Upcoming Event: Cross Country versus Beehive Invitational on September 12, 2025 at W: 10:00 AM / M: 10:45 AM
W: 10:00 AM / M: 10:45 AM
Cross Country
vs Beehive Invitational
Friday, September 22
Minneapolis, MN
9:45 AM
University of Utah
vs
Roy Griak Invitational
Women of Utah Set to Defend Title at Roy Griak Invitational
9/20/2023 2:38 PM | Cross Country
The Utah cross country team heads back to the Minnesota to defend its Roy Griak Invitational title this Friday.
SALT LAKE CITY – The 24th-ranked Utah cross country team is headed to Minnesota this Friday, Sept. 19, to defend its Roy Griak Invitational title at the Les Bolstad Golf Course.
ROY GRIAK INVITATIONAL
DATE: Friday, Sept. 22
HOST: University of Minnesota
WHERE: Les Bolstad Golf Course (Course Map)
WHEN: 9:45 a.m. (MT)
TICKETS: https://bit.ly/3RqRSda
LIVE RESULTS: https://bit.ly/3Rs7ygs
TEAM PARTICIPANTS: #RV Boise State, #22 California Baptist, Cincinnati, #29 Colorado State, Kennesaw State, Loyola (MD), Minnesota, Miami (FL), #19 New Mexico, North Dakota State, Portland, South Dakota, South Dakota State, St. Thomas, #24 Utah, Wyoming
UTAH PARTICIPANTS: Saydi Anderson, Karli Branch, McKaylie Caesar, Caroline Fischer, Morgan Jensen, Chloe Kockler, Ellie Lundgreen, Clara Mayfield, Grace Moroney, Katarzyna Nowakowska, Anna Peters, Maddie Reed, Claire Rusovick
IN THE RANKINGS
Heading into this week's meet, the Women of Utah check in at No. 24 in the latest (Week #1) USTFCCCA National Polls after opening the preseason rankings at No. 22. This marks the 17th-consecutive week (includes preseason rankings) the Utes have been ranked in the national poll dating back to week No. 3 in 2021 when Utah cracked the top-25 at No. 11 after winning the Dellinger Invitational.
OFF THE BLOCK
The Women of Utah will send 13 runners to the Roy Griak Invitational this week with Karli Branch and Morgan Jensen the only two racing from last year's winning squad. Of those competing for Utah, grad transfers McKaylie Caesar and Clara Mayfield will be making their Utah debut while freshman Katarzyna Nowakowska will be making her collegiate debut. Additionally, Branch, Morgan, Chloe Kockler and Ellie Lundgreen will be running in their first race of the 2023 season.
FRESHMEN FLOURISH
Utah's freshmen duo of Anna Peters and Grace Moroney had a great collegiate debut back on Sept. 1 with Peters finishing third (16:35.3) and Moroney in 10th (17:41.9) – both of which recorded new personal best times. Ellie Lundgreen (17:49.3) and Maddie Reed (17:53.9) followed in 12th and 14th for new PRs while Saydi Anderson (18:06.0) rounded out the scoring five for Utah in 19th.
MERGAERT TO BE INDUCTED FRIDAY
One of the most decorated runners in school history, Amanda Mergaert will join her fellow Utah legends and will forever be immortalized this Friday, Sept. 22, when the 2023 Utah Athletics Hall of Fame Class formerly gets inducted. Mergaert earned five All-America awards and set four individual school records during her time as a Ute. Mergaert was a three-time All-American in the 1,500 meters from 2011-13 and was also an All-American in the indoor mile in 2013. In cross country, Mergaert qualified for nationals three consecutive years before earning All-America honors with a 14th-place finish in 2012.
While at Utah, Mergaert set school records the 6K in cross country, the mile run indoors, and the 800 meters and 1,500 meters outdoors. She was a part of record-setting relays in the distance medley and 4x800 meters as well. Mergaert currently ranks in the top-10 in several categories that include…
UP NEXT
Known to be one of the top meets in the country every year, the Women of Utah will have their hands full at the Nuttycombe Invitational on Friday, Oct. 13. The Utes finished eighth last season there, led by Emily Venter's sixth-place finish. Morgan Jensen and Erin Morgan will be Utah's two runners competing this season from last year's team.
For the latest news and information on the Utah cross country and track & field programs, fans can stay connected online at www.UtahUtes.com and on social media by following on Facebook, X and Instagram.
ROY GRIAK INVITATIONAL
DATE: Friday, Sept. 22
HOST: University of Minnesota
WHERE: Les Bolstad Golf Course (Course Map)
WHEN: 9:45 a.m. (MT)
TICKETS: https://bit.ly/3RqRSda
LIVE RESULTS: https://bit.ly/3Rs7ygs
TEAM PARTICIPANTS: #RV Boise State, #22 California Baptist, Cincinnati, #29 Colorado State, Kennesaw State, Loyola (MD), Minnesota, Miami (FL), #19 New Mexico, North Dakota State, Portland, South Dakota, South Dakota State, St. Thomas, #24 Utah, Wyoming
UTAH PARTICIPANTS: Saydi Anderson, Karli Branch, McKaylie Caesar, Caroline Fischer, Morgan Jensen, Chloe Kockler, Ellie Lundgreen, Clara Mayfield, Grace Moroney, Katarzyna Nowakowska, Anna Peters, Maddie Reed, Claire Rusovick
IN THE RANKINGS
Heading into this week's meet, the Women of Utah check in at No. 24 in the latest (Week #1) USTFCCCA National Polls after opening the preseason rankings at No. 22. This marks the 17th-consecutive week (includes preseason rankings) the Utes have been ranked in the national poll dating back to week No. 3 in 2021 when Utah cracked the top-25 at No. 11 after winning the Dellinger Invitational.
OFF THE BLOCK
The Women of Utah will send 13 runners to the Roy Griak Invitational this week with Karli Branch and Morgan Jensen the only two racing from last year's winning squad. Of those competing for Utah, grad transfers McKaylie Caesar and Clara Mayfield will be making their Utah debut while freshman Katarzyna Nowakowska will be making her collegiate debut. Additionally, Branch, Morgan, Chloe Kockler and Ellie Lundgreen will be running in their first race of the 2023 season.
FRESHMEN FLOURISH
Utah's freshmen duo of Anna Peters and Grace Moroney had a great collegiate debut back on Sept. 1 with Peters finishing third (16:35.3) and Moroney in 10th (17:41.9) – both of which recorded new personal best times. Ellie Lundgreen (17:49.3) and Maddie Reed (17:53.9) followed in 12th and 14th for new PRs while Saydi Anderson (18:06.0) rounded out the scoring five for Utah in 19th.
MERGAERT TO BE INDUCTED FRIDAY
One of the most decorated runners in school history, Amanda Mergaert will join her fellow Utah legends and will forever be immortalized this Friday, Sept. 22, when the 2023 Utah Athletics Hall of Fame Class formerly gets inducted. Mergaert earned five All-America awards and set four individual school records during her time as a Ute. Mergaert was a three-time All-American in the 1,500 meters from 2011-13 and was also an All-American in the indoor mile in 2013. In cross country, Mergaert qualified for nationals three consecutive years before earning All-America honors with a 14th-place finish in 2012.
While at Utah, Mergaert set school records the 6K in cross country, the mile run indoors, and the 800 meters and 1,500 meters outdoors. She was a part of record-setting relays in the distance medley and 4x800 meters as well. Mergaert currently ranks in the top-10 in several categories that include…
| VENUE | EVENT | RANK | TIME (DATE) |
| Indoor | 800m | 2nd | 2:06.34 (2/23/13) |
| Indoor | Mile | 1st | 4:35.35 (2/9/13) |
| Indoor | DMR | 2nd | 11:05.78 (3/2/12) |
| Outdoor | 800m | 3rd | 2:04.73 (7/1/13) |
| Outdoor | 1500m | 3rd | 4:13.63 (6/7/12) |
| Outdoor | 4x800m Relay | 3rd | 8:38.56 (4/26/13) |
| Outdoor | DMR | 2nd | 11:17.09 (4/29/11) |
UP NEXT
Known to be one of the top meets in the country every year, the Women of Utah will have their hands full at the Nuttycombe Invitational on Friday, Oct. 13. The Utes finished eighth last season there, led by Emily Venter's sixth-place finish. Morgan Jensen and Erin Morgan will be Utah's two runners competing this season from last year's team.
For the latest news and information on the Utah cross country and track & field programs, fans can stay connected online at www.UtahUtes.com and on social media by following on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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