Weekly Notes
Sept. 24, 2014 RENO, Nev. - The University of Nevada cross country team is traveling to Minnesota to compete in the Roy Griak Invitational on the Les Bolstad Golf Course in St. Paul, Minn. The University of Minnesota will host the event named after long time coach and cross country supporter Roy Griak, who has been part of the program for over 50 years.
Nevada Head Coach Kirk Elias has a long history with Coach Griak dating back to his Coach Elias's first year of college. Coach Elias ran for the long time Minnesota coach, and started his coaching career as a volunteer for the cross country and track and field programs at the university. After having coached at the high school level, Coach Elias had the opportunity to coach at Minnesota alongside Coach Griak.
Nevada has not competed at the Roy Griak Invitational since 2008, when the Pack recorded an 11th place finish out of 22 teams. This is the third meet of the season for Nevada, and the team has seen huge performances from veteran leaders as well as up-and-coming freshman in the early part of the season. Big performances will be crucial this weekend as the team will be challenged by a course that features rolling hills, grassy footing, and only one section of flat terrain.
When asked about the hilly course, and how training in our mountainous region will help the team Coach Elias responded, "Being in a hilly environment always helps us when we travel to tough courses. The tough part of this course for us will be the exceptionally soft footing, and we will have to adapt." Coach Elias is confident in his team for the meet this weekend, and expects to see continued growth throughout the season. Considering the impact freshman runners could have this weekend Coach Elias said, "Overtime the freshman will improve and close the gap to our front two runners, but we just want to see good racing for this weekend."
MEET INFORMATION
Meet: Roy Griak Invitational
When: Saturday, Sept. 27
Where: St. Paul, Minn. - Les Bolstad Golf Course
Host: University of Minnesota
Race: 11:10 a.m. (6K)
Results: http://www.wayzataresults.com/event/show/95353996
Live stream (subscription): https://livecoverage.flotrack.org/event/184-roy-griak-xc-invitational-2014?utm_source=GopherSports&utm_medium=Banner&utm_campaign=RoyGriak
NEVADA RUNNERS
Alaina Anderson
McKenna Evans
Demerey Kirsch
Emily Myers
Laura Palacios
Anna Preciado
Erika Root
Marissa Suan
Meagan Wood
