Sept. 25, 2003
COLUMBIA, Mo. -
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The Missouri men's and women's cross country teams will face their most difficult challenge of the year to date at the 18th annual Roy Griak Invitational this Saturday in Minneapolis, Minn. The meet, hosted by the University of Minnesota, will include 13 women's and nine men's teams that are ranked. The Missouri women come into this week's meet as the No. 17 team in the country according to the FinishLynx coaches' poll released Tuesday. The men jumped one spot in the region rankings provided by the MONDO coaches' poll from sixth to fifth.
The field is comprised of 32 men's and 27 women's teams. On the men's side, there are nine teams competing that are in the top 30 in the nation including three in the top 10. Wisconsin looks to be the front runner, coming into competition as the No. 2 team in the country. Four other Big 12 schools - Baylor, Iowa State, Nebraska, and Texas Tech - will enter the fray with the Tigers. The men showed their depth in the Bradley Open two weekends ago when the "B" team finished seventh as a team in the all-open race.
The women's field looks to be tougher than the guys as 13 from the top 30 will take part. Missouri enters as No. 17 in the poll and with No. 5 Providence, No. 6 Wake Forest, No. 12 Columbia, No. 13 Michigan, and No. 15 Michigan State also in the race, the Tigers will see the toughest competition to date. The women have placed first in the two meets that have begun the season, and have claimed two Big 12 Runner of the Week honors. Sophomore Amanda Bales earned the honor by winning at the Missouri Cross Country Challenge on September 6, and sophomore Valerie Lauver finished second at the Bradley Open to earn her second career honor.
"The field is almost as good as it gets," said Jared Wilmes, Missouri Head Cross Country Coach. "Even if you go to the pre-national meet, you won't be able to see this type of diverse competition like the one we are going to see. It's truly going to be a challenge."
Michigan State is the defending champion on the women's side and Oregon won last year's race on the men's side. The weather does not look to comforting for the harriers as it will be a chilly, cloudy, and windy day on Les Bolstad Golf Course. Temperatures around noon are expected to be around 48 degrees, and there is a descent chance of rain.
For more coverage of Saturday's race, go to Mizzou's official website www.mutigers.com. At the website are links to Minnesota's website where early results will be posted.