WHAT'S AHEAD:  After a week off, the Drake women's cross country teams resume action focusing attention on the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Championship Saturday at the Newman Golf Course in Peoria, Ill. The men's 8,000-meter race will start at 10:30 a.m., followed by the women's 5,000-meter run at 11:30 a.m.

2008 WOMEN'S RECAP:  Then Drake senior Nicole Braunsdorf earned All-Missouri Valley Conference honors with a ninth-place finish in the 2008 Missouri Valley Conference Women's Cross Country Championship  in Springfield, Mo. Braunsdorf covered  the 5,000-meter course in 18 minutes 8.45 seconds. Missouri State's Pasca Cheruiyot won the individual title in 16:57.81.

Then Drake sophomore Casey McDermott (Newton, Iowa) was 28th in 19:01.87. Other Drake results included  then sophomore Meredith Bell  (Cedar Rapids, Iowa), 41st, 19:35.49;  junior Courtney Heinz (St. Paul, Minn), 43rd, 19:38.43;  sophomore Katie Coomer (Overland Park, Kan.), 60th, 20:34.38;  senior Kristin Looney, 62nd, 20:43.86; and senior Emma Barker, 65th, 21:00.19.

PREMEET WOMEN'S POLL: Drake was picked to finish eighth in the Missouri Valley Conference premeet coaches poll. Wichita State, receiving eight first-place votes, was picked to win the league title followed by Illinois State, 82 points; Bradley, 78 points; Missouri State, 71 points; Southern Illinois, 67 points; Indiana State, 56 points; Northern Iowa, 38 points; Drake, 35 points; Creighton, 16 points and Evansville, 14 points.
   
WOMEN'S PREVIEW: Drake junior Casey McDermott placed fifth at the Bradley Classic Oct. 16 in Peoria, Ill. McDermott was timed in 21:51 for the 6,000-meter race which took place at the Newman Golf Course which also will serve as host of the 2009 Missouri Valley Conference Championships.

Drake junior Katie Coomer was 50th in 23:10, while junior Meredith Bell was 61st in 23:30 followed by junior Tara Scieszinski (Albia, Iowa) 66th in 23:38. Senior Courtney Heinz was 68th in 23:40.