2025 Roy Griak Invite Preview - Girls

This spring, news broke that the historic Les Bolstad Golf Course—open for more than a century—will permanently close after the coming winter. For nearly 40 years, Bolstad has served as the host of the Roy Griak Invitational and, in recent seasons, the Minnesota State Cross Country Championships. Its closure leaves an uncertain future for both events in 2026 and beyond. But for now, 2025 offers one final year in which Minnesota’s two grandest cross country stages unfold on the nearly identical course, giving this year’s Griak an extra layer of meaning and nostalgia.

Since Bolstad became the state meet venue, the Griak has only grown in prestige. Teams see it not just as a chance to test themselves against regional powers but also as a dress rehearsal for November. Programs come to experience the historic meet not just around the state, but around the country, with 12 states being represented in the high school races. The expansion of the high school races reflects that growth: four separate girls’ races fill Saturday’s schedule, while the college races remain on Friday. The Championship races are the main attraction, but every race tells a story, and together they provide a snapshot of the Minnesota and entire Heartland cross country landscape.

Girls’ Championship Team and Individual Preview

The Wayzata girls enter the 2025 Griak as one of the very best programs in the country, currently ranked in the national top five. A year ago, the Trojans finished runner-up at this meet to Cardinal Gibbons (NC) but ultimately turned the tables when they placed ninth at Nike Cross Nationals and Gibbons finished 12th. This fall, Wayzata has already flexed its dominance with convincing victories at both the St. Olaf Showcase and the Metro Invite. They bring both star power and depth to Bolstad, led by seniors Maddie Gullickson and Lila Golomb, who hold the top two spots in the coaches’ individual rankings. Gullickson, runner-up at state last year and fourth at Griak, will again contend for the win, while Golomb, 11th at Griak and fifth at state in 2024, looks ready to join her teammate at the front. They’re hardly alone: fellow seniors Jazleen Malherek-Osario and Miley Clark round out a loaded front pack. Together, that quartet and others close behind gives Wayzata a chance to dominate the team race and control the individual one as well. Their toughest out-of-state challengers will come from Sioux Falls Christian (SD), Pella (IA), and Harrisburg (SD).

Right behind them in the state rankings sits Forest Lake. The Lakers were only 15th at Griak last year (eighth among Minnesota teams) but surged to a runner-up finish at state in the fall. Even with the graduation of state champion Norah Hushagen, they’ve proven they’re still among the best. Forest Lake finished second at the St. Olaf Showcase earlier this season and are led by the underappreciated senior Anna VanAcker, who was third at state and 22nd at Griak in 2024.

St. Michael–Albertville sits third in the coaches’ poll and brings both consistency and youth. The Knights were seventh at both Griak and state last year, and they return with a new star in eighth grader Mackenzie Myran, who has already run 18:31 or faster three times this fall. They finished second to Forest Lake at the Steve Hoag Invite, signaling their strength.

Hopkins, ranked fourth, has been steadily building momentum. After finishing 10th at Griak last year but missing state, the Royals placed fifth at the Heartland Preview last week and have been strong in-season, with runner-up finishes at both the Bauman-Rovn and Brave Like Gabe Invites. Junior Morgan Waechter, ranked 10th individually, leads the way after winning Bauman-Rovn in 18:35.

Fifth-ranked Edina is another dangerous squad. The Hornets dominated the AppleJack Invite earlier this fall and are anchored by junior Lyla Drayna, who was seventh at state last year and 28th at Griak. After finishing 17th at Griak in 2024 but missing state, Edina looks well-positioned for a stronger postseason run.

Several other teams could disrupt the top tier. St. Paul Highland Park, the defending Class AA state champions, finished third at Griak a year ago. Although they sit outside the top 10 in the current coaches’ poll, they remain a factor with Ruby Peterson leading the charge. Chaska has consistently been near the front this year, placing third at the St. Olaf Showcase, Bauman-Rovn, and Metro Invites, powered by senior Noella Ross, an 800m specialist who has converted her track speed into cross country success.

Among Class AA programs, the spotlight falls on Perham and Minneapolis Southwest. Perham, ranked second in AA, has rolled through its early schedule with wins at all three of its meets and placed 11th at Griak in 2024. They are led by freshman Julianna Scraper and senior Gracie Morris, who give them a perfect balance of youthful energy and veteran leadership. Minneapolis Southwest, the No. 1 ranked AA team, has made an impressive transition after finishing fourth in Class AAA last year and 25th at Griak. This fall, they’ve already finished fourth at St. Olaf, won the Bauman-Rovn Invite, and placed second at the Metro Invite behind only Wayzata. They’ll be led by Annika Midness, one of the top runners in the state.

Individually, the field extends well beyond the front-runners from Wayzata and other top teams. Evie Malec of Minnetonka has been one of the state’s most consistent stars, winning the Steve Hoag Invite in 18:11 and earning top-10 finishes at state in each of the past three years. Brynlee Wegener of Blaine, only a freshman, is already ranked third in the coaches’ poll and just ran 18:13 for third place at the Metro Invite. Audrey Brownell of Staples-Motley, the defending Class A state champion and second-ranked runner in Class A, turned heads with a blazing 17:47 at the Dragon Twilight. What a loaded field!

Gopher Girls Preview

Even though the Championship race is the highlight, the Gopher race promises plenty of individual firepower that will be a treat to watch. Annika Hall of Chisago Lakes has already won three races this year after finishing fourth in Class AA last fall and runner-up in the 3200 on the track. Keira Friedrich of Saint Peter, ranked No. 1 in the Class AA poll, has matched that dominance with wins in all three of her races this season. She was eighth at state in 2024 before going on to win the 1600 on the track. Abigail Tri of John Marshall, winner of the Mayo Invite and fourth at St. Olaf, is another rising name, ranked 12th in AAA. Cassie Wellman of Fergus Falls brings big-race credentials after winning the Lucky Lindy and finishing sixth in AA last fall.

Also in the mix is Isabel Mahoney of Monticello, who won the Griak Gold race a year ago and has already defeated Hall this season at the Saints Invite despite battling back from a minor injury. Cara Back of Rogers, runner-up to Mahoney in the Gold race last year, currently ranks 11th in AAA, while Nora Hanson of Red Wing (ranked 10th in AA) and Josie Miller of Two Rivers add more depth after strong early-season showings. Team-wise, Saint Peter, Rogers, and Maple Grove enter with high expectations, while Hermantown and Becker also have the firepower to contend.

Maroon Girls Preview

The Maroon race should provide another entertaining team battle. Farmington may be the slight favorite, having been ranked earlier this season and led by senior Lauren Lansing, who has run under 19:00 in all three of her races and is a threat individually. Orono, ranked seventh in AA, also looks strong behind Delaney Stephens, who has opened her season with a string of strong finishes. Other names to watch include Taylor Covier of Greenway, Isabel Pass of Nova Classical, and Ruby Demmer of Coon Rapids, each of whom has the talent to break into the top pack.

Gold Girls Preview

Little Falls, ranked sixth in the most recent coaches’ poll, enters as the favorite after finishing runner-up at the Lucky Lindy Invite. They are led by Malin Youngberg, one of the state’s top Class AA runners. Riverside Christian is also ranked sixth in Class A and boasts a formidable duo in sisters Emelia and Ella Arntson, who have clocked 19:11 and 19:32 this fall and could be individual contenders. Minnewaska an rounds out the ranked tier of Class A programs. Individually, Grace Steele of Sartell and Zili Lenzner of Apollo have already clashed twice this season and should renew their rivalry here. It should be a great way to end the Griak race weekend!

This year’s Roy Griak Invitational feels like more than just another stop on the calendar. With Les Bolstad’s future likely sealed at Les Bolstad, it becomes a farewell tour of sorts—a last chance for Minnesota runners to test themselves on the state’s most iconic course in the Griak setting.