St. Cloud State Cross Country Set to Host Bob Waxlax Invitational

ST. CLOUD, Minn. – St. Cloud State Cross Country is set to host its annual Bob Waxlax Invitational again after a one-year hiatus last season. The 4,000-meter college/university race will begin at 5 p.m. at Wapicada Golf Course in Sauk Rapids. Senior Day celebrations for the cross country program will begin at 3:45 p.m., prior to the race.

In addition to the college/university event that will wrap the night up, there will be a boys high school 5k at 3:30 p.m. and a girls high school 5k at 4:30 p.m.

FOLLOW THE HUSKIES
Live results will be provided by Fast Finish Results.

TEAMS AT THE MEET
Bemidji State, St. Cloud State, St. Benedict

CELEBRATING THE SENIORS
Wednesday will serve as Senior Day for St. Cloud State Cross Country, as the team plans to recognize its two seniors – Greta Freed (Rochester, Minn.) and Cambrie Kowal (Lake of the Ozarks, Mo.), for their contributions to the program over the last four years.

LAST TIME OUT
St. Cloud State Cross Country ran its first 6,000-meter race on Friday, Sept. 20 at the Les Bolstad Golf Course in Falcon Heights, Minn. Four Huskies improved on their time from last year's race and three Huskies made their 6k debut.

Although there were no new personal bests set, SCSU still saw huge improvements from its returners. Senior Cambrie Kowal (Lake of the Ozarks, Mo.), sophomores Paige Beason (Ankeny, Iowa) and Alena Donahue (West Salem, Wis.) and junior Hannah Little (Grimes, Iowa) all cut significant time off last year's race.

Kowal, senior Greta Freed (Rochester, Minn.), Beason and Donahue paced the Huskies, finishing 1-4 for the second consecutive race. Kowal was 67^th overall in 24:44.7, 56 seconds faster than her 2023 Griak time. Freed was 105^th in 25:30.9, with Beason (107^th / 25:32.5) close on her heels. Last season, Beason was the fastest Husky in a time of 25:38.8. Donahue finished the 6k course in 26:29.6, over a minute faster than she ran a year ago (27:38.0). She also finished 120 spots better – 163^rd in 2024, 283^rd in 2023.

Sophomore Tegan Michalak (Arcadia, Wis.) and freshmen Abbygail Nunez (South St. Paul, Minn.) and MerriAnna Johnson (Osceola, Wis,) each ran their first ever 6,000-meter cross country race. Michalak was fifth on the team, running 26:31.8 and Nunez was the sixth runner in 27:01.5. Johnson finished her first 6k in 28:06.9.

Little was the seventh SCSU runner, across the line in a time of 27:09.1, nearly 20 seconds faster than 2023. She also significantly improved her place, finishing 183^rd in 2024 after placing 315^th in 2023.

St. Cloud State at the Roy Griak Invitational
Sept. 20, 2024 | Les Bolstad Golf Course | Falcon Heights, Minn.

67. Cambrie Kowal - 24:44.7
105. Greta Freed - 25:30.9
107. Paige Beason - 25:32.5
163. Alena Donahue - 26:29.6
167. Tegan Michalak - 26:31.8
188. Abbygail Nunez - 27:01.5
183. Hannah Little - 27:09.1
229. MerriAnna Johnson - 28:06.9

Full Results

SEASON PREVIEW
St. Cloud State was selected to finish 14^th in the 2024 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Coaches' Poll. Additionally, senior Cambrie Kowal (Lake of the Ozarks, Mo.) has been named an NSIC Athlete to Watch.

"I am excited for both the leadership and growing talent within this group," said second-year head coach Gabrielle Brown, "They are a predominately young group of individuals who are back and ready for more. The leaders of this team compliment the talents, vision, and efforts needed to make incremental change."

The Huskies roster is comprised of two seniors – Greta Freed (Rochester, Minn.) and Kowal, one junior – Hannah Little (Grimes, Iowa), five sophomores – Paige Beason (Ankeny, Iowa), Alena Donahue (West Salem, Wis.), Tegan Michalak (Arcadia, Wis.), Mady Muehr (Greendale, Wis.) and Audrey Rabitz (Manitowoc, Wis.) and two freshmen – MerriAnna Johnson (Osceola, Wis.) and Abbygail Nunez (South St. Paul, Minn.).

"This past season Cam [Kowal] was one of the athletes who realized just how much she was capable of," said Brown, "I am excited to see her step up fully and confidently into the amazing athlete that she is. She will be foundational for the growth needed to move us forward."

For all the latest on St. Cloud State Cross Country, stay tuned to SCSUHuskies.com and follow the team on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

St. Cloud State Cross Country Set to Host Bob Waxlax Invitational

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Players Mentioned

Paige Beason

Alena Donahue

Greta Freed

MerriAnna Johnson

Cambrie Kowal

Hannah Little

Tegan Michalak

Mady Muehr

Abbygail Nunez

Audrey Rabitz

Saint Cloud State University Athletics