Cross Country Travels to Minnesota for Griak Invitational

Sept. 24, 2009

EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State country team continues action as it travels to Minneapolis, Minn. this weekend to compete in the Griak Invitational hosted by University of Minnesota. The men's 8K race begins at 1:10 p.m., followed by the women's 6K race at 1:55 p.m. at Les Bolstad Golf Course.

Saturday's event marks the team's third event of the 2009 season, and are recently coming off an impressive showing at the Spartan Invitational last weekend. The women finished with five runners in the top 20, including senior Emily MacLeod (Loveland, Ohio), who finished with a time of 21:07, and first-place overall honors in the race. The men finished with four runners in the top 20, with senior Patrick Grosskopf (Corunna, Mich.) clocking a time of 24:53, pacing the Spartan men with his fourth-place overall finish.

The 2007 season marked the last time MSU competed in the Griak Invitational, with the women claiming third-place overall and the men finishing in eighth. Senior Max Goldak (Chesterton, Ind.) was the top finisher for the men's team in 2007, clocking in a time of 25:33.

In addition to MSU and host, University of Minnesota, a total of 21 collegiate teams will be competing at the 24th annual event including; Air Force, Alabama-Birmingham Army, Connecticut, Dayton, Drake, Duke, High Point, Iowa State, Lipscomb, Missouri, Navy, Northern Illinois, Northern Iowa, Northwestern, Oklahoma, South Dakota, South Dakota State, Utah Valley and Washington State.

The women's team is currently ranked 17th nationally by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, and second in the Great Lakes Regional Division. The men are currently tabbed seventh in the Great Lakes Regional by the USTFCCCA.

For complete results following the conclusion of both the men and the women's races check back to msuspartans.com.