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