Northwestern University Athletics
Wildcats Gear Up For Roy Griak Invitational
9/27/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Cross Country & Track
Sept. 27, 2002
EVANSTON, Ill. - A cross country season that has been slow off the mark for Northwestern steps into high gear this weekend, as the Wildcats send 12 women to Minneapolis for Saturday's prestigious Roy Griak Invitational. The 6-kilometer event, hosted by the University of Minnesota, will be run on the Les Bolstad Golf Course.
"We're really excited and itching for a good race," said head coach Amy Tush. "I thought we competed well at Illinois State a few weeks ago, but this will be a major test for us."
Tush knows what she speaks. Of the more than 20 teams expected to compete in the Griak's Women's Gold Race (Division I) at 1 p.m., seven are ranked. That list includes No. 9 Michigan State, the defending Big Ten champion; and No. 28 Minnesota. Indiana, an unranked Big Ten squad, is also in the field.
"We're still a long way from our championship meets, but we can't afford to look ahead toward those," said Tush. "We're taking things one meet at a time. There are some Big Ten teams and some other ranked teams that we feel we can compete with here.
"Last year we placed 11th at this event," she said. "This year the goal is to crack the Top 10. I think we can be anywhere in the 7-10 range, and if that happens we may be looking at a national ranking."
In a year where Tush says the Big Ten is up in terms of its talent, Northwestern is not lacking in it. Every one of the Wildcats' consistent scorers from the last two years is back, and all are expected to compete Saturday. In all, 12 NU women will run at the Griak.
"We need our top five to finish in the Top 100 individually, and with our pack of runners that can definitely happen," said Tush. "Practices have been going well, so I think we'll be able to surprise some teams -- we have nothing to lose and everything to gain Saturday."
NU Women Expected to Compete at the Roy Griak Saturday
Emily Blakeslee
Nora Colligan
Laura Evans
Rachel Evjen
Kyna Forkins
Kalysta Harmon
Diana Hossfeld
Catie LaBracke
Nicole Kuznia
Lindsay McAlister
Karen Rogers
Caroline Speirs
