University of Minnesota Athletics
Friday, August 30
Falcon Heights, MN
6:00 PM
University of Minnesota
vs
Oz Memorial
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Cross Country
Distance
/ Men's Track & Field
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
Mid-Distance
/ Women's Track & Field
/ Men's Cross Country
Gophers Open Cross Country Season with Oz Memorial
8/29/2024 10:11:00 AM | Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country
The meet begins on Friday at 6 p.m. CT.
MINNEAPOLIS -- The University of Minnesota cross country team is poised to begin the 2024 season with the Oz Memorial at the Les Bolstad Golf Course on August 30. The event will feature a pair of races that begin at 6 pm and 6:30 pm with the men kicking things off.
OZ MEMORIAL RACE SCHEDULE
Friday's competition will see the Golden Gophers run against St. Thomas.
A QUICK 2023 RECAP
Last season the 'U' fielded one of the youngest teams in the Big Ten on both the men's and women's side. The women's team finished ninth at the 2023 Big Ten Cross Country Championships with returner Brianne Brewster finishing 28th overall to lead the way individually. At the NCAA Midwest Regional it was returner Erin Reidy who led the way at the 6K event in Stillwater, Okla., which saw the team finish fourth.
The young men's program dealt with injuries during the 2023 campaign that saw them finish ninth at the Big Ten Championships and 14th at the NCAA Midwest Regional. Minnesota's top returner Emmet Anderson was the team's best finisher at the 10K race in Stillwater, finishing 48th overall. At the Big Ten Championships, an 8K event, Dan VanAcker was the top finisher among Minnesota's returners for the 2024 season, finishing 53rd.
REIDY, ANDERSON NAMED BIG TEN RUNNERS TO WATCH
Redshirt senior Erin Reidy and redshirt junior Emmet Anderson were named the cross country team's Runners to Watch by the Big Ten, the conference office announced on August 22.
Anderson, a Staples, Minn., native, helped Minnesota win the 2023 Badger Classic in Madison, Wis. by finishing fifth overall, which helped the Maroon and Gold get named the NCAA Team of the Week. He was in the top 40 at the NCAA Pre-Nationals race in Charlottesville, Va., last season, and was 36th at the Griak Invitational. Anderson, a two-time Academic All-Big Ten student, has also had success on the track, finishing sixth in the 10000m at the 2023 Big Ten Outdoor Championships.
Out of Downers Grove, Ill., Reidy was the program's top finisher at the NCAA Midwest Regional last season, finishing 29th overall. She also was the top finisher for the Maroon and Gold at the Griak Invitational, finishing 36th. Reidy's success in 2024 included a silver medal at the Big Ten Outdoor Championships in the 1500m, clocking a 4:15.42 in the final. She also scored in the 800m at the conference's indoor championships, won the Drake Relays 1500m, and reached the NCAA West Regional for the first time.
WHO'S ELSE IS BACK FOR THE 'U'?
The University of Minnesota returns 18 student-athletes on the women's side with the men returning a total of 12. The women also will see four runners who redshirtted last season join the fray this season along with four true freshmen.
The men's team will see four runners compete under the redshirt-freshman tag after taking last season to train and compete under the redshirt status. Additionally the men's team added four freshmen that will have ample opportunities to compete this cross country season.
UP NEXT
Minnesota will take three weeks to prepare for the 38th Roy Griak Invitational that is scheduled for September 20, at the Les Bolstad Golf Course.
OZ MEMORIAL RACE SCHEDULE
- Men's College 5k // 6:00 p.m. CT
- Women's College 5k // 6:30 p.m. CT
Friday's competition will see the Golden Gophers run against St. Thomas.
A QUICK 2023 RECAP
Last season the 'U' fielded one of the youngest teams in the Big Ten on both the men's and women's side. The women's team finished ninth at the 2023 Big Ten Cross Country Championships with returner Brianne Brewster finishing 28th overall to lead the way individually. At the NCAA Midwest Regional it was returner Erin Reidy who led the way at the 6K event in Stillwater, Okla., which saw the team finish fourth.
The young men's program dealt with injuries during the 2023 campaign that saw them finish ninth at the Big Ten Championships and 14th at the NCAA Midwest Regional. Minnesota's top returner Emmet Anderson was the team's best finisher at the 10K race in Stillwater, finishing 48th overall. At the Big Ten Championships, an 8K event, Dan VanAcker was the top finisher among Minnesota's returners for the 2024 season, finishing 53rd.
REIDY, ANDERSON NAMED BIG TEN RUNNERS TO WATCH
Redshirt senior Erin Reidy and redshirt junior Emmet Anderson were named the cross country team's Runners to Watch by the Big Ten, the conference office announced on August 22.
Anderson, a Staples, Minn., native, helped Minnesota win the 2023 Badger Classic in Madison, Wis. by finishing fifth overall, which helped the Maroon and Gold get named the NCAA Team of the Week. He was in the top 40 at the NCAA Pre-Nationals race in Charlottesville, Va., last season, and was 36th at the Griak Invitational. Anderson, a two-time Academic All-Big Ten student, has also had success on the track, finishing sixth in the 10000m at the 2023 Big Ten Outdoor Championships.
Out of Downers Grove, Ill., Reidy was the program's top finisher at the NCAA Midwest Regional last season, finishing 29th overall. She also was the top finisher for the Maroon and Gold at the Griak Invitational, finishing 36th. Reidy's success in 2024 included a silver medal at the Big Ten Outdoor Championships in the 1500m, clocking a 4:15.42 in the final. She also scored in the 800m at the conference's indoor championships, won the Drake Relays 1500m, and reached the NCAA West Regional for the first time.
WHO'S ELSE IS BACK FOR THE 'U'?
The University of Minnesota returns 18 student-athletes on the women's side with the men returning a total of 12. The women also will see four runners who redshirtted last season join the fray this season along with four true freshmen.
The men's team will see four runners compete under the redshirt-freshman tag after taking last season to train and compete under the redshirt status. Additionally the men's team added four freshmen that will have ample opportunities to compete this cross country season.
UP NEXT
Minnesota will take three weeks to prepare for the 38th Roy Griak Invitational that is scheduled for September 20, at the Les Bolstad Golf Course.
Cinematic Recap: 2025 Griak Invitational
Monday, September 29
Cinematic Recap: 2024 NCAA Regional
Sunday, November 17
Oz Memorial Highlights
Sunday, September 01
Big Ten Championship Highlights
Tuesday, November 07