Head coach Natasha Brown was very complimentary of her team's performance in the season-opening meet.

"I think this has been our best first meet showing since I have been coaching at Drake." Brown said. "I think we are off to a good start for the indoor season."

Seniors led the charge for the Bulldogs as Whitney Westrum (Waukee, Iowa) and Marissa Smith (Ajax, Ontario) finished second in their respective events.

Westrum finished second him the 300 meters in 40.58. She was followed by teammate and fellow senior Sarah Yeager (Ottumwa, Iowa) who finished fourth in 41.01 and junior Danyelle Cole (Kansas City, Kan.) who finished sixth 42.01.

"I liked what I saw tonight in the sprints," Brown said. "Whitney closed well in the last 50 meters of the 300."

Drake's distance runners also had strong performances in the 3,000-meter run. Freshman Laura Gann (Wheaton, Ill.) crossed the finish line in .01 seconds behind the winner in 11:10.81. Sophomore Stephanie Parks (Norfolk, Neb.) finished right behind Gann in third at 11:12.89. Both times were personal bests for the athletes.

Smith ran an impressive time of 8.71 in the 60-meter hurdles. Yeager was .02 seconds and one spot behind. Freshman Destani Welch (Des Moines, Iowa) finished seventh in the event. It was the former Roosevelt star's first collegiate competition.

Jaclyn Aremka (Plainfield, Ill.) also starred in her first collegiate event. The freshman finished second in the high jump with a jump of  5-3.25 (1.61m)

Briana Isom-Brummer (St. Louis, Mo.) teamed up with Yeager, Smith and Westrum to finish fourth in the 4x300-meter relay.

Drake will get a month off from competition before heading back to Ames on Jan. 18 for the Iowa State Open.