NIACC cross country teams set to compete at Griak Invite
ST. PAUL, Minn. - The NIACC men's and women's cross country teams will compete at the University of Minnesota Roy Griak Invitational on Saturday.
The annual invitational is one of the largest cross country races in the United States. NIACC teams have been competing at the Griak Invitational since the 2010 season.
The NIACC women will compete in the Suzy Wilson Maroon Division III/Division II race at 9 a.m., on the Les Bolstad Golf Course. Because of the forecast for extreme heat, the Division II and Division III races have been combined but will be scored separately.
The No. 6 (NJCAA Division I) NIACC men will compete in the Division II/Division III Maroon race at 9:40 a.m. The two divisions will combine for the race but will be scored separately.
This will be the first season that the NIACC teams have competed in the Division III race at the Griak Invitational.
The NIACC men's highest team finish in the Division II race was 13th in 2012.
Last season, the Trojans placed 20th with 571 points in the Division II race. Wal Khat led the Trojans with a fifth-place finish in 26 minutes, 18 seconds on the 8-kilometer course.
The fifth-place finish by Khat was the highest for a Trojan runner at the Griak Invitational. NIACC's Trent Smith placed ninth in 2012 in 25:55.
The NIACC men are coming off a fourth-place finish at Grinnell's Les Duke Invitational on Sept. 9. Freshman Brian Jacques led the Trojans with a 11th place finish in 25 minutes, 59 seconds on the 8-kilometer course. Sophomore Blake Keller was 17th in 26:16.
NIACC men at Griak Invitational (Maroon Div. II race)
Top individual finishes (8K)
5. Wal Khat 2016 26:18
9. Trent Smith 2012 25:55
52. Imad Amenzou 2014 27:33
57. Kipyegon Bett 2010 27:05
69. Cody Manchester 2011 26:53
77. Imad Amenzou 2015 27:51
81. Trent Smith 2011 27:03
82. Zach Freund 2016 27:52
86. Jaime Zarate 2013 26:54
104. Mason Powers 2013 27:06
113. Marquez Hobson 2011 27:29
113. Mason Powers 2012 27:27
Div. II team finishes Points
2010 - 20th Not available
2011 - 16th 420
2012 - 13th 409
2013 - 29th 776
2014 - 29th 824
2015 - 31st 916
2016 - 20th 571
