Minnesota womenâÄôs cross country coach Gary Wilson had his runners doing something unusual to prepare his Gophers for this SaturdayâÄôs Roy Griak Invitational âÄî falling down and quickly getting back on their feet. An estimated 4,000 athletes will compete this Saturday at what is likely to become the largest field in Griak history, and the Minnesota team is readying itself for the problems that come with such a large number of runners. âÄúWe did our traditional Griak rolls, where they run, fall down, get back up and continue to run in case they do get knocked down,âÄù Wilson said. âÄúWe also teach them to run on the outside of the line. TheyâÄôll be 20 people wide on some parts of the course, and if youâÄôre not on the outside you canâÄôt move.âÄù Wilson added that a large field of athletes lends just as many positives for a team including preparing it for national competitions later in the season. Gophers menâÄôs coach Steve Plasencia agreed with his colleague. âÄúWhen youâÄôre in a field with a lot of people in it, youâÄôre always racing somebody no matter where you are throughout the entire eight kilometers. Most of the guys will have a lot of bodies around them and that kind of competition forces them to get the best out of themselves.âÄù A strong start will also help talented teams this weekend like Minnesota and Brigham Young, which dominated the menâÄôs competition two weeks ago in California, Plasencia said. âÄúWe get out strong but not so strong that weâÄôre fading in the later stages,âÄù he said. âÄúThe course is tough and if youâÄôre fading in the later parts of that eight kilometers, youâÄôre going to lose some places.âÄù Experienced debuts Wilson expects the depth of Minnesota to help the team, but the defending meet champions will get a little more assistance from junior All-American Heather Dorniden, who will compete for the first time this season. Dorniden ran five kilometers of the six-kilometer Oz Memorial Run two weeks ago âÄî a âÄúpre-plannedâÄù excursion according to the Rosemount graduate. Senior All-American Chris Rombough, junior Matt Barrett and sophomore All-American Hassan Mead of the Gophers menâÄôs team will also make their season debuts this weekend with Dorniden. For the All-Americans, the Griak will be their first official action since last summerâÄôs NCAA Outdoor championships and the Olympic Trials. Such a long track season somewhat backed up the trioâÄôs training for cross country. âÄúThe analogy we always use is when you go through an entire year of cross country and indoor and outdoor track and then the national and Olympic trials, youâÄôve taken a lot of money out of your bank,âÄù Wilson said. âÄúYou have to rest and regenerate mentally as much as anything else and start replenishing those supplies of money or youâÄôll end up crashing and burning at the other end. âÄúWe donâÄôt want to end up like the stock market right now,âÄù he said.