Casual meets offer final race for some runners

The Gophers women’s cross country team will host a low-key meet this weekend to conclude the season for the non-scorers.

After placing fifth at the Big Ten championships, Minnesota will host Rocky’s Run at Les Bolstad Golf Course on Sunday.

Runners scheduled to compete in the NCAA Midwest Regional Championships will have the weekend off from competition.

“It’s about finishing the season off and trying to set [personal bests] from earlier in the year, and that’s always a goal,” women’s head coach Gary Wilson said.

Similar to Jack’s Run from two weeks ago, Rocky’s Run serves as a tribute meet and is open to the public.

This meet is named in honor of Rocky Racette and it will benefit the foundation named in her honor.

Racette was a former Gophers All-American who died in a car accident in 1981.

“It’s just a chance for us to honor one of our all-time greats and add to the scholarship fund and always remember your history,” Wilson said.

“I just don’t want anybody ever to forget where the program was and where it’s come from.”

Men headed to St. John’s

After a third place finish at the Big Ten championships in Champaign, Ill., last weekend, the Gophers men’s cross country team will compete Friday in the St. John’s Fall Finale.

This meet offers the second-string runners a chance to run in their final competition of the season.

“It’s definitely, first and foremost, a chance for our guys to get one more competition,” men’s head coach Steve Plasencia said. “We’ve also had some pretty good times up at that meet in terms of what guys have been able to run up there.”

The Gophers dominated the meet last season, recording a perfect score of 15 against mainly Division III competition.

Blayne Dulian, Paul Hilsen, Kevin Lachowitzer, Sean Olson, Drew Paradis, Derek Storkel and Matt Volz will compete in uniform for the Gophers this season.

Unattached runners will have to make the trip on their own, but there are a few “talking about going up there,” according to Plasencia.

“It’s not a pressure-filled environment,” Plasencia said. “It’s a short trip, but I think it’s a fun meet to be involved in. That helps end cross country on a good note for a lot of guys.”

 None of the athletes running in the Nov. 12 NCAA Midwest Regional Championships in DeKalb, Ill., will run at the St. John’s Fall Finale.