MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – After a weekend off to enjoy Homecoming, the Minot State cross country teams return to action this Friday at their biggest regular-season meet of the season.

Crossing the border into Minnesota, the Beavers race at the prestigious Roy Griak Invitational on Friday with the men running an 8-kilometer course starting at 11:30 a.m, then the women racing a 6K course starting at 12:15 p.m. at the Les Bolstad Golf Course.

A big weekend for Minot State's runners, who are competing in their second meet of the young season.

"I'm looking for the team to compete smart," head coach Steven Schultz said. "They've been getting a lot of rain (in Minnesota), so we'll need to make sure to watch for potential trouble spots and put ourselves in good positions."

While the Beavers look to run smart, Coach Schultz also wants his team to savor this opportunity, which features some of the best teams from around the nation – at all levels.

"We don't know what this meet will look like in the future since they're shutting down the course after this season, so enjoy it," he said.

Last time out, at the Marauders Invitational in Bismarck, Minot State enjoyed success as Emery Smith and Bailey Wride each finished in the top 15 to power the Beaver ladies to a 3^rd-place team finish.

Smith opened her senior season with a career-best 6K time of 22 minutes, 44.92 seconds, finishing 10^th at the Marauders Invitational, while Wride was close behind in 12^th in 22:52.51.

On the men's side, Jake Jenkins powered the men's 4^th-place finish as he was 17^th individually in 26:54.47 on the 8K course.

This weekend, the Beavers look to excel on a challenging course against a field packed with the majority of the NSIC schools.

"I think success looks like time improvements on a year-to-year comparison from last time we were here," Schultz said, adding, "it's a challenging course, so it'll be a good test."

Last year, Smith and Bailey Wride, along with teammates Afton Wride, Nicole Reeves, and Addyson Wendt all raced for a Minot State women's team that finished 11^th at the Roy Griak.

For the men, Nikita Neyshtadt, Camden Jasmin, and Auston Lemer are the lone returners who ran at the Roy Griak for Minot State last fall as the Beavers finished 23^rd.