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Griak Invitational Race-by-Race Previews
9/27/2018 12:25:00 PM | Athletics, Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country
Break down the field set to compete at the 33rd annual Roy Griak Invitational this Saturday.
MINNEAPOLIS -- The Golden Gopher men's and women's cross country program returns home to host the 33rd annual Roy Griak Invitational at Les Bolstad Course on Saturday. Break down the field set to compete in each of the meet's 10 competitions.
Merrill Fischbein Men's Gold Division I Race
Fifteen Division I men's cross country programs will toe the line for the Merrill Fischbein Men's Gold Competition on Saturday, Sept. 29 at the 2018 Roy Griak Invitational, held at Les Bolstad Golf Course in Falcon Heights, Minn.
The 2018 edition of the Merrill Fischbein Men's Gold Competition will see a wide-open competition in both the team and individual standings including a new champions as Colorado State and Rams graduated senior Jerrell Mock, the race's two-time defending individual medalist, will not return to defend the titles. No runner has earned three consecutive titles in the Division I competition in the 32-year history of the Roy Griak Invitational, and we won't see that change in 2018. Lost in the shuffle of last year's team and individual titles was the fact that Colorado State became the first school in Merrill Fischbein Men's Gold Competition history to win three-straight individual crowns as Mock's back-to-back titles followed Jefferson Abbey's win in 2015. Iowa State remains the all-time leader in individual championships at the Roy Griak Invitational with six wins (all in the first decade of the race's existence).
In the individual competition on Saturday, we'll see an entirely new top-10 from one year ago with South Dakota State's Chase Cayo coming back to Les Bolstad Golf Course as the top returner. A native of St. Michael, Minn., Cayo came in 12th at last year's steamy run before going on to win the Summit League championship and earn conference MVP honors for the Jackrabbits.
The team competition at the 2018 Roy Griak Invitational will also be shaken up a bit with the hosting Golden Gophers entering the 15-team field as the top returning program. The University of Minnesota finished fourth in 2017, and the Maroon & Gold will be tested by four other teams that are back in action this year after top-10 performances last season. Joining the Gophers, Navy is back after finishing sixth a year ago, Duke will make the trek to Minnesota once again after finishing seventh in 2017 and regional programs SDSU and Drake are once again in action at the Griak after coming in eighth and ninth, respectively, last season. Drake was in action earlier this at Les Bolstad Golf Course with a runner-up showing behind Minnesota at the Oz Memorial.
Speaking of the hosting Golden Gophers, Minnesota heads into the 33rd annual Roy Griak Invitational with two wins in two races this year – winning the Oz Memorial to open the season and then adding team and individual titles at Nebraska's Greeno/Dirksen Invite the following weekend. Alec Basten paced the Maroon & Gold for his first career win at the Nebraska competition, and he'll be Minnesota's top returner to the Merrill Fischbein Men's Gold Competition after finishing 29th a year ago. The Golden Gophers will need to replace their top three finishers from 2017 as Charlie Lawrence (13th), Obsa Ali (21st) and Derek Wiebke (25th) were all lost to graduation. In addition to Basten, Minnesota returns its final scorer in Hamza Ali (47th) while Shane Streich and Connor Olson are also back in action after just missing out on scoring for the Gophers last year.
Jack Johnson Women's Gold Division I Race
The 2018 Roy Griak Invitational Jack Johnson Women's Gold Division I Race features 14 teams, including five teams returning from last year's race. Just three of the top 25 individual finishers from a year ago return for the six-kilometer race in 2018, setting up an exciting, fresh field for Griak fans.
Both a new team champion and a new individual champion will be crowned this year as the 2018 field is without San Francisco, which claimed both titles in one of the most impressive Griak performances in recent years in 2017. The Dons scored 22 points, one of the lowest scores in Griak history, to take home the team title last season. San Francisco posted the top four individual finishers led by individual champion Weronika Pyzik (21:09.2).
Returning from last year's field are host Minnesota, which placed third in 2017, along with South Dakota (fifth), South Dakota State (14th), North Dakota State (15th), and Drake (17th). Newcomers Cal Baptist, Cal State Fullerton, Creighton, Harvard, Montana State, North Dakota, Northern Iowa, Rice, and Western Illinois round out this year's field. Among this year's 14 teams, Minnesota is the only team to have previously won the Women's Gold Race team title.
In the individual race, Minnesota junior Bethany Hasz is the top returner; she and twin sister Megan Hasz are the only top-15 finishers from last season returning to Les Bolstad Course this year. Bethany placed 11th in 21:51.6 with Megan less than two seconds behind in 13th place (21:53.4). The duo went on to earn All-Midwest Region and All-Big Ten honors last season before making their NCAA Championship debuts and helping the Gophers to an 18th-place showing at the 2017 national meet.
Following the Hasz twins, South Dakota senior Megan Billington is the next top returner who will toe the line in this year's Women's Gold Race. Billington placed 22nd a year ago, leading the Coyotes to a fifth-place team showing; USD returns five of its top seven from that group.
South Dakota State returns its top three finishers from last year's 14th-place Griak squad in Rachel King, Emily Berzonsky, and Anna Donnay. Likewise, North Dakota State's top runner from last season, Kelby Anderson, is back after leading the Bison with a 66th-place individual showing last season. Meanwhile, Drake returns four of its top seven from its 17th-place Griak team, led by MyKaela Cole and Elizabeth Aho.
The host Gophers look to improve on their third-place Griak team showing a year ago as top contenders for the 2018 team title. Minnesota has earned podium finishes in two of the last three seasons, placing third in 2017 and 2015. The Gophers look for their fifth Griak team crown in program history, having won back-to-back titles in 2007 and 2008 as well as taking home top honors in 1988 and 2000.
Minnesota returns four of its top seven individuals and six of its top 10 finishers from last year's Griak. Behind Bethany Hasz and Megan Hasz, Zetta Mason and Patty O'Brien return after finishing as the sixth and seventh Gophers in 35th and 43rd overall in 2017. Abby Kohut-Jackson and Molly Eastman round out Minnesota's top returners while redshirt freshmen Jaycie Thomsen, Anastasia Korzenowski, and Tate Sweeney will bolster the lineup after racing unattached last season. The Gophers also have the services of junior Elyse Prescott, who ran unattached at last year's Griak, and redshirt sophomore Olivia Hummel is set to make her Griak debut.
With so many new faces at this year's Jack Johnson Women's Gold Race and over 180 runners entered in the competition, there is sure to be something for every cross country fan.
Men's Maroon Division II Race
Augustana already owns a piece of Roy Griak Invitational history with five team titles in the Men's Maroon II Race, and this year the Vikings will look to become the first school in race history to win three-straight team championships. With 49 points last year, Augustana recorded the race's lowest team score in more than a decade. Following a fifth-place finish a year ago, Sioux Falls is the only other team from last year's top-five to return to this year's Men's Maroon II Race. The Cougars bring back the top-two finishers from last year's competition as Mason Phillips ran 25:30.5 to become the first Sioux Falls runner to claim a Griak title in 2017, and Steve Brown was the runner-up to his teammate at 25:59.4.
Women's Maroon Division II Race
The 2018 Women's Maroon II Race includes runners from 19 teams, along with a handful of unattached runners. This year's field is without last year's top two teams so a new team champion will be crowned, but three of the top five teams from 2017 are back to contend for the title: University of Mary, Augustana (S.D.), and Northern Michigan. The Women's Maroon II Race will also see a new individual winner crowned as back-to-back champion Alexis Zeis from the University of Mary has graduated; Northern Michigan junior Katelyn Smith is the top returner from last year's field after placing third.
Jo Rider Men's Maroon Men's Maroon Division III Race
UW-Oshkosh will also look to make Roy Griak Invitational history this year as it goes for its fourth-straight team title in the Men's Maroon III Race. A title this year would mark the Titans' fifth overall win at the Griak – tying UW-La Crosse for the most in meet history. UW-Oshkosh has scored 35, 37 and 28 in its last three wins – the lowest three scores in race's 11-year history. Lucas Weber is the top returner after finishing second last year as a freshman.
Suzy Wilson Women's Maroon Division III Race
The 2018 Suzy Wilson Women's Maroon III Race kicks off the Roy Griak Invitational as the first race of the day. Among this year's 15-team field are three of last year's top five teams, 2017 runner-up St. Thomas (Minn.), UW-River Falls, and Macalester. A new team champion will be crowned after Carleton took home the 2017 team title. In the individual race, UW-River Falls senior Linsey Tolkkinen is the top returner after placing sixth a year ago. In total, just four of last year's top 15 individual finishers return in the Women's Maroon III Race: Tolkkinen, St. Thomas juniors Becca Wilkin and Jenny Launder, and UW-River Falls senior Nikki Jurik.
Larry Zirgibel High School Boys' Gold Race
Eight of the top ten teams from 2017 return to the Griak Gold race in 2018. Wayzata (MN), Edina (MN), Dowling Catholic (IA), and Minnetonka (MN) all look to take the team title after finishing in the top five a year ago. Olathe North and Shawnee Mission North, both from Kansas, should also be in serious contention for the team title as well, with both teams being perennial powers.
Each year, the Griak seems to be headlined by seniors, and 2017 was no different. With 16 of the top 20 finishers from 2017 not returning in 2018, the individual title is anyone's guess! The top returners include Max Manley (Edina, MN), Caleb Easton (Middleton, WI), Andrew Brandt (Wayzata, MN), and Luke Labatte (Rosemount, MN).
Lefty Wright High School Boys' Maroon Race
The top-five teams from the heat-shortened 2017 race return to race the full 5K race in 2018. Notre Dame Academy (WI) returns to defend their team title, but they will need to bring their best with so many top teams returning. Look for Bellevue (IA), Champlain Park (MN), Clear Lake (IA), and Benilde-St. Margaret's (MN) to all bring squads ready for a tough battle.
Unlike the Gold race, there are plenty of top finishers from 2017 returning to the Griak in the Maroon Race in 2018. Harris Anderson (Math & Science, MN), Brady Greibel (Bellevue, IA), and Aiden Jung (Dickinson, ND) will all look to improve upon their 3200m race finishes last year, though the 5K Griak course offers an entirely different set of challenges.
Gary Wilson High School Girls' Gold Race
Just like years past, the 2018 Griak team race will see teams with national meet experience competing head to head. Expect to see Wayzata (MN), the defending 2017 MN Class AA State Champion, Edina (MN), and Naperville North (IL) all with very strong teams again this year. Shawnee Mission North (KS) and Olathe North (KS) return strong teams following impressive 2017 seasons, so don't be surprised to see either team make a strong run for the team title.
The individual race could be a showdown of future state champions and national meet top finishers. Stars from Minnesota will likely shine as defending Griak champion Emily Covert (Minneapolis Washburn), Tierney Wolfgram (Math & Science Academy), and the Ping sisters, Grace & Lauren (Cotter) challenge for the individual title. Keep a close eye on Alex Morris (Naperville North) and Dana Feyen (G-E-T) to make strong pushes for the individual title as well.
High School Girls' Maroon Race
Many of the top teams from the 2017 Griak return in 2018 for another chance at a team title. Returning teams include South St. Paul (MN), Menomonie (WI), Notre Dame Academy (WI), and Bloomington Jefferson (MN). The 2017 race distance was reduced to 3200m due to the extreme heat, so there is no doubt these teams will be ready for the full 5K challenge in 2018.
The individual competition will see four of the top-10 finishers from 2017 back again in 2018. Brooke Jaworski (Wausau West, WI), Ashley Peterson (Lakeland Union, WI), Josie Mosby (St. Louis Park, MN), and Emilie Meyer (Totino Grace, MN) will look to improve upon their 2017 finishes, but some newcomers will undoubtedly put up strong challenges to the veterans.
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Merrill Fischbein Men's Gold Division I Race
Fifteen Division I men's cross country programs will toe the line for the Merrill Fischbein Men's Gold Competition on Saturday, Sept. 29 at the 2018 Roy Griak Invitational, held at Les Bolstad Golf Course in Falcon Heights, Minn.
The 2018 edition of the Merrill Fischbein Men's Gold Competition will see a wide-open competition in both the team and individual standings including a new champions as Colorado State and Rams graduated senior Jerrell Mock, the race's two-time defending individual medalist, will not return to defend the titles. No runner has earned three consecutive titles in the Division I competition in the 32-year history of the Roy Griak Invitational, and we won't see that change in 2018. Lost in the shuffle of last year's team and individual titles was the fact that Colorado State became the first school in Merrill Fischbein Men's Gold Competition history to win three-straight individual crowns as Mock's back-to-back titles followed Jefferson Abbey's win in 2015. Iowa State remains the all-time leader in individual championships at the Roy Griak Invitational with six wins (all in the first decade of the race's existence).
In the individual competition on Saturday, we'll see an entirely new top-10 from one year ago with South Dakota State's Chase Cayo coming back to Les Bolstad Golf Course as the top returner. A native of St. Michael, Minn., Cayo came in 12th at last year's steamy run before going on to win the Summit League championship and earn conference MVP honors for the Jackrabbits.
The team competition at the 2018 Roy Griak Invitational will also be shaken up a bit with the hosting Golden Gophers entering the 15-team field as the top returning program. The University of Minnesota finished fourth in 2017, and the Maroon & Gold will be tested by four other teams that are back in action this year after top-10 performances last season. Joining the Gophers, Navy is back after finishing sixth a year ago, Duke will make the trek to Minnesota once again after finishing seventh in 2017 and regional programs SDSU and Drake are once again in action at the Griak after coming in eighth and ninth, respectively, last season. Drake was in action earlier this at Les Bolstad Golf Course with a runner-up showing behind Minnesota at the Oz Memorial.
Speaking of the hosting Golden Gophers, Minnesota heads into the 33rd annual Roy Griak Invitational with two wins in two races this year – winning the Oz Memorial to open the season and then adding team and individual titles at Nebraska's Greeno/Dirksen Invite the following weekend. Alec Basten paced the Maroon & Gold for his first career win at the Nebraska competition, and he'll be Minnesota's top returner to the Merrill Fischbein Men's Gold Competition after finishing 29th a year ago. The Golden Gophers will need to replace their top three finishers from 2017 as Charlie Lawrence (13th), Obsa Ali (21st) and Derek Wiebke (25th) were all lost to graduation. In addition to Basten, Minnesota returns its final scorer in Hamza Ali (47th) while Shane Streich and Connor Olson are also back in action after just missing out on scoring for the Gophers last year.
Jack Johnson Women's Gold Division I Race
The 2018 Roy Griak Invitational Jack Johnson Women's Gold Division I Race features 14 teams, including five teams returning from last year's race. Just three of the top 25 individual finishers from a year ago return for the six-kilometer race in 2018, setting up an exciting, fresh field for Griak fans.
Both a new team champion and a new individual champion will be crowned this year as the 2018 field is without San Francisco, which claimed both titles in one of the most impressive Griak performances in recent years in 2017. The Dons scored 22 points, one of the lowest scores in Griak history, to take home the team title last season. San Francisco posted the top four individual finishers led by individual champion Weronika Pyzik (21:09.2).
Returning from last year's field are host Minnesota, which placed third in 2017, along with South Dakota (fifth), South Dakota State (14th), North Dakota State (15th), and Drake (17th). Newcomers Cal Baptist, Cal State Fullerton, Creighton, Harvard, Montana State, North Dakota, Northern Iowa, Rice, and Western Illinois round out this year's field. Among this year's 14 teams, Minnesota is the only team to have previously won the Women's Gold Race team title.
In the individual race, Minnesota junior Bethany Hasz is the top returner; she and twin sister Megan Hasz are the only top-15 finishers from last season returning to Les Bolstad Course this year. Bethany placed 11th in 21:51.6 with Megan less than two seconds behind in 13th place (21:53.4). The duo went on to earn All-Midwest Region and All-Big Ten honors last season before making their NCAA Championship debuts and helping the Gophers to an 18th-place showing at the 2017 national meet.
Following the Hasz twins, South Dakota senior Megan Billington is the next top returner who will toe the line in this year's Women's Gold Race. Billington placed 22nd a year ago, leading the Coyotes to a fifth-place team showing; USD returns five of its top seven from that group.
South Dakota State returns its top three finishers from last year's 14th-place Griak squad in Rachel King, Emily Berzonsky, and Anna Donnay. Likewise, North Dakota State's top runner from last season, Kelby Anderson, is back after leading the Bison with a 66th-place individual showing last season. Meanwhile, Drake returns four of its top seven from its 17th-place Griak team, led by MyKaela Cole and Elizabeth Aho.
The host Gophers look to improve on their third-place Griak team showing a year ago as top contenders for the 2018 team title. Minnesota has earned podium finishes in two of the last three seasons, placing third in 2017 and 2015. The Gophers look for their fifth Griak team crown in program history, having won back-to-back titles in 2007 and 2008 as well as taking home top honors in 1988 and 2000.
Minnesota returns four of its top seven individuals and six of its top 10 finishers from last year's Griak. Behind Bethany Hasz and Megan Hasz, Zetta Mason and Patty O'Brien return after finishing as the sixth and seventh Gophers in 35th and 43rd overall in 2017. Abby Kohut-Jackson and Molly Eastman round out Minnesota's top returners while redshirt freshmen Jaycie Thomsen, Anastasia Korzenowski, and Tate Sweeney will bolster the lineup after racing unattached last season. The Gophers also have the services of junior Elyse Prescott, who ran unattached at last year's Griak, and redshirt sophomore Olivia Hummel is set to make her Griak debut.
With so many new faces at this year's Jack Johnson Women's Gold Race and over 180 runners entered in the competition, there is sure to be something for every cross country fan.
Men's Maroon Division II Race
Augustana already owns a piece of Roy Griak Invitational history with five team titles in the Men's Maroon II Race, and this year the Vikings will look to become the first school in race history to win three-straight team championships. With 49 points last year, Augustana recorded the race's lowest team score in more than a decade. Following a fifth-place finish a year ago, Sioux Falls is the only other team from last year's top-five to return to this year's Men's Maroon II Race. The Cougars bring back the top-two finishers from last year's competition as Mason Phillips ran 25:30.5 to become the first Sioux Falls runner to claim a Griak title in 2017, and Steve Brown was the runner-up to his teammate at 25:59.4.
Women's Maroon Division II Race
The 2018 Women's Maroon II Race includes runners from 19 teams, along with a handful of unattached runners. This year's field is without last year's top two teams so a new team champion will be crowned, but three of the top five teams from 2017 are back to contend for the title: University of Mary, Augustana (S.D.), and Northern Michigan. The Women's Maroon II Race will also see a new individual winner crowned as back-to-back champion Alexis Zeis from the University of Mary has graduated; Northern Michigan junior Katelyn Smith is the top returner from last year's field after placing third.
Jo Rider Men's Maroon Men's Maroon Division III Race
UW-Oshkosh will also look to make Roy Griak Invitational history this year as it goes for its fourth-straight team title in the Men's Maroon III Race. A title this year would mark the Titans' fifth overall win at the Griak – tying UW-La Crosse for the most in meet history. UW-Oshkosh has scored 35, 37 and 28 in its last three wins – the lowest three scores in race's 11-year history. Lucas Weber is the top returner after finishing second last year as a freshman.
Suzy Wilson Women's Maroon Division III Race
The 2018 Suzy Wilson Women's Maroon III Race kicks off the Roy Griak Invitational as the first race of the day. Among this year's 15-team field are three of last year's top five teams, 2017 runner-up St. Thomas (Minn.), UW-River Falls, and Macalester. A new team champion will be crowned after Carleton took home the 2017 team title. In the individual race, UW-River Falls senior Linsey Tolkkinen is the top returner after placing sixth a year ago. In total, just four of last year's top 15 individual finishers return in the Women's Maroon III Race: Tolkkinen, St. Thomas juniors Becca Wilkin and Jenny Launder, and UW-River Falls senior Nikki Jurik.
Larry Zirgibel High School Boys' Gold Race
Eight of the top ten teams from 2017 return to the Griak Gold race in 2018. Wayzata (MN), Edina (MN), Dowling Catholic (IA), and Minnetonka (MN) all look to take the team title after finishing in the top five a year ago. Olathe North and Shawnee Mission North, both from Kansas, should also be in serious contention for the team title as well, with both teams being perennial powers.
Each year, the Griak seems to be headlined by seniors, and 2017 was no different. With 16 of the top 20 finishers from 2017 not returning in 2018, the individual title is anyone's guess! The top returners include Max Manley (Edina, MN), Caleb Easton (Middleton, WI), Andrew Brandt (Wayzata, MN), and Luke Labatte (Rosemount, MN).
Lefty Wright High School Boys' Maroon Race
The top-five teams from the heat-shortened 2017 race return to race the full 5K race in 2018. Notre Dame Academy (WI) returns to defend their team title, but they will need to bring their best with so many top teams returning. Look for Bellevue (IA), Champlain Park (MN), Clear Lake (IA), and Benilde-St. Margaret's (MN) to all bring squads ready for a tough battle.
Unlike the Gold race, there are plenty of top finishers from 2017 returning to the Griak in the Maroon Race in 2018. Harris Anderson (Math & Science, MN), Brady Greibel (Bellevue, IA), and Aiden Jung (Dickinson, ND) will all look to improve upon their 3200m race finishes last year, though the 5K Griak course offers an entirely different set of challenges.
Gary Wilson High School Girls' Gold Race
Just like years past, the 2018 Griak team race will see teams with national meet experience competing head to head. Expect to see Wayzata (MN), the defending 2017 MN Class AA State Champion, Edina (MN), and Naperville North (IL) all with very strong teams again this year. Shawnee Mission North (KS) and Olathe North (KS) return strong teams following impressive 2017 seasons, so don't be surprised to see either team make a strong run for the team title.
The individual race could be a showdown of future state champions and national meet top finishers. Stars from Minnesota will likely shine as defending Griak champion Emily Covert (Minneapolis Washburn), Tierney Wolfgram (Math & Science Academy), and the Ping sisters, Grace & Lauren (Cotter) challenge for the individual title. Keep a close eye on Alex Morris (Naperville North) and Dana Feyen (G-E-T) to make strong pushes for the individual title as well.
High School Girls' Maroon Race
Many of the top teams from the 2017 Griak return in 2018 for another chance at a team title. Returning teams include South St. Paul (MN), Menomonie (WI), Notre Dame Academy (WI), and Bloomington Jefferson (MN). The 2017 race distance was reduced to 3200m due to the extreme heat, so there is no doubt these teams will be ready for the full 5K challenge in 2018.
The individual competition will see four of the top-10 finishers from 2017 back again in 2018. Brooke Jaworski (Wausau West, WI), Ashley Peterson (Lakeland Union, WI), Josie Mosby (St. Louis Park, MN), and Emilie Meyer (Totino Grace, MN) will look to improve upon their 2017 finishes, but some newcomers will undoubtedly put up strong challenges to the veterans.
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