September 25, 2017 at 1:22 p.m.
Hodags' Franson competes in Griak Invite
Hodags' Franson competes in Griak Invite
Franson placed 129th in a 415-runner field Saturday in the gold division of the Roy Griak Invitational contested on Les Bolstad Golf Course on the University of Minnesota campus in St. Paul.
The Griak brings in some of the best college and high school teams from around the Midwest and Franson said the race was a big eye-opener.
"This is easily the biggest race I've ever competed in,' she said. "The field of girls that ran today was really strong, so it was a great experience for me. It was also the first time I've been to a college-level meet, so it was neat to see all the girls on college teams would warm up, cool down, get ready and stuff."
The gold division boasted a stronger field than its maroon counterpart and, because of the weather, a longer distance. Franson covered the hilly five-kilometer course in 21 minutes, 27.1 seconds in muggy conditions that approached 90 degrees. Race organizers shortened the maroon division race that followed to four kilometers over concerns regarding the high temperature.
Franson said she wanted to pace herself, because of the conditions and because of the strong field. She was 88th after covering the opening mile in 6:13 and was 107th at the three-kilometer mark.
"I just wanted to have a smart plan," she said. "I didn't want to start out too strong because I had heard from a lot of people who have done this race that the start is absolutely fast and I didn't want to wear myself out in the first half. I didn't want to get out too fast, which I think I did. Then, as the race went on I just wanted to feel how my body would fare with the heat and the hills."
Franson added she feels running a big meet like the Griak will help her next month at the Great Northern Conference tournament and WIAA sectionals as she vies for her third trip to the WIAA state meet.
"I'm kind of getting used to how I should run, how I should start the race and how I should finish," she said. "It's definitely helping me, coming down to the more important meets, determine how I should run my race."
Franson's weekend trip to the Twin Cities also included a college visit to Division III St. Thomas University, which is recruiting her for its women's cross country program. Franson said the visit went well but that she has no timetable on making a commitment.
"I've got a big list of schools to narrow down," she said.
Franson, and the rest of her Hodag teammates, will return to action Thursday in the Waupaca Invite.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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