ROY GRIAK RESULTS

TEAM FINISH
The women’s team placed 24th out of 42 teams while the men’s team placed 17th out of 34 teams.

TEAM STATS
WOMEN’S TEAM: The team’s top five runners had a total team time of 127:38 for an average of 25:32 per runner and a spread of 1:30. The team’s top seven runners had a total team time of 180:27 for an average of 25:47 per runner for a spread of 2:27.

MEN’S TEAM: The team’s top five runners had a total team time of 141:35 for an average of 28:19 per runner and their lowest spread of the season (0:50). The team’s top seven runners had a total team time of 200:44 for an average of 28:41 per runner for a spread of 2:09.

'07 IMPROVEMENT
WOMEN’S TEAM: Abbey Ring (:14), Katie Wold (:43), Rachel Richardson (:57)

MEN’S TEAM: The men’s team did not run at the Griak in 2006.

SEASON BEST
WOMEN’S TEAM: Erica Schweikert (:06), Karla Kultgen (:09), Bonnie Wold (:12), Angie Raasch (:22), Charity Cook (1:37)

PERSONAL BEST
WOMEN’S TEAM: Erica Schweikert (:06), Karla Kultgen (:09), Angie Raasch (:22)

STUD OF THE MEET
Abbey Ring & Clint Loker

SUMMARY
This weekend, the University of Minnesota Cross Country Program continued to honor the legendary Roy Griak, who was the program’s most successful cross country coach. Twenty-two years ago the program began honoring the named the Midwest’s largest cross country meet after the retired coach. This year’s meet brought over 370 schools and 4000 racers to the university’s Les Bolstad Golf Course in order to test the endurance against one another and the difficult course. This year the UW-Stout men’s cross country team joined the women’s team in partaking in the large event. Both teams competed in the highly competitive Division III races which were comprised of a number of nationally ranked teams from across the country. The women’s team placed 24th in the field of 42 and the men placed 17th in the field of 34.

The women’s team competed at full strength for the first time this season over the championship distance of 6000 meters. The field of 42 teams and 567 competitors was the largest that anyone on the team had ever been a part of. This was the first attempt for many of the team’s competitors to try their strength out at the 6000 meter distance. Abbey Ring led the team as she finished the race in 24:40 for 72nd place. Also scoring for the team was Emily Stenzel (25:15), Rachel Richardson (25:44), Michelle Lewis (25:49), and Katie Schneiderman (26:10). The team’s two pushes were Bridgette Crozier (26:12) and Stephanie Libby (26:37). Also completing the challenging course for the team was Karla Kultgen (26:44), Bonnie Wold (27:10), Charity Cook (27:45), Angie Raasch (27:57), Erica Schweikert (28:18), Heather Wollesen (28:40), Katie Wold (28:58), and Jennah Brodersen (31:08).

The men’s team had another strong performance as they finished in the middle of the 34 team field which was comprised of 367 competitors. The team was again led by David Schonscheck (27:56), and followed closely by Nate Carey (28:02), Peter Johnston (28:19), Matt Kennedy (28:32), and Clint Loker (28:46). The 50 second gap that separated the team’s scoring runners was its closest of the season. Jon Golem (29:04) and Joey Merrill (30:05) were the team’s two pushers. Zach Becker (30:18), Sam Rabideau (30:36), Luke Lippert (30:38), and Matt Steil (31:13) rounded the remainder of the team that completed the 8000 meter distance. An illness did keep freshman Mark Parker from completing the full 8000 meter race.

The Studs of the Meet were senior Abbey Ring and freshman Clint Loker. Abbey ran a very consistent race from start to finish as she improved her time by 14 seconds from a year ago. Clint had his best and most even split race of the season in just his second ever 8K.

The team’s now have two weeks to prepare for the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse’s Tori Neubauer & Jim Drew’s Invitational held in West Salem, WI. This will be the team’s final 6000/8000 meter meet before the WIAC Conference Championships held by the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.