University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Announce 2018 Schedule
7/23/2018 2:19:00 PM | Women's Cross Country
The 2018 Gopher women's cross country schedule is highlighted by five home meets at Les Bolstad Course
MINNEAPOLIS -- The University of Minnesota women's cross country team will once again host five home meets at Les Bolstad Course to highlight its 2018 campaign. The 2017 Big Ten runners-up, the Golden Gophers officially kick off the season with the Oz Memorial on Friday, Sept. 7, and the season concludes with the NCAA Championship in Madison, Wis., on Saturday, Nov. 17.
Minnesota unofficially begins the 2018 season with the annual Intrasquad meet (Aug. 31) after the team spends six days in Ely, Minn., for its annual preseason training trip. The team's official season-opener is one week later when the Maroon & Gold hosts the Oz Memorial. The Gophers' home slate also includes the 33rd annual Roy Griak Invitational (Sept. 29), Jack's Twilight Run (Oct. 19), and Rocky's Run (Nov. 4).
The team will split up for two weeks of competition on the road. Minnesota's top 12 will travel to the east coast for the Battle in Beantown hosted by Boston College (Sept. 21) while the non-travel squad races in Northfield, Minn., at the St. Olaf Invite (Sept. 22). The squad will then split into three groups Oct. 12-13 with Gophers racing at the Bradley Classic in Peoria, Ill. (Oct. 12), Tori Neubauer Invitational in La Crosse, Wis. (Oct. 13), and NCAA Pre-Nationals in Madison, Wis. (Oct. 13) to wrap up the road portion of the regular-season schedule.
Two more home meets follow, including Jack's Twilight Run (Oct. 19) and Rocky's Run (Nov. 4). Jack's Twilight Run and Rocky's Run offer area runners and Gopher fans two opportunities to race on Minnesota's home course as both are held annually as open meets at Les Bolstad Course. Jack's Twilight Run honors the late Minnesota equipment manager Jack Johnson. After serving as the Gophers' equipment manager for over three decades, Johnson passed away in February 2006 after a battle with cancer. Johnson will always be a part of the Minnesota women's cross country and track programs.
Meanwhile, Rocky's Run was founded in 1981 to honor former Gopher runner Rochelle "Rocky" Racette, who died in a car accident that fall at the age of 22. While at the University of Minnesota, Racette was an All-American in track & field and cross country and champion of the Big Ten and Drake Relays 5,000-meter titles. The annual race is staged by the many members of the running community who knew and loved her. Racette's legacy lives on through the memory of those who knew her and through Rocky's Run and the scholarship for which it raises money.
The championship portion of the season begins with the 2018 Big Ten Cross Country Championship on Sunday, Oct. 28 hosted by Nebraska in Lincoln, Neb. The Maroon & Gold finished as runners-up a year ago and went on to sweep the 2018 B1G team titles during the indoor and outdoor track & field seasons. Minnesota has not finished lower than fifth in the Big Ten in all five seasons with head coach Sarah Hopkins at the helm of the program.
Post-season action continues Friday, Nov. 9 with the NCAA Midwest Regional hosted by Bradley University in Peoria, Ill. The Gophers look for a second-straight NCAA Championship berth after placing 19th at the 2017 national meet. The 2018 NCAA Championship will be hosted by Wisconsin on Saturday, Nov. 17.
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Minnesota unofficially begins the 2018 season with the annual Intrasquad meet (Aug. 31) after the team spends six days in Ely, Minn., for its annual preseason training trip. The team's official season-opener is one week later when the Maroon & Gold hosts the Oz Memorial. The Gophers' home slate also includes the 33rd annual Roy Griak Invitational (Sept. 29), Jack's Twilight Run (Oct. 19), and Rocky's Run (Nov. 4).
The team will split up for two weeks of competition on the road. Minnesota's top 12 will travel to the east coast for the Battle in Beantown hosted by Boston College (Sept. 21) while the non-travel squad races in Northfield, Minn., at the St. Olaf Invite (Sept. 22). The squad will then split into three groups Oct. 12-13 with Gophers racing at the Bradley Classic in Peoria, Ill. (Oct. 12), Tori Neubauer Invitational in La Crosse, Wis. (Oct. 13), and NCAA Pre-Nationals in Madison, Wis. (Oct. 13) to wrap up the road portion of the regular-season schedule.
Two more home meets follow, including Jack's Twilight Run (Oct. 19) and Rocky's Run (Nov. 4). Jack's Twilight Run and Rocky's Run offer area runners and Gopher fans two opportunities to race on Minnesota's home course as both are held annually as open meets at Les Bolstad Course. Jack's Twilight Run honors the late Minnesota equipment manager Jack Johnson. After serving as the Gophers' equipment manager for over three decades, Johnson passed away in February 2006 after a battle with cancer. Johnson will always be a part of the Minnesota women's cross country and track programs.
Meanwhile, Rocky's Run was founded in 1981 to honor former Gopher runner Rochelle "Rocky" Racette, who died in a car accident that fall at the age of 22. While at the University of Minnesota, Racette was an All-American in track & field and cross country and champion of the Big Ten and Drake Relays 5,000-meter titles. The annual race is staged by the many members of the running community who knew and loved her. Racette's legacy lives on through the memory of those who knew her and through Rocky's Run and the scholarship for which it raises money.
The championship portion of the season begins with the 2018 Big Ten Cross Country Championship on Sunday, Oct. 28 hosted by Nebraska in Lincoln, Neb. The Maroon & Gold finished as runners-up a year ago and went on to sweep the 2018 B1G team titles during the indoor and outdoor track & field seasons. Minnesota has not finished lower than fifth in the Big Ten in all five seasons with head coach Sarah Hopkins at the helm of the program.
Post-season action continues Friday, Nov. 9 with the NCAA Midwest Regional hosted by Bradley University in Peoria, Ill. The Gophers look for a second-straight NCAA Championship berth after placing 19th at the 2017 national meet. The 2018 NCAA Championship will be hosted by Wisconsin on Saturday, Nov. 17.
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