The Hastings Raiders boys and girls cross country teams faced off against some of the Midwest’s top-tier competition at the prestigious Roy Griak Invitational, held Friday and Saturday, September 19–20, at the University of Minnesota’s Les Bolstad Golf Course in Falcon Heights. The event, known for attracting powerhouse programs from across the region, held special meaning this year as it marked one of the final meets at the iconic venue, which is set to close at the end of its 2025 season of events.
Against a field loaded with talent, the Raiders came ready to race. Both teams took on massive varsity fields, each with more than 40 teams and hundreds of runners, and came away with gritty, hard-earned results.
Stoltz Sizzles in Loaded Boys Field
On the boys’ side, senior Parker Stoltz turned in one of the best races of his high school career. With over 400 runners on the course, Stoltz surged through the early traffic, stayed tucked in the lead pack, and powered home in 17:26.1, landing him 7th place overall. His performance was the highlight of the day for the Raiders and came against some serious firepower.
The meet was won by Mill Valley of Kansas, a perennial power that topped the 46-team field with 143 points. Lakeville North (159), Menomonie (176), and Eagan (207) also finished in the top five, all teams with state experience and deep rosters. Hastings stood its ground, finishing 11th overall, just one point ahead of Notre Dame and well ahead of a crowded pack of competitive programs.
Following Stoltz, junior David Tireman ran a composed race to finish second for the Raiders in 18:20.4. He was followed by senior Aiden Reuter in 18:42.4, senior Tristan Herbst at 18:46.0, and sophomore Benjamin Schwanke with a 19:57.0. Sophomore James Jensen also turned in a solid run with a 20:29.0, while senior William Carry was marked as a DNF.
Ronning Runs Fearless in Girls Race
The girls’ race featured its own slate of elite programs, including O’Gorman (South Dakota), Farmington, and Mill Valley, which claimed the top three spots out of 44 teams. Hastings faced not only a large field but a fast one, where the lead runners wasted no time stringing out the pack.
Senior Linnea Ronning once again showed she belongs among the region’s best, placing seventh overall with a time of 20:27.6. Her race was controlled from start to finish, and she maintained her top-10 position through the final mile, matching Stoltz’s result on the boys’ side.
She had solid support behind her, including senior Sara Siebenaler, who finished in 22:44.3, senior Lucy Burmeister, who crossed in 23:20.3, freshman Emily Beaudet, who added a key finish in 24:29.5, and junior Katherine Nowak, who clocked 25:28.8.
Despite a tight field, the girls placed 24th overall, holding off schools like St. Paul Como Park and Rock Ridge while finishing just a few spots back from bigger metro-area programs.
Big Stage, Big Lessons
The Roy Griak Invitational has long been a test of endurance, patience, and toughness, and this year’s edition was no exception. Both Raider squads had a front-row seat to what championship-level running looks like, and they responded with grit.
Head Coach Joe Rabaey praised the meet and the effort his runners gave. “Griak was a really fun experience, especially to go up against so many runners and teams from across the Midwest. We had some great results from our race, both as a team and individually. It’s the toughest course we will run all year, plus with some added mud and puddles this year, so even though times weren’t fast many of our runners had their best race of the year so far,” Rabaey said.
He also reflected on the future of the venue. “I know many coaches around the state are saddened by the news that the U of M has sold Les Bolstad golf course. The state meet will still be there this year, but the location for next year is unknown. The U of M still has the desire to keep hosting the Griak meet and Big Ten championships in the future, and I know they are currently looking at options for courses. For now, it was a fun experience to be part of the last Griak meet at Les Bolstad, where it has been run for 39 years.”
Stoltz and Ronning delivered elite performances, while runners like Tireman, Reuter, Siebenaler, and others backed them up with crucial points and steady pacing. For a meet of this size and quality, Hastings showed it can not only compete, but thrive.
As the season turns toward conference meets and section competition, the Raiders will bring back not just solid finishes, but a hard-earned dose of confidence. Against some of the best teams in the region, Hastings stood tall. And they are not done yet.