Loaded Griak Invitational Next Up for Wolverines
9/22/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Cross Country
Sept. 22, 2016
• Social Media: Facebook | Twitter
THIS WEEK
Saturday, Sept. 24 -- at Roy Griak Invitational (Minneapolis, Minn.), 1:35 p.m. CDT
Event Information | Results | Live Video | Course Maps
The 10th-ranked University of Michigan women's cross country team will have the opportunity to preview the conference championship course in a competitive environment this weekend, as the team will travel to Minneapolis, Minnesota, for the Roy Griak Invitational on Saturday (Sept. 24).
The 6,000-meter race will be run on the Les Bolstad Golf Course and will feature more than 15 returning schools from last year's meet, including nine 2015 NCAA Championships participant teams, two reigning conference championship teams and nine nationally ranked squads.
The field will feature representatives from 36 schools, including ranked programs No. 6 Boise State, No. 17 Iowa State, No. 20 San Francisco, No. 29 Mississippi State and No. 30 Portland in addition to conference foes Illinois, Iowa, No. 9 Michigan State, Northwestern, Ohio State, No. 13 Penn State, Rutgers and the host school, No. 25 Minnesota.
The Maize and Blue will travel a 12-woman lineup to the Gopher State. The race is a scored event set for a 1:35 p.m. CDT gun and will be preceded by the men's race at 12:20 p.m. CDT.
Top Returning Times at 6,000 Meters
• Erin Finn -- 19:44.9
• Jaimie Phelan -- 20:17.2
• Gina Sereno -- 20:18.4
• Sophie Linn -- 20:34.7
• Jamie Morrissey -- 20:53.9
• Courtney Munley -- 20:57.0
THINGS TO KNOW
• This weekend's meet gives the Wolverines a chance to put their spikes down on what will be the site of the Big Ten Championships next month (Oct. 30). With five other Big Ten schools represented, it will be an excellent preview meet for the conference race.
• The Roy Griak Invitational is a historic meet for the University of Minnesota and is now in its 31st season. It will feature six collegiate races and four high school races throughout the day.
• This meet was ranked the No. 7 meet of the year by Flotrack. The women's race features six teams ranked in the Saucony Flo50. » Flotrack Preview
• The Wolverines are coming off a week of rest after the team won the Sycamore Invitational (Sept. 10) with a near-perfect 16 points. Standout Erin Finn earned another 45-second victory, her second of the year, and was rewarded with Big Ten co-Athlete of the Week honors as a result.
• Finn appeared on Flotrack's "On the Run" podcast last week (past the 7:00 mark).
• Under head coach Mike McGuire, U-M has won six of its last seven regular-season scored meets dating back to 2014.
• The Wolverines' trip to Minnesota this weekend will be the team's first time competing in the Land of 10,000 Lakes since the 2005 season.
• The Wolverines moved up to secure the No. 1 ranking in the latest regional poll (Great Lakes), and the program checks in at No. 10 in the coaches' national poll.
• U-M's Olympic athletes and coaches were honored at Michigan Stadium last weekend as the Wolverines topped Colorado (Sept. 17). Among the track and field honorees were Wolverine alums Nicole (Edwards) Sifuentes, Tiffany (Ofili) Porter and fourth-place 100-meter hurdles finisher Cindy Ofili, who helped the Wolverines capture two Big Ten titles in the winter and spring. Coaches James Henry, Mike McGuire and Arnett Chisholm were also recognized for their contributions.
• Earlier this month, McGuire announced that Gina Sereno and Jaimie Phelan will serve as team captains for the 2016 season.
A LOOK AHEAD
Saturday, Oct. 1 -- at Greater Louisville Classic (Louisville, Ky.)
Saturday, Oct. 15 -- at adidas Pre-Nationals Invitational (Terre Haute, Ind.)
TWEET OF THE WEEK
Cindy Ofili takes you with her to Rio in this great recap of her first Olympic experience!#GoBlue https://t.co/DqtuiXLIdE
-- Michigan Track&Field (@UMichTrack) September 20, 2016
Communications Contact: Chad Shepard
Players Mentioned
