DES MOINES, IOWA ? The Drake men's and women's cross country teams will open their regular season this Friday, hosting the annual Bulldog Classic at Ewing Park.The women's 4,000-meter race will start at 5 p.m., followed by the men's 4,000-meter race at 5:30 p.m.
Iowa State is expected to compete in the meet, along with unattached runners, and athletes from area small colleges.

Drake's Nicole Braunsdorf won the individual title in the women's division at the 2007 Bulldog Classic, while Johnny Reel from Iowa State won the men's division. Barry Hill was Drake's top finisher placing second.

Senior Nicole Braunsdorf (St. Francis, Wis..) and sophomore Casey McDermott (Newton, Iowa) are Drake's top returning runners on the women's team.

Braunsdorf finished 13th in the 2007 Missouri Valley Conference Championships, while McDermott placed 23rd. McDermott came back to set a Drake school record during the 2008 outdoor campaign in the women's 3,000 steeplechase in 11 minutes 2.81 seconds.