Each year, a large number of Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) cross country teams competed in one of the most celebrated and difficult races of the season at the University of Minnesota Roy Griak Meet. Saturday, the St. Catherine University squad turned in its best team finish in program history thanks to a huge performance from junior Courtney Kirkeide (Greenbush, Minn./Greenbush-Middle River). For her efforts, she has been named the Wildcat Athlete of the Week.Â
The Wildcats finished 11th in a stacked Division III field with four competitors finishing in the top 60 for a team score of 270. None shown brighter than Kirkeide who just missed the top 30 by a second with a time of 25:15.1 to place 31st in the field of 232 runners.Â
Kirkeide's time was a personal-best for her at the Griak meet and is now the fastest time and highest placing by a Wildcat since Ailee Larson was seventh in 2013. In just two races so far this season, Kirkeide has been in the Wildcats' top three finishers and claimed the No. 10 spot on the St. Kate's all-time performances list in the first meet of the season.Â
The Wildcats and Kirkeide will take one week off of competition before hosting the St. Kate's Invite 4,000-meter race Saturday, Oct. 11 at 11 a.m. at St. Kate's.Â
