Grand Rapids Reporter

Ferris State University will host the 50th annual Ray Helsing Bulldog Invitational this Saturday, September 6, at the Katke Golf Course in Big Rapids. The event will feature both men's and women's collegiate cross country races, as well as high school competitions.

The schedule begins with the men's collegiate 8,000-meter race at 9:30 a.m., followed by the women's collegiate 5,000-meter event at approximately 10:15 a.m. High school girls and boys will compete in separate 5,000-meter races starting at 10:45 a.m. and 11:15 a.m., respectively. Admission is free for all attendees.

According to Ferris State officials, several conference and regional teams are expected to participate alongside unattached runners. Local high schools will also be represented in the prep races.

The invitational was renamed in honor of former coach Ray Helsing in 2010. Helsing led Ferris State's cross country and track programs from 1968 to 1982 and was inducted into the Bulldog Athletics Hall of Fame in 2001. He coached more All-Americans than any other coach in FSU history, producing 20 All-Americans during his tenure. Helsing founded the cross country program and guided his teams to four Great Lakes Conference titles with a dual meet record of 77-17.

This year marks the milestone of fifty years for the Bulldog Invitational since its inception. The men's race began in 1971 but was discontinued before restarting in 1976; Ferris did not field a men's team from 1994-98. The women's invitational has been held every year since its start in 1980 except for cancellations related to COVID-19.

Katke Golf Course opened in 1974 and has hosted several major events including GLIAC Championships, NCAA-II Great Lakes Regional Championships, Michigan Intercollegiate Championships, and NCAA-II Midwest Regional Championships across multiple years. It is an eighteen-hole course owned by Ferris State University and serves as home for both cross country and golf teams.

The course is named after Marvin L. Katke and his wife, whose donation contributed significantly to campus development and construction of the facility. Marvin Katke was vice president for manufacturing at Ford Motor Company and received an honorary degree from FSU in 1967.

Jared Kelsh leads both Bulldogs' cross country squads into his eleventh season as head coach this fall. Saturday’s competition will mark the first official meet of the season for both teams on their home course.