University of Minnesota Athletics
2018 Griak Hall of Fame Class Unveiled
9/11/2018 5:13:00 PM | Athletics, Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country
This year’s inductees are Hassan Mead, Rasa (Michniovaite) Troup, Dave Percival, and Griak Invitational co-founder Gary Wilson.
MINNEAPOLIS – The University of Minnesota and Gopher Athletics are proud to announce the 2018 Roy Griak Invitational Hall of Fame class, highlighting four individuals who have made immeasurable contributions to one of the nation's top cross country meets.
This year's inductees are Hassan Mead, Rasa (Michniovaite) Troup, Dave Percival, and Griak Invitational co-founder Gary Wilson.
The 2018 Roy Griak Invitational Hall of Fame class will be honored during the 33rd annual Roy Griak Invitational, set for Saturday, Sept. 29 at Les Bolstad Golf Course in Falcon Heights, Minn.
About the 2018 Roy Griak Hall of Fame Class
Hassan Mead
Already cemented as one of the most accomplished cross country and track athletes to ever compete at the University of Minnesota, Hassan Mead's legend continues to grow in the running world. An eight-time All-American and nine-time Big Ten champion for the Gophers, Mead remains the University of Minnesota record holder in four events – the eight-kiometer race in cross country, the indoor 5,000 meters, the outdoor 5,000 meters and the outdoor 10,000 meters. Born in Borama, Somalia and raised in Minneapolis, Minn., Mead won his first Griak Invitational individual title in 2006 when he claimed the boy's high school gold crown as a senior for Minneapolis South High School. Mead would go on close out his high school cross country career with the 2006 MSHSL Class AA state title, running a state meet record 15:10.7. He'd add another Griak title during his college career, claiming the 2009 gold race crown for the Maroon & Gold as the only University of Minnesota men's runner to win the individual title. Mead continues to compete professionally and internationally – he represented the United States at the 2016 Summer Olympics and claimed the 10,000 meter crown at the 2017 USATF Outdoor Championships.
Rasa (Michniovaite) Troup
Rasa Michniovaite, a native of Pabrade, Lithuania, made her mark on Minnesota cross country in just two seasons after transferring from the University of Vilnius in her home country. During her first season in 1998, Michniovaite became the first Gopher to win the individual title at the Roy Griak Invitational, clocking a 5K time of 17:08 to lead Minnesota to a fourth-place team finish. Michniovaite also took home the 2008 NCAA Midwest Region individual crown and earned All-America honors at the 1998 NCAA Championships with a 16th-place finish. Despite struggling in her senior season with an iron deficiency, Michniovaite again earned All-Big Ten and All-Midwest Region cross country honors. Following her Gopher career, Michniovaite went on to represent Lithuania in the World and European track & field championships as well as the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games where she placed 19th in the 3,000m steeplechase. She remains involved with the Gophers Cross Country and Track & Field program as the team's nutritionist.
Dave Percival
Recognized annually as one of the nation's top cross country meets, the Roy Griak Invitational will honor one of its own this year as long-time Griak official Dave Percival is inducted into the Roy Griak Invitational Hall of Fame. Over the course of his years at the Griak, Percival has worn many hats at the prestigious event. Part Radar O'Reilly, part Angus MacGyver, Percival has been credited with assisting in anything and everything associated with the Roy Griak Invitational from meet preparations and logistics to building the finish line structure that currently signals the end of every race at Les Bolstad Golf Course. A teacher in White Bear Lake, Minn., Percival has served District 624 his entire career while he also serves as an assistant coach for the White Bear Lake High School cross country and track & field programs (Percival previously coached at North St. Paul High School). In addition to his efforts at the Griak, Percival serves as an official at the MSHSL state meet and various other University of Minnesota and Big Ten events.
Gary Wilson
Gary Wilson served as Minnesota's women's cross country head coach for 28 years from 1985 to 2012. During that time, he not only helped establish the annual Roy Griak Invitational but he coached the Gophers to Griak team titles in 1988, 2000, 2007, and 2008. In 1988, all teams ran one race and Wilson's Gophers scored just 39 points to take home the title. Wilson's 2000 Gophers scored 98 points for the team title in the Women's Gold Division I Race, topping runner-up Yale (127 points) and third-place Arizona State (140), as Corinne Nimtz placed fifth and Darja Vasiljeva took eighth to the Maroon & Gold. In 2007, the Gophers again brought home top team honors under Wilson's direction; Minnesota packed its five scoring runners into the top 30 to score 97 points led by Jamie Cheever in eighth place and Gabriele Anderson in 10th. The Gophers repeated as Griak team champions in 2008 behind top-five individual showings from runner-up Megan Duwell, Anderson (fourth), and Cheever (fifth). Wilson's athletes' top performances at the Roy Griak Invitational include individual titles won by Rasa Michiniovaite (1998) and Duwell (2009) as well.
Wilson's coaching success reaches far beyond the Griak Invitational as he guided the Gophers to 15 consecutive NCAA Championship appearances and coached six different Gophers to nine All-America certificates. The 2007 and 2008 Midwest Region and Big Ten Coach of the Year, Wilson led Minnesota cross country to its first two conference titles (2007 and 2008) and three consecutive Midwest Region crowns (2007, 2008, and 2009). He also served as Gopher women's track & field head coach for 21 seasons before taking on an assistant role starting in 2007. Wilson was part of four Big Ten titles on the track. He was named Coach of the Year for the Big Ten, Midwest Region, and Midwest District in 2006 when Minnesota won the outdoor conference title and Heather Dorniden became the Gophers' first-ever national champion. Along with his Griak Hall of Fame induction, Wilson is an inductee of the USTFCCCA, University of Minnesota "M" Club, Drake Relays, and UW-La Crosse Halls of Fame, as well as a recipient of the U of M President's Award for Service.
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This year's inductees are Hassan Mead, Rasa (Michniovaite) Troup, Dave Percival, and Griak Invitational co-founder Gary Wilson.
The 2018 Roy Griak Invitational Hall of Fame class will be honored during the 33rd annual Roy Griak Invitational, set for Saturday, Sept. 29 at Les Bolstad Golf Course in Falcon Heights, Minn.
About the 2018 Roy Griak Hall of Fame Class
Hassan Mead
Already cemented as one of the most accomplished cross country and track athletes to ever compete at the University of Minnesota, Hassan Mead's legend continues to grow in the running world. An eight-time All-American and nine-time Big Ten champion for the Gophers, Mead remains the University of Minnesota record holder in four events – the eight-kiometer race in cross country, the indoor 5,000 meters, the outdoor 5,000 meters and the outdoor 10,000 meters. Born in Borama, Somalia and raised in Minneapolis, Minn., Mead won his first Griak Invitational individual title in 2006 when he claimed the boy's high school gold crown as a senior for Minneapolis South High School. Mead would go on close out his high school cross country career with the 2006 MSHSL Class AA state title, running a state meet record 15:10.7. He'd add another Griak title during his college career, claiming the 2009 gold race crown for the Maroon & Gold as the only University of Minnesota men's runner to win the individual title. Mead continues to compete professionally and internationally – he represented the United States at the 2016 Summer Olympics and claimed the 10,000 meter crown at the 2017 USATF Outdoor Championships.
Rasa (Michniovaite) Troup
Rasa Michniovaite, a native of Pabrade, Lithuania, made her mark on Minnesota cross country in just two seasons after transferring from the University of Vilnius in her home country. During her first season in 1998, Michniovaite became the first Gopher to win the individual title at the Roy Griak Invitational, clocking a 5K time of 17:08 to lead Minnesota to a fourth-place team finish. Michniovaite also took home the 2008 NCAA Midwest Region individual crown and earned All-America honors at the 1998 NCAA Championships with a 16th-place finish. Despite struggling in her senior season with an iron deficiency, Michniovaite again earned All-Big Ten and All-Midwest Region cross country honors. Following her Gopher career, Michniovaite went on to represent Lithuania in the World and European track & field championships as well as the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games where she placed 19th in the 3,000m steeplechase. She remains involved with the Gophers Cross Country and Track & Field program as the team's nutritionist.
Dave Percival
Recognized annually as one of the nation's top cross country meets, the Roy Griak Invitational will honor one of its own this year as long-time Griak official Dave Percival is inducted into the Roy Griak Invitational Hall of Fame. Over the course of his years at the Griak, Percival has worn many hats at the prestigious event. Part Radar O'Reilly, part Angus MacGyver, Percival has been credited with assisting in anything and everything associated with the Roy Griak Invitational from meet preparations and logistics to building the finish line structure that currently signals the end of every race at Les Bolstad Golf Course. A teacher in White Bear Lake, Minn., Percival has served District 624 his entire career while he also serves as an assistant coach for the White Bear Lake High School cross country and track & field programs (Percival previously coached at North St. Paul High School). In addition to his efforts at the Griak, Percival serves as an official at the MSHSL state meet and various other University of Minnesota and Big Ten events.
Gary Wilson
Gary Wilson served as Minnesota's women's cross country head coach for 28 years from 1985 to 2012. During that time, he not only helped establish the annual Roy Griak Invitational but he coached the Gophers to Griak team titles in 1988, 2000, 2007, and 2008. In 1988, all teams ran one race and Wilson's Gophers scored just 39 points to take home the title. Wilson's 2000 Gophers scored 98 points for the team title in the Women's Gold Division I Race, topping runner-up Yale (127 points) and third-place Arizona State (140), as Corinne Nimtz placed fifth and Darja Vasiljeva took eighth to the Maroon & Gold. In 2007, the Gophers again brought home top team honors under Wilson's direction; Minnesota packed its five scoring runners into the top 30 to score 97 points led by Jamie Cheever in eighth place and Gabriele Anderson in 10th. The Gophers repeated as Griak team champions in 2008 behind top-five individual showings from runner-up Megan Duwell, Anderson (fourth), and Cheever (fifth). Wilson's athletes' top performances at the Roy Griak Invitational include individual titles won by Rasa Michiniovaite (1998) and Duwell (2009) as well.
Wilson's coaching success reaches far beyond the Griak Invitational as he guided the Gophers to 15 consecutive NCAA Championship appearances and coached six different Gophers to nine All-America certificates. The 2007 and 2008 Midwest Region and Big Ten Coach of the Year, Wilson led Minnesota cross country to its first two conference titles (2007 and 2008) and three consecutive Midwest Region crowns (2007, 2008, and 2009). He also served as Gopher women's track & field head coach for 21 seasons before taking on an assistant role starting in 2007. Wilson was part of four Big Ten titles on the track. He was named Coach of the Year for the Big Ten, Midwest Region, and Midwest District in 2006 when Minnesota won the outdoor conference title and Heather Dorniden became the Gophers' first-ever national champion. Along with his Griak Hall of Fame induction, Wilson is an inductee of the USTFCCCA, University of Minnesota "M" Club, Drake Relays, and UW-La Crosse Halls of Fame, as well as a recipient of the U of M President's Award for Service.
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