WHAT'S AHEAD: The Drake women's cross country team will return to the scene of its last meet when it competss in the 25th annual Roy Griak Invitational this Saturday at the Les Bolstad Golf Course in Falcon Heights, Minn.
It will be the Bulldogs' strongest test of the season with several nationally ranked teams competing in the 6,000-meter race which starts at 1:10 p.m. Teams expected to compete are Arizona, Arizona State, Baylor, Boise State, Boston College, Coastal Carolina, Colorado State, Duke, Iowa State, host Minnesota, Navy, New Mexico, North Carolina State, North Dakota State, Northern Illinois, Oregon State, Penn State, Providence, Rice, South Carolina, South Dakota State, Toledo and Utah Valley State.
LAST YEAR: Then junior Casey McDermott finished 27th to pace Drake at the 2009 Roy Griak Invitational. McDermott was timed in 22 minutes 50 seconds in the meet which attracted 191 runners from across the country. The Bulldogs placed 15th in the team standings with 384 points. Then Drake junior Meredith Bell was 82nd in 24:33, while junior Tara Scieszinski was 85th in 24:37.
Iowa State placed five runners in the top 10 to dethrone Minnesota as the team champion and capture its first Griak title. Iowa State matched the Gophers' low team score from last year with 31 points, while Minnesota was second with 48 points. Minnesota senior Megan Duwell was the individual champion in 21:01.
A LOOK BACK: Drake senior Casey McDermott (Newton, Iowa) finished third out of 82 runners at the Oz Memorial women's cross country meet held Friday at the Les Bolstad Golf Course. McDermott covered the 6,000-meter course in 22 minutes 16.03 seconds. Drake finished third in the five-team meet.
Host Minnesota, ranked 21st in the preseason U.S. Cross Country coaches poll, defended its team championship. Minnesota's Stephanie Price won the race in 21:16.15, followed by teammate Missa Varpness, who was second in 22:12.95.
Drake senior Tara Scieszinski (Albia, Iowa) was 15th in 23:20.05. Drake freshman Erin Poss (Antioch, Ill.) was 27th in 24:01.32, while senior Meredith Bell (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) was 38th in 24:21.86, and freshman Amanda Marwitz (Crystal Lake, Ill.) was 52nd in 24:55.13.
Five Drake freshmen were competing in the first 6,000-meter race of their careers
