XC Runs North To Roy Griak Invite
9/22/2010 12:00:00 AM | Cross Country
Sept. 22, 2010
Meet Information
FALCON HEIGHTS, Minn. - Baylor's cross country teams return to the 25th Annual Roy Griak Invitational in Falcon Heights, Minn., for the first time in four years. The Griak, one of the largest cross country meets in the nation, is hosted by the University of Minnesota.
In its 25th year of existence, the Griak features more than 300 teams and over 3,000 competitors in three collegiate divisions for each the men and women. The meet is named after former Minnesota cross country and track and field coach Roy Griak, who led the programs for 33 years. Griak, 86, has served as the administrative assistant for the men's programs since retiring from coaching in 1996.
Baylor's women will compete in The Griak Jack Johnson Women's Gold Race, which features nine teams that reached the NCAA Championships field in 2009, including Baylor. A total of 29 women's teams are entered in the Gold Race. Meanwhile, the Baylor men will compete in The Griak Merrill Fischbein Men's Gold Race, a 22-team field that features six NCAA Championship teams from 2009.
Baylor returns to the Griak for the first time since 2006, where the women's team placed third behind a 16th-place finish from former All-American Nichole Jones. The men placed 21st in the meet with a high finish from Rob Morrow in 30th place.
After the cancellation of the Texas A&M Invitational due to flooding on Sept. 10, Baylor's top runners will be back on the course for the first time since both the men and women took the team titles at the Bear Twilight Invitational on Sept. 3.
Junior Cate Westenhover led the women's team, winning the individual 4,000-meter title in 13 minutes, 59.7 seconds. Westenhover led a group which had its top five runners all finish in the top 10 at the meet. Leigh Ann Ganzar was second and Kristen Hanselka was fourth, while Katie Shaw and Samantha Patty were eighth and ninth.
For the men, the familiar senior duo of Robbie Knorr and Jeff Sadler were also among a group of Baylor runners that had each of its top five finish in the top 10 spots at the meet. Knorr placed second and Sadler was fourth, while freshman Brad Miles placed seventh, Brandon Reed was ninth and Brandon White was 10th.
The meet takes place at the Les Bolstad Golf Course in Falcon Heights, Minn., with the women's Gold Race scheduled for 12:20 p.m. and the men's Gold Race at 1:10 p.m. For more information visit gophersports.com.
Players Mentioned
