From left to right: Riley Stewart, Obsa Ali, Emily Covert, and Olin Hacker
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One of the jewels of the Minnesota cross country schedule each season is the prestigious Roy Griak Invitational. The invitational is named after coaching legend Roy Griak, who was Minnesota's head men's cross country coach for 33 years.
This meet has had various names, including the Minnesota Invitational and the Norstand Invitational, but regardless of what it has been called, it remains one of the nation's largest cross country meets and always draws large crowds and the best competitors.
The Minnesota Invitational was started by Griak and current Gopher women's coach Gary Wilson in 1986. The name was changed in 1995 to the Norstand Invitational and was kept that way until 1997 when Wilson suggested calling the meet the Roy Griak Invitational to honor, who retired as head coach in 1996.
The Griak Invitational is held every year on the last weekend i...