MINNEAPOLIS – The Nevada men's and women's cross country teams placed 12^th and 14^th respectively at a stacked competition field at the Roy Griak Invitational in Minnesota at Les Bolstad Golf Course Friday morning. Sophomore Daniel Sayo captured a 20^th place finish, the highest individual finish for either squad.
 
On a cloudy morning that saw a bit of rain, nationally ranked Wisconsin won the men's race with three of their athletes sneaking into the top-10. Utah women's team won the meet, while their top runner captured the individual title. Notoriously slow due to how hilly and its extra length (the men's course is over 8100 meters, the women's over 6100), the Griak course is known as one of the toughest in the country.
 
"Our top two ran very, very well. Sayo and Adam Sjolund ran really strong races," said head coach Kirk Elias. "As a team, the men underperformed significantly. Our typical three, four, five really struggled today. Two of them were injured; One got hurt in the race, another one got hurt the day before. We just really suffered there. We had some kids come up and have really strong races for themselves to fill in those spots, but we were definitely not what we could've been had Riberio, Leavitt, and Marchegger been on their games."
 
Sayo ran in a time of 24:41, which is impressive given the Griak Course is over 8100 meters long. Sjolund saw a 26^th place finish in a time of 24:51, also just off his all-time best time of 24:08. The pair now hold the two fastest times on the course for Nevada.
 
With the struggles of some of Nevada's usual top five, sophomore Zander Simone and senior Alex Mendoza stepped up to fill the fourth and fifth scoring positions for the Pack.
 
"On the women's side, we are terribly inexperienced. We can be better once they learn this game," said Elias. "Three of our top four had never really been in a race like this before. I'm really pleased with what they did. They had good solid races, and all of them came out knowing they could do better the next time they run a race like this."
 
Junior transfers Marije Hijman, Emily Clarke, and Paige Penrose saw the highest finishes for the women's team at 50^th place in 21:54, 62^nd place in 22:05, and 97^th place in 22:41. Hijman's time is the second fastest time ever on the Griak course for the Pack women.
 
"I think both teams can be pretty good by the end of the season." says Elias. "The guys just had a really rough day, and the women are just really inexperienced and are going to be better each time they race."
 
The Pack continues the season at the Bronco Invitational on Oct. 15^th in Santa Clara, Calif.
 
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MEN'S RESULTS
Team

1. Wisconsin, 39 points
2. CBU, 70 points
3. Michigan State, 72 points
4. Colorado State, 118 points
5. Wyoming, 128 points
6. Santa Clara, 137 points
7. Wichita State, 221 points
8. South Dakota State, 249 points
9. Minnesota, 260 points
10. Temple, 312 points
11. North Dakota State, 324 points
12. Nevada, 327 points
13. Ohio State, 333 points
14. Idaho, 371 points
15. North Dakota, 415 points
16. St. Thomas (Minn.), 441 points
17. Miami (Fla.), 539 points

 
Individual
     20. Daniel Sayo, 24:41
     26. Adam Sjolund, 24:51
   109. Zander Simone. 26:04
   117. Alexander Mendoza, 26:13
   119. Andrew Ribeiro, 26:13
   126. Tryon Jardin, 26:21
  128. Jared Marchegger, 26:23
  129. Sergio Mazon, 26:24
  136. Carson Leavitt, 26:29
  147. Soma Baligad, 26:42
  153. Celime Garcia, 26:50
  166. Matthew Kruse, 27:41
 
 
WOMEN'S RESULTS
Team

1. Utah, 85 points
2. CBU, 95 points
3. Michigan State, 102 points
4. Colorado State, 104 points
5. Ohio State, 124 points
6. Wisconsin, 125 points
7. Wyoming, 168 points
8. Iowa State, 193 points
9. Minnesota, 225 points
10. Idaho, 227 points
11. South Dakota St., 389 points
12. Miami (Fla.), 391 points
13. North Dakota State, 398 points
14. Nevada, 405 points
15. Delaware, 423 points
16. Temple, 446 points
17. Wichita State, 467 points
18. North Dakota, 501 points
19. St. Thomas (Minn.), 560 points
20. UNLV, 594 points

 
Individual
      50. Marije Hijman, 21:54
      62. Emily Clarke, 22:05
      97. Paige Penrose, 22:41
    121. Claire Nelson, 23:11
    137. Alison Graf, 23:33
    139. Madelyn Shipman, 23:33
    171. Jasper Fievet, 24:17
    178. Marena Middleton, 24:27
    196. Ashley Boone, 25:05
    203. Elizabeth Shaw, 25.21