NMU X-C off to Minnesota for meet
Courtesy of NMU Athletics
MARQUETTE, Mich. The Northern Michigan University cross country team
travels to St. Paul, Minn. this weekend to race in the nations largest
cross country meet, the 27th annual Roy Griak Invitational, hosted by the
University of Minnesota. The Women’s Griak Maroon race starts at 10:50
a.m. on Saturday (Sept. 29) at Les Bolstad Golf Course.
The Wildcats are ranked fourth in this weeks regional rankings and 29th
in the nation. Grand Valley State, Ferris State and Hillsdale are ahead of
the Cats in the Midwest Region. Its the first week that NMU has appeared
in both polls.
Junior Mallory Celaya is the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic
Conference womens cross country runner of the week. Celaya was the top
finisher for the Wildcats at the Blugold Invite in 19th place. She crossed
the finish line in 22:53 in her second race for the Green and Gold.
At the 2011 Roy Griak race, the Cats finished fourth place out of 22
teams. Sophomore Larissa Halonen led NMU finishing 22nd, while junior
Mandy Dye placed 30th and sophomore Katie Granquist had a 51st place
finish.
NMU will face 38 other teams in its division of the race that consists of
460 runners. The only other Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic
Conference team competing will be Michigan Tech. Lakehead. UW-Parkside and
Winona State, who the Cats have faced already this year will also be
present.
Northern placed first at its first two meets of the season at Michigan
Tech and UW-Parkside. Last week, in Eau Claire, NMU had 34 points good for
sixth place.