SAINT LOUIS, Mo. - Drake University junior Reed Fischer (Minnetonka, Minn.) has been named the Missouri Valley Conference Men's Cross Country Runner of the Week, the league announced Tuesday, Sept. 29.

Fischer finished 11th out of 208 runners at the prestigious Roy Griak Invitational on Saturday with an eight-kilometer time of 25:13.4. His time was more than a half minute faster than his previous 8k personal best and just 21 seconds behind the race leader. 

“Reed ran a smart race and placed very well in a nationally competitive field,” said Drake head coach Dan Hostager on Saturday following Fischer's finish. 

Of the 10 runners that finished ahead of Fischer, four were coming off appearances in the 2014 NCAA Championships and two earned All-America honors. This season, Fischer has been the Bulldogs' top finisher in all three meets he has competed in. 

Fischer and the Bulldogs return to action this weekend against another national field at the University of Arkansas Chile Pepper Festival in Fayetteville, Ark.