. Francis, Minn.) and First Team All-Big Ten honoree Aaron Bartnik (Eden Prairie, Minn.) were selected as captains for the 105th season of Gopher cross country.
Remembering Roy Griak
For the first time in more than half a century, the University of Minnesota men's cross country team will head into competition without Roy Griak on its coaching staff. The legendary coach passed away in July after dedicating his life to the University of Minnesota and the sports of cross country and track & field. A Minnesota alum, Griak spent more than 50 years on the Gophers coaching staff including 33 as head coach of the men's track & field and cross country programs. In that time, he guided the Gophers to three Big Ten titles, three national champions, 47 All-Americans and 60 Big Ten champions. The Gophers will wear a special commemorative patch to honor Griak this season.
2014 Oz Memorial Rewind
The University of Minnesota men's cross country team finished second at the Oz Memorial one year behind Drake. The Bulldogs return to the meet in 2015 but do so without 2014 Oz Memorial individual medalist Brogan Austin, who graduated after last season. Adam Zutz led the Maroon & Gold last season with a runner-up finish (tied with the 2015 Bill Timmons Dual Classic for Zutz's top finish at Minnesota). Zutz's time of 19:05.0 at the Oz Memorial last year was the fastest by a Gopher at the meet since Pieter Gagnon clocked a 19:04.58 in 2009 (also finishing second).
30th Annual Roy Griak Invitational Set for Sept. 26
One of the nation's most prestigious cross country meets, the Roy Griak Invitational is set for Saturday, Sept. 26 at Les Bolstad Golf Course in Falcon Heights, Minn. The 10-race meet features high school, and Division I, II and III races with the Gopher men set to compete in the Merrill Fischbein Men's Gold (Division I) Competition at 12:20 p.m. This year's meet will be part of Homecoming festivities as the Gophers celebrate the 30th running of the Roy Griak Invitational. This year's meet will also feature the inaugural class of the Roy Griak Invitational Hall of Fame with eight individuals being inducted on race day. Tickets for the event can be purchased in advance at MyGopherSports.com.
Success Under Plasencia
Now in his 20th season at the helm of the Minnesota men's cross country program, Director of Men's Track & Field and Cross Country Steve Plasencia has continued to guide the Gophers program to successful season after successful season. During his 19-year tenure, the Gophers have earned 14 NCAA Championship bids as well as three NCAA regional titles. Plasencia has also coached the Gophers to a total of 12 All-America honors and 29 All-Big Ten honors. A two-time All-American for the Gophers, Plasencia still holds the school record for a 10-kilometer race.
Players Mentioned
