DES MOINES, IOWA -- The Drake women's cross country team will open its season hosting the annual Bulldog Classic this Friday at Ewing Park, located on the south side of Des Moines. The 4,000 meter race will start at 5 p.m.

LAST YEAR: Then Drake senior Nicole Braunsdorf won the women's individual title at the 2008 Bulldog Classic for the second straight year. Braunsdorf covered the 4,000-meter course in 14 minutes 31 seconds.

Then Drake sophomore teammate Casey McDermott (Newton, Iowa)placed second in 15:21, while then Drake sophomore Meredith Bell (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) was third in 15:50. Five of the top seven runners in the meet were from Drake, including then sophomore Milly Clark who was sixth in 16:05 and then freshman Elizabeth Dunn who was seventh in 16:08.     

SIZING UP THE WOMEN'S TEAM: Graduation claimed All-Missouri Valley Conference runner Nicole Braunsdorf from last year's squad. Braunsdorf was ninth at the 2008 MVC Championship, while also qualifying in the 5,000 at the 2009 NCAA Midwest Outdoor Track and 
Field Regional.

Junior Casey McDermott will pace the Bulldogs this fall after qualifying in the 3,000 steeplechase at the 2009 NCAA Midwest Outdoor Track and Field Regional.

PRESEASON MVC POLL: Drake was picked to finish eighth in the Missouri Valley Conference Women's Cross Country Preseason Poll, receiving 38 points.

Wichita State, tallying seven first-place votes, was picked to defend its league title with 96 points, followed by Illinois State with 86 points, including three first-place votes. Rounding out the poll was Missouri State in third (76 points); Southern Illinois, fourth (75); Northern Iowa, fifth (53); Indiana State, sixth (48); Bradley, seventh (47); Drake, eighth (38); Creighton, ninth (16) and Evansville, 10th (15).