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The Bulldogs were picked as a close third with 64 points and bring back a solid returning core of juniors Brogan Austin (Boone, Iowa), Omet Kak (Des Moines, Iowa) and Doug Brady (Englewood, Colo.) along with sophomore Conor Wells (Des Moines, Iowa).
Austin was the 2011 individual MVC champion, running a time of 25:15. Kak took all-conference honors finishing in eighth, while Brady was right behind them in 11th. The junior trio will look to improve upon their third-place team finish from last year.
Drake also welcomes in a class of six talented newcomers from across the country and Canada that will look to help the team improve on last year's finish.
After being the runner up in the 2011 MVC Men's Championship, Southern Illinois is the preseason favorite getting seven first-place votes for 74 points.
Indiana State was tabbed in the second spot as they received one first-place vote totaling 65 points. Wichita State tallied 57 points, one first-place vote and fourth-place.
Illinois State came in at fifth-place earning 49 points with four of the seven runners who competed in last year's championship coming back. Bradley is picked sixth with a total of 34 points.
Northern Iowa notched the seventh position with 26 points while Evansville (23) and Creighton (13) round out the final positions.
The 2012 MVC Cross Country Championship will be held in Normal, Ill. on October 27. Drake will open the season at Ewing Park in Des Moines hosting the Bulldog 4K Classic on August 31st at 5:45 p.m.
