NORMAN, Okla. -- The University of Oklahoma men's and women's cross country teams face their first true test of the season Saturday, Sept. 23, at the Roy Griak Invitational in Minneapolis.
The event, hosted by the University of Minnesota , is one of the largest cross country festivals in the nation and will host over 350 schools and 4,000 athletes in several high school and college divisions.
This year\'s races will host some of the top competition in the NCAA, including U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association men's top 30 teams Wisconsin (1), Arizona (8), Kansas (10), Arizona State (20) and Iowa (27); and women\'s top 30 teams Arizona State (9), Baylor (13), Minnesota (16), Michigan State (23) and Virginia (26).
Freshman Rob Sorrell, winner of the Hurricane Festival three weeks ago, leads the OU men and two-time national qualifier Jessica Eldridge leads the Sooner women.
The Roy Griak Invitational also has a special importance this season as it will be the same track that plays host to the NCAA Midwest Regional, in which Oklahoma will be competing against similiar competition Saturday, Nov. 11.
Run on the Les Bolstad Golf Course, the men\'s 8,000-meter Division I race starts at 11:20 a.m. with the women\'s 6,000-meter race at 12:10 p.m.