ST. PAUL, Minn. – Conner Mantz led No. 3 BYU men’s cross country to its second-straight meet title at the 35th annual Roy Griak Invitational at Les Bolstad Golf Course on Friday.

Mantz and Wesley Kiptoo of No. 10 Iowa State remained neck-and-neck for much of the men’s 8K and finished within one second of each other after a final burst from Mantz as the two All-Americans approached the finish.

"Conner is very competitive and had a well-timed kick to take the win," said BYU head coach Ed Eyestone.

Mantz seized first place from Kiptoo with an 8K time of 23:53.9. The reigning individual national champion has now recorded four consecutive first place finishes and eight for his career.

Three more BYU runners accompanied Mantz in the top-10, powering the Cougars to a first-place finish with 34 points.

Casey Clinger clocked a 24:37.4 to finish fourth in his first collegiate meet since the 2020 National Championships.

"It was great to have Casey back in the line-up and he didn't disappoint," said Eyestone. "He looked sharp in his first race since the Olympic Trials." 

Clinger has finished in the top-5 in five of his last six meets.

Aidan Troutner and Brandon Garnica finished within 0.2 seconds of each other at sixth and seventh place, respectively. Lucas Bons passed 21 runners over the final 3K to finish 16th and secure the team's win in just his second collegiate cross country meet.

"Bons is gaining confidence with every race and will be key if we are going to finish on the podium at nationals," said Eyestone.

Freshmen Davin Thompson and Joey Nokes made their BYU debuts in St. Paul and finished in the top-50 with times of 25:27.6 and 25.33.3, respectively.

BYU and Iowa State finished just as tight as Mantz and Kiptoo. The Cougars narrowly edged the Cyclones 34-35, while No. 26 Michigan State took third in the team standings with 86 points. BYU also overpowered host Minnesota (137) and WCC-foes Santa Clara (sixth, 178) and Pepperdine (15th, 435).

BYU men’s cross country will next compete at the FSU XC Invite/Pre-Nationals at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee, Florida on Friday, Oct. 15. 

Griak Invitational Top-5 Results | Team 

Griak Invitational Top-10 Results | Individual

Griak Invitational | BYU Individual Results

*Photo Credit Craig Lassig/University of Minnesota Athletics

ST. PAUL, Minn. – No. 3 BYU men’s cross country will compete in the 35th Annual Roy Griak Invitational at Les Bolstad Golf Course on Friday, Sept. 24.

Meet Information

• 35th Annual Roy Griak Invitational
• Host: Minnesota
• Location: Les Bolstad Golf Course | St. Paul, Minnesota
• Men’s race: 10:30 a.m. CDT.
• Results

In the team’s last time out, Conner Mantz and Aidan Troutner led the way in a season-opening win at the Autumn Classic in Provo, Utah on Sept. 11. Except for a seventh-place finish at the 2020 NCAA Championships, BYU has won four of its last five meets dating back to the Weber State Invitational on Nov. 6, 2020.

Mantz, Troutner and Brandon Garnica each finished in the top-5 at the Autumn Classic and will race again for the Cougars at Griak. All-American Casey Clinger will return to action for BYU on Friday. In Clinger’s last meet, he finished 13th at the 2020 NCAA Championships.

Joey Nokes and Davin Thompson will compete in the first meet of their BYU careers at Griak. The Cougars will also run Lucas Bons, Zack Ericksen, Justin Hartshorn, Zac Jacklin, McKay Johns, Creed Thompson and Adam Wood.

BYU moved up a spot to a tie for No. 3 with Stanford in the USTFCCCA National Coaches’ Poll when the rankings were released on Tuesday.

The Cougars will have a chance to defend that ranking at the Griak Invitational as they face 19 teams, including No. 10 Iowa State and No. 26 Michigan State. Host Minnesota is coming off a fifth-place finish at the Harry Groves Spiked Shoe Invitational in University Park, Pennsylvania on Friday, Sept. 10.

BYU last competed at the Griak Invitational in 2013. The Cougars won the 2013 Griak behind a 24:26 8K from two-time All-American Tylor Thatcher.

Meet the Host

• Minnesota cross country is led by Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Matt Bingle and Cross Country Head Coach Sarah Hopkins.
• The Golden Gophers' men's cross country tradition includes...
  • four conference championships
  •  23 appearances at NCAA Championships
  •  24 All-Americans