The Pella Dutch varsity girls will travel to Minneapolis this Saturday, September 20, to compete in the Roy Griak Invitational, one of the premier cross-country meets in the nation. Held at the University of Minnesota’s Les Bolstad Golf Course, the meet annually attracts top programs from Minnesota, the Dakotas, Iowa, and beyond — providing the Dutch with a rare chance to test themselves against national-caliber competition.
Schedule (HS Division – Championship Race)
9:30 a.m. – Girls Maroon
9:55 a.m. – Girls Maroon Awards
11:00 a.m. – Girls Championship (Pella’s race)
11:20 a.m. – Girls Championship Awards
12:30 p.m. – Girls Gold
12:50 p.m. – Girls Gold Awards
Varsity Lineup (Pella)
Marissa Ferebee (#1 3A Iowa)
Elsie Brenneman (#2 3A Iowa)
Carleigh Altwine (#11 3A Iowa)
Ruth Dunham (#14 3A Iowa)
Lizzy Vande Voort
Lizzie Neumann
Dana McCulla
Anna Dobson
Rebekah Wittenberg
- Erica Vos
The Dutch bring a deep, experienced lineup that features four individually ranked athletes in Iowa Class 3A. This will be the first race the Dutch have run full-strength since the season opener at Cedar Rapids.
Teams to Watch
Wayzata (MN) – a perennial national power and past Griak champion, led this year by standouts like Maddie Gullickson, Miley Clark, Jazleen Malherek-Osorio, and Addison Neitz.
Sioux Falls Christian (SD) – currently ranked in the national top 20, anchored by Ellie Maddox and Sadie Pettnegill.
Harrisburg (SD) – also nationally ranked, paced by Brianna Reilly and Hannah Genrich.
Other national contenders – Minnesota’s Ciara Hartman (Bloomer, MN), last year’s third-place finisher, is the top returning athlete. Additional strong individuals include Faith Wise (SD), Claire Grinde (ND), Brynn Torres (CO), Margaret Duffy (MN), and Audrey Brownell (MN).
Individuals to Watch
Marissa Ferebee (Pella) – The reigning NXR Heartland champion and Nike Cross Nationals All-American is back in form after opening her senior season with two dominant victories. She owns the course record (17:17) at Pella’s Central College course and will look to reassert herself on the national stage at Griak.
Elsie Brenneman & Lizzy Vande Voort (Pella) – Both top-5 in Iowa Class 3A, giving Pella rare front-end depth.
Carleigh Altwine & Ruth Dunham (Pella) – Both state-ranked in Iowa and crucial scorers in a meet of this caliber.
National standouts – Look for Maddox, Reilly, Gullickson, and Hartman to be in contention for the win.
Why It Matters
The Griak Invitational offers Pella a chance to measure themselves not only against the best in Iowa, but against nationally ranked teams and All-American individuals. For a squad already ranked #1 in Iowa Class 3A, this test will sharpen the Dutch for the championship season ahead.