MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - Lindsay Cunningham repeated as the champion of the women's Maroon Division at the Roy Griak Invitational hosted by the University of Minnesota on Friday, Sept. 23, leading the field and finishing first at 21:05 in yet another impressive performance by one of the top student-athletes in NCAA Division II cross country. Cunningham helped pace the Winona State women's team to a runner up finish in the event while the Warrior men took 12th behind Andrew Metcalf, who ran a time of 27:08. 

Cunningham won her division in the Griak in 2021, marking the first-ever WSU championship performance in the event, and doubled up her accomplishment on Friday, outpacing the field at the University of Minnesota. In the Maroon Division - comprised of NCAA Division II and Division III programs - WSU had McKenna Taylor earn a third-place spot at 21:52.2 and Kaylee Beyer take sixth with a time of 22:36. NSIC-foe Minnesota Duluth won the team championship with 65 points, while Winona State took second at 88 and the University of Wisconsin La Crosse was third at 114. 

In the men's Maroon Division, Metcalf ran a time of 27:08 while Warrior teammate Mitchell Johnstone was not far behind with a time of 27:16.2.  Mitchell Buerkle had the third-fastest Warrior time at 27:24.9, rounding out the top three for Winona State. Wisconsin-La Crosse's Ethan Gregg finished first with a time of 25:01.4. 

Both Winona State cross country teams are back in action on October 8th when the Warriors compete in the Lewis University Crossover meet, held in Romeoville, Illinois.