MANHATTAN, Kan. On Saturday, Sept. 29, the Kansas State cross country teams will enter the competitive stretch of the 2007 season at the 22nd Annual Roy Griak Invitational in St. Paul, Minn. The men’s 8K race will begin at 12:10 p.m. followed by the women’s 6K race at 12:55 p.m.

The meet is hosted by the University of Minnesota and will be held at the Les Bolstad Golf Course in St. Paul. It will be the first chance for the Wildcats to get a look at their Big 12 opponents for the 2007 season as six Big 12 Conference schools (Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma) will represented out of the field of 24 men’s teams and 27 women’s teams competing in the Gold division race.

The men look to continue developing their 2007 campaign by improving on a 30th place in last season’s Griak Invitational. Junior Colin Swaney led the Wildcats in last season’s meet but will not be competing on Saturday. Junior Alex Umberger has lead the Wildcats in each race of the 2007 season so far and is expected to improve his 213th-place finish from last season’s Griak Invitational.

After a 20th-place finish in last season’s Griak Invitational, the women’s team is set to improve with newcomer Beverly Ramos and senior Liliani Mendez leading the way. On Sept. 18, Ramos was selected as the Big 12 Runner of the Week for her first place finish at the Woody Greeno Invitational (9/15). Mendez was named the Big 12 Runner of the Week after last season’s strong performance at the Griak Invitational by earning a ninth-place finish with 6K time of 21:43.

Results from the Roy Griak Invitational will be posted at www.kstatesports.com as they become available. For more information on the meet, visit www.gophersports.com.