Panthers Head To Star-Studded Griak InvitationalSept. 20, 2004
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This week the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men's and women's cross country teams hit the national stage when they run at the Roy Griak Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 25, in Minneapolis, Minn. The Griak is the Panthers first national-caliber meet of the season. Scouting The Field: Roy Griak Invitational Both teams have their work cut out for them as the fields for the Roy Griak Invitational are packed with regional powers. Of the 26 Division I men's teams scheduled to run, 21 are ranked in their United States Cross Country Coaches Association (USCCCA) preseason regional polls. Most notable on the men's side are No. 1's Minnesota (Midwest Region) and Wisconsin (Great Lakes). Not to be outdone, the women's field features 20 regionally-ranked teams among their Women's Intercollegiate Cross Country Coaches Association (WICCCA) preseason polls. Three No. 1 teams are set to compete in Arkansas (South Central), Princeton (Mid-Atlantic) and Providence (Northeast). Note: While the USCCCA features a top-15 region poll, the WICCCA compiles a top-10. Butler is the only other Horizon League team scheduled to appear and is among the regionally-ranked teams, boasting No. 3 men's and No. 7 women's rankings in the Great Lakes Region. Ranked! Milwaukee's men enter this weekend with a fresh No. 15 ranking in the USCCCA Great Lakes Preseason Poll that was released today. The Panthers compete in arguably the toughest of the nine national regions, one which sent six teams to last year's NCAA Championships. Four teams earned one of 13 at-large berths, more than any other region. Last Time Out: Midwest Collegiate Open Women: Senior Anna Christian finished seventh to lead UWM to a fifth-place finish at the 20-team Midwest Collegiate Open. The third Division I runner across the line, Christian helped the Panthers finish second among four Division I schools. The frosh duo of Holly Nearmann and Angie Huebner also finished among the top-25, taking 18th and 22nd, respectively. Men: Milwaukee put three runners in the top 25 to take fifth at the 29-team Midwest Collegiate open. The Panthers finished second among six D-I schools, topping league foes Loyola and UW-Green Bay. Junior Josh Nygren was the top Black and Gold finisher, taking 12th. Parkside on the Horizon Last week's Midwest Collegiate Open took place at the Parkside National Cross Country Course, the host venue for the 2005 league championships. The Panthers are hosting the meet for the first time since 1995, last hosting to the conference championships in Glendale, Wis. Up Next Milwaukee has three weeks off after the Griak Invitational before travelling to the Pre-National Invitational, Oct. 16, in Terre Haute, Ind. Indiana State University's LaVern Gibson Cross Country Course will be the site of the Great Lakes Regional (Nov. 13) and the NCAA Championships (Nov. 22).
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