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.

The Drake men's cross country team will be led by senior Jeff Grassmeyer (Fremont, Neb.) and junior Andrew Haigh (Auckland, New Zealand).

Grassmeyer won the 5,000 at the 2007 Missouri Valley Conference Outdoor Championships. He was redshirted during the entire 2008 track season. Haigh was second in the 5,000 and fourth in the 3,000 at the 2008 MVC Indoor Championships.