With the start of fall comes the official beginning of NCAA D1 XC season, as the first weekend of the Kolas Calculator kicks in this Friday and Saturday. Teams with NCAA aspirations can start building their resumes for nationals going forward from this weekend, as the selection committee values teams that are proven against top competition. Time trial all you want, but nobody’s making it to Louisville without beating some quality opponents. 

WATCH THE ROY GRIAK XC INVITATIONAL LIVE!

 

Perhaps no greater test of fitness and proof of mettle exists on the early cross country calendar than that of the Roy Griak Invitational hosted by the University of Minnesota, as the undulating hills of the Les Bolsted Golf Course wreak havoc on the unprepared. Points earned at Griak are points well-deserved for those individuals and teams able to conquer the course, as running well at this historic race tends to bode well for the rest of the season. Last year, the Michigan State and Iowa State ladies went 1-2 at Griak before going on to take the top two places at NCAAs two months later.

 

Here’s what to watch at the 30th Roy Griak Invitational this Saturday:

 

The Champs Are Here: Is #5 Michigan State Rebuilding or Reloading?

The defending champion Spartans are back at Griak in 2015 looking to establish a new identity after losing three of their top five from 2014, and it’s a similar story for Iowa State, as top returner Crystal Nelson is out for the season and All-American Katy Moen has graduated. 

 

The ladies from East Lansing appear to be on much more solid ground at the moment, and the Saucony Flo50 #5 squad will arrive in St. Paul as the clear favorites to take their second straight Gold Division title on Saturday. Sparty returns last year’s NCAA 4th place finisher Rachele Schulist as their #1 in 2015, and the junior is the clear-cut favorite in the Griak individual battle. Coach Drenth’s ace already opened up her season last weekend with an easy win at their home meet, but MSU’s #2 Lindsay Clark has not, so this weekend will give us a better indication if the reigning champs can return to the podium in 2015. 

 

The Cyclones, on the other hand, will be without their entire top seven from nationals this weekend, so don’t expect much from them despite their #9 ranking at the moment. 

 

While the Spartans will surely go unchallenged, two up-and-coming teams should make this one interesting. #16 Boise State loses All-Americans Emma Bates and Marisa Howard from their 11th place team at NCAAs, but there’s reason for optimism in Bronco-land as they bring in one of the best recruiting classes in the country. Led by 2014 NXN champion (and World junior Mountain Running champ) Allie Ostrander, Boise State should be very competitive on Saturday. 

RELATED: Podcast with freshman phenom Allie Ostrander before Griak

 

Don’t forget about the #21 Cal Bears, who bring back sophomore Bethan Knights, last year’s 25th place finisher at NCAAs. Griak will be huge for the Bears in their quest to return to the Big Dance for the first time since 2011. 

 

The hometown Gophers enter Griak as the #28 team in the Saucony Flo50, and return an experienced top three led by senior Liz Berkholtz, who was 80th at NCAAs in 2014. We followed the Gophers during the pre-meet workout and caught up with Coach Sarah Hopkins to discuss the event and the season ahead:

 

#17 Southern Utah Looks To Repeat Griak Title In Tight Team Race

The women’s race may have the national champions, but the men’s Gold race figures to be the team battle to watch on Saturday as five top-30 ranked squads look to make an early case for NCAAs. 

 

The 2014 Griak champions Southern Utah return to St. Paul after their brilliant win to kick off the season a year ago. The Thunderbirds rode senior Nate Jewkes’ individual win to a surprising team victory, earning crucial points that helped them qualify for NCAAs for the first time since 1999. Even without their All-American Jewkes in 2015, the Thunderbirds should be right in the thick of the team competition this weekend. 

 

The Boise State men are one of the most rapidly improving teams in the country. They will reportedly be without top recruit Elijah Armstrong this weekend, but that shouldn’t stop this group from contending for the win on Saturday as the #15 Broncos have two young studs in sophomores Andrew Rafla and Michael Vennard, who will both be counted on to lead Boise back to NCAAs for the first time since 1996. Rafla finished 83rd at NCAAs last fall as a frosh, while Vennard ran 13:51 on the track this spring. 

 

The individual race is loaded with intrigue as Cal’s Chris Walden will matchup with South Dakota State’s Trent Lusignan in a battle of top-20 NCAA finishers. Walden enjoyed a breakout year in 2014 that culminated in a 17th place finish at nationals, and he’ll enter Griak as the top returner from last year’s race. The senior is currently ranked #22 in the Saucony Flo50. 

Cal senior Chris Walden leads the #21 Golden Bears into Griak this weekend as the top returner from last year's race

If you’re having trouble recalling Lusignan, that’s because the senior sat out the 2014 season with an injury. It would be foolish to sleep on the Jackrabbit, however, as Lusignan was 12th at NCAAs in 2013, and is now back running healthy. I’m expecting a big race from Lusignan in his first competitive 8K in nearly two years. 

No one knew who Trent Lusignan was two years ago when he finished 12th at NCAAs:
 

Speaking of sleepers, the #23 ranked Rams have a great chance to upset Boise State and Southern Utah in the team competition. Led by Mock, Colorado State was 19th at NCAAs and returns four of their top seven. 

 

The 2015 Roy Griak Invitational will be LIVE on FloTrack starting at 8:45am CT Saturday morning. Don’t miss it!