The Drake University cross country teams continue the early portion of their 2015 season on Friday at the Oz Memorial, hosted by the University of Minnesota.

Competition starts on the Gophers' Les Bolstad Course in Falcon Heights, Minn., at 6:30 p.m. with the men's 6-kilometer race, followed by the women's 6-kilometer race at 7 p.m. The field includes homestanding Minnesota, South Dakota State and Iowa State's women's team.

The annual meet holds a special meaning for the Bulldogs as it is named in memory of former Drake coach Gary Osborn, who passed away on May 21, 2000. Osborn served as the head coach of the Drake women's cross country program from 1989-99 and also assumed the head coaching duties of the women's track & field program during the 1993-94 season. Under Osborn's guidance, Drake won consecutive Missouri Valley Conference cross country titles in 1994 and 1995, as well as 1998. In all, Osborn spent 32 years involved in coaching at Drake.

“It's a special meet for us, being named after Gary Osborn,” Hostager said. “The family is always there to cheer us on, so we want to do well.”

The Bulldogs got their first feel for racing at last Friday's Bulldog Classic 4k. Bulldogs won both the men's and women's races with junior Reed Fischer (Minnetonka, Minn.) and senior Emma Huston (Des Moines, Iowa) taking top honors.

Following the Oz Memorial, the team returns to Des Moines to compete in teh Grand View Invite, Sept. 18, at Ewing Park.