The Drake University men's and women's cross country teams begin their 2016 season on Friday evening in nearby Iowa City, Iowa, at the Hawkeye Invitational.
The season opening race comes after just one week of official training and is the Bulldogs' first opportunity to set the benchmark for future training. The field will include Iowa, Iowa State, Illinois State, Illinois' men's team, UNI, Creighton Missouri and Bradley on the Ashton Cross Country Course.
The women's race, which begins at 6 p.m., will be a 3-kilometer race followed by a men's 6-kilometer race at 6:45 p.m.
Drake's women's team features a youthful roster with just two upperclassmen and one returning conference scorer in Bailee Cofer (Overland Park, Kan.). Five freshmen that will be getting their first collegiate experience on Friday complete the roster along with three returning sophomores.
The men's lineup is slightly more seasoned, led by senior Reed Fischer (Minnetonka, Minn.). Last season, Fischer earned All-MVC cross country honors with a second-place finish at the MVC Cross Country Championship. During the track season, he advanced to the NCAA Championships and finished 17th in the 10,000 meters. The men's team also features five freshmen that may make their collegiate debut on Friday.
Following Friday's season opener, the Bulldogs travel to Minnesota for the annual Oz Memorial, named in honor of former Bulldog head coach Gary Osborne.
