By
Francisco Merced
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Wildcats will face up to 30 teams in this Saturday's meet
About 30 teams will lace up their running shoes tomorrow to compete in the 16th Annual Roy Griak Invitational at the University of Minnesota. The UA men's and women's cross country teams will be one of them.
The second meet of the season for the Wildcats is a stark contrast to what they faced in their first competition of the year at the Purdue Invitational. With just five schools competing, both Wildcat teams emerged victorious.
Head coach Dave Murray anticipates a larger and more competitive field in Minnesota.
"You got to go and beat good teams, and in Minnesota there are a lot of good teams," Murray said.
On the men's side, nine of the top 25 teams in the nation - including the No. 5 Wildcats, No. 11 Arizona State and No. 12 Minnesota - are scheduled to compete.
Eight of the top-25 women's teams, including No. 2 Wisconsin and No. 10 Arizona State, will seek to defeat the Wildcats.
Considered to be one of the elite meets of the season, the Wildcats want to set their standards high against the top teams in the country.
"(This) meet will give us a better indication of where we are," Murray said.
Junior Mike Cramer, winner of the Purdue Invitational, received high praise from Murray after the former walk-on won his first collegiate meet.
"He's definitely becoming one of our team leaders," Murray said. "He runs his butt off all summer and is ready to compete by day one."
On the women's side, UA junior Tara Chaplin will lead the women to face a much stiffer competition in their second meet.
"It should be very good competition," Chaplin said. "We're still in the build-up portion of the season."
Having won the third individual title of her career at the Purdue Invitational, Chaplin will be facing a larger field - about 300 women will be competing this weekend.
Murray, however, doesn't feel the large number will be a factor in team scoring - Arizona will send nine runners on each side to compete in the meet.
"I think we can be competitive against any team in the country," Murray said.
