University of Minnesota Athletics
Friday, September 24
10:30 AM
University of Minnesota
vs
35th Annual Roy Griak Invite
Roy Griak Invitational Preview
9/22/2021 4:50:00 PM | Men's Cross Country, Men's Track & Field, Women's Cross Country, Women's Track & Field, Griak Invitational
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The eight-race event starts with the Division I races at 10:30 a.m. CT.
MINNEAPOLIS -- The Roy Griak Invitational returns for its 35th year on Friday, Sept. 24 as the University of Minnesota hosts one of the nation's elite cross country competitions at Les Bolstad Golf Course.
The eight-race event begins with the Merrill Fischbein Men's Gold (DI) Race at 10:30 a.m. CT followed by the Jack Johnson Women's Gold (DI) Race at 11:15 a.m. CT.
Participating Division I Men's Teams
Minnesota, BYU, Georgia Tech, Grand Canyon, Illinois-Chicago, Iowa State, Liberty, Michigan State, Milwaukee, Nevada, North Dakota, North Dakota State, Pepperdine, Portland State, Santa Clara, South Dakota, South Dakota State, St. Thomas, Tennessee, UC San Diego, Wyoming.
Participating Division I Women's Teams
Minnesota, Georgia Tech, Gonzaga, Grand Canyon, Illinois-Chicago, Iowa State, Liberty, Michigan State, Milwaukee, Nevada, North Dakota, North Dakota State, Pepperdine, Portland State, Santa Clara, South Dakota, South Dakota State, St. Thomas, Tennessee, UC San Diego, Wyoming.
Roy Griak Invitational Schedule
Six nationally ranked teams will take the field this Friday at the Griak including the 10th-ranked Gopher women, who held their position for the second week in a row in the newest 2021 NCAA DI Women's Cross Country National Coaches' Poll from USTFCCCA. In the women's DI race, the two leading favorites among the Big Ten will pace the field with No. 6 Michigan State facing off against No. 10 Minnesota while No. 30 Iowa State is also in action. Georgia Tech and Liberty are also receiving votes in this week's national poll. The men's DI race will boast No. 3 BYU, No. 10 Iowa State and No. 26 Michigan State.
Checking in with Coach Hopkins
After eight seasons serving as head coach of the women's cross country program at Minnesota, Gophers alum Sarah Hopkins is now in her first campaign as head coach of both the men's and women's teams. Coach Hopkins on the upcoming Roy Griak Invitational...
"We're just super excited for Friday, it's going to be a great competition. We've got a ton of great teams coming from all over the country that will challenge all levels of our team, and we're excited to see where we stack up against the best in the country.
Honoring a Legend
A cross country coaching legend and a leader at the University of Minnesota for more than five decades, Roy Griak's greatest contribution to the sport may be the competition that bears his name. The Roy Griak Invitational not only stands as one of the nation's premiere cross country meets, it also honors Coach Griak and his immeasurable contributions to the sport and the University of Minnesota. Since its beginning in 1986, the event has grown from two Division I races in its inaugural form to now boasting eight races for Division I, Division II, Division III and high school student-athletes and programs.
A former letter winner for the Gophers, Griak, who passed away on July 9, 2015, served the University of Minnesota for more than 50 years as a member of the men's track & field and cross country coaching staff and remained devoted to his alma mater for his entire life.
Griak Tickets Now on Sale
Skip the wait on race day and purchase tickets for the Roy Griak Invitational online at GopherSports.com. General admission tickets can be purchased online and at the entrance gate on race day.
Up Next: Early October Competitions
The Maroon & Gold split up following Friday's Griak Invitational with one contingency of Gophers heading to the UW-Eau Claire Blugold Invite while a number of women's runners will head to Notre Dame's Joe Paine Invite. Both meets are on the schedule for Friday, Oct. 1.
The eight-race event begins with the Merrill Fischbein Men's Gold (DI) Race at 10:30 a.m. CT followed by the Jack Johnson Women's Gold (DI) Race at 11:15 a.m. CT.
Participating Division I Men's Teams
Minnesota, BYU, Georgia Tech, Grand Canyon, Illinois-Chicago, Iowa State, Liberty, Michigan State, Milwaukee, Nevada, North Dakota, North Dakota State, Pepperdine, Portland State, Santa Clara, South Dakota, South Dakota State, St. Thomas, Tennessee, UC San Diego, Wyoming.
Participating Division I Women's Teams
Minnesota, Georgia Tech, Gonzaga, Grand Canyon, Illinois-Chicago, Iowa State, Liberty, Michigan State, Milwaukee, Nevada, North Dakota, North Dakota State, Pepperdine, Portland State, Santa Clara, South Dakota, South Dakota State, St. Thomas, Tennessee, UC San Diego, Wyoming.
Roy Griak Invitational Schedule
- 10:30 a.m. Merrill Fischbein Men's Gold (DI) Race
- 11:15 a.m. Jack Johnson Women's Gold (DI) Race
- 12:00 p.m. Jo Rider Men's Maroon Race (DII & III) Race
- 12:45 p.m. Suzy Wilson Women's Maroon Race (DII & III) Race
- 3:45 p.m. Larry Zirgibel HS Boys Gold Race
- 4:30 p.m. Gary Wilson HS Girls Gold Race
- 5:15 p.m. Lefty Wright Boys HS Maroon Race
- 6:00 p.m. High School Girls HS Maroon Race
Six nationally ranked teams will take the field this Friday at the Griak including the 10th-ranked Gopher women, who held their position for the second week in a row in the newest 2021 NCAA DI Women's Cross Country National Coaches' Poll from USTFCCCA. In the women's DI race, the two leading favorites among the Big Ten will pace the field with No. 6 Michigan State facing off against No. 10 Minnesota while No. 30 Iowa State is also in action. Georgia Tech and Liberty are also receiving votes in this week's national poll. The men's DI race will boast No. 3 BYU, No. 10 Iowa State and No. 26 Michigan State.
Checking in with Coach Hopkins
After eight seasons serving as head coach of the women's cross country program at Minnesota, Gophers alum Sarah Hopkins is now in her first campaign as head coach of both the men's and women's teams. Coach Hopkins on the upcoming Roy Griak Invitational...
"We're just super excited for Friday, it's going to be a great competition. We've got a ton of great teams coming from all over the country that will challenge all levels of our team, and we're excited to see where we stack up against the best in the country.
Honoring a Legend
A cross country coaching legend and a leader at the University of Minnesota for more than five decades, Roy Griak's greatest contribution to the sport may be the competition that bears his name. The Roy Griak Invitational not only stands as one of the nation's premiere cross country meets, it also honors Coach Griak and his immeasurable contributions to the sport and the University of Minnesota. Since its beginning in 1986, the event has grown from two Division I races in its inaugural form to now boasting eight races for Division I, Division II, Division III and high school student-athletes and programs.
A former letter winner for the Gophers, Griak, who passed away on July 9, 2015, served the University of Minnesota for more than 50 years as a member of the men's track & field and cross country coaching staff and remained devoted to his alma mater for his entire life.
Griak Tickets Now on Sale
Skip the wait on race day and purchase tickets for the Roy Griak Invitational online at GopherSports.com. General admission tickets can be purchased online and at the entrance gate on race day.
Up Next: Early October Competitions
The Maroon & Gold split up following Friday's Griak Invitational with one contingency of Gophers heading to the UW-Eau Claire Blugold Invite while a number of women's runners will head to Notre Dame's Joe Paine Invite. Both meets are on the schedule for Friday, Oct. 1.
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