Milesplit and Flotrack have partnered to broadcast the 28th Roy Griak Invitational, hosted by the University of Minnesota. The Roy Griak Invitational is one of the most competitive early season cross country competitions nationwide. The meet will be live streamed via eight cameras on Flotrack.org for all Flotrack Pro subscribers.
The racing in the boys Gold race is going to be very exciting with Saucony Elite 50 #12 Obsa Ali (Richfield MN) taking every race he has run by storm this year. Obsa won the Maroon race here last year, but is stepping up to Gold after an excellent summer of training has him running much faster than years past. He won't be without challenge however, as Saucony Elite 50 #24 Addison DeHaven (Brookings SD) has also been running well this year. Addison was a Foot Locker finalist in 2011 and Obsa finished 10th at a muddy NXN last year in only his first year running cross country. He was certainly a fast study and doesn't look to be slowing down anytime soon. Check out our XC Sessions interview with Obsa here.
But they won't necessarily be the only two racing hard up front as there will be others in the race challenging for a top placing as well. Keeghan Hurley (Perham MN) won the Milaca Mega Meet race this year and has looked like he is in top form. Stephen Mugeche (Blue Springs MO) has started his year off well with a high placing among nationally ranked runners at the Forest Park Invitational and has won an invitational already this year. Joe Klecker (Hopkins MN) is one of the top-15 ranked runners in Minnesota and will be on his home turf this weekend.
In the boys Gold team racing the action will be solid as well with Saucony Elite 50 #17 Wayzata (MN) headlining the meet as the favorite for the win. Their road to the win isn't paved with ease however, as some out of state competition will invade the meet looking to topple the home-crowd favorite. Cherry Creek is making the trip from Colorado and Dowling Catholic and Cedar Falls are coming in from Iowa. Bismark is making the trip from North Dakota and Blue Springs and Reymore-Peculiar are coming from Missouri. Brookings and Sioux Falls are coming from South Dakota, Cedar Park is coming up from Texas and Port Washington is travelling from Wisconsin.
The girls Gold race should also feature a solid head to head battle up front with Saucony Elite 50 #11 Jordyn Colter making the trip up from Colorado with her Cherry Creek team. Jordyn is undefeated in three races this season so far with two trips under the 18-minute barrier on tough courses at altitude. Soph Megan Reilly from Warwick Valley, NY is just getting her year started but was a Foot Locker finalist as a freshman last year so don't overlook her as a legitimate challenger to Colter. Jenna Truedson (Bemidji MN) is in her home state and has two wins this year including a solid 14:00 4k win at the Milaca Mega Meet, so look for her to be competitive up front as well. McKenzie Yanek (Pleasant Valley IA) is undefeated this year, but perhaps the highlight that puts her at the front of this race is her 16:48 3 mile win at the Richard Springs Invitiational in Illinois last weekend. Her time was only 27 seconds behind what superstars Kaylee Flanagan and Madeline Perez ran there last year and she was far ahead of 2nd place.
Other top competitors include Maria McDaniel (Naperville North IL), Aubrey Roberts (Eau Claire Memorial WI) and Brittany Brownotter (Bismarck ND).
The girls Gold team race will be a battle royale between the home favorite Wayzata (MN) who is #8 in the latest Saucony Elite 50 rankings and the traveller, Saucony Elite 50 #5 Naperville North from Illinois. Naperville North is the defending champion as they won last year over Redondo Union (CA), who won't be in the race last year. Wayzata was 4th last year but with a much-improved squad will be looking to rock it in front of their home crowd. Other top teams competing include Eagan (MN) who was 3rd last year, Dowling Catholic (IA), Warwick Valley (NY), and Edina (MN) who was 7th last year.
The 28th Annual Roy Griak Invitational will be available live for all Flotrack Pro subscribers. Not a member? Sign up for Flotrack Pro here.