AMES, Iowa ? The Iowa State cross country team will play host to its first and only home meet of the 2009 season, Saturday at the Iowa Intercollegiate on the ISU Cross Country Course. The women's 5,000-meter race will begin at 11 a.m., and will be followed by the men's 8,000-meter race at 11:45 a.m. A total of 12 teams that spread across the State of Iowa and represent the NCAA, the NAIA and the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), will be in attendance.

“We're excited to be able to host a meet that all of the schools in Iowa can attend and have a chance to run on our course,” head coach Corey Ihmels said. “It's exciting in a sense that maybe someday we can get all the schools in the state of Iowa to attend and have some really great competition.”

Thirty Cyclone runners will be competing in the newly formatted meet structure. Formerly known as the ISU Open, the Iowa Intercollegiate hopes to accumulate the best talent in Iowa at one meet, measuring the state's ability to recruit and produce top-notch runners at every collegiate level.

Bulldog Classic men's champion Daniel Murray will be one of many Cyclone's competing at the Iowa Intercollegiate, along with red-shirt freshman and Bulldog Classic runner-up Charlie Paul. Third-place finisher Erin Penticoff will also be competing in her second consecutive meet for the Iowa State women's team, along with red-shirt freshman and fifth-place finisher Kayla Marsh.

“We've got a pretty veteran crew on both sides,” Ihmels said. “This meet is really going to give us a chance to get a sense of what level the incoming freshmen are at. It really gives a great opportunity to solidify our group as we get ready to go to the (Roy Griak Invitational).”

Several true-freshmen will be getting their first chance to run for Iowa State, unofficially, as well. First-time Cyclone women include Marley Crusch, Nichole Engelhardt, Emily Meese, Bethany Olson, and Taylor Peterson. First-time Cyclone men include Danny Ducharme, Stephen Miller, Tyler Rich, Stephen Saylor, and Nick Schulze. All true freshman listed will be running unattached for the Cyclones.

A post-meet recap will be available on cyclones.com.

Women:
Rachel Bell
Kim Brown
Marley Crusch*
Nichole Engelhardt*
Ines Fischer
Kellien Oettle
Christine Fries
Molly Lohry
Kayla Marsh
Emily Meese*
Bethany Olson*
Erin Penticoff
Taylor Peterson*
Brittany Rover
Kaylee Small
Katie Thompson
Kersten Thorgaard

Men:
Michael Alexander
Danny Ducharme*
Dan Fadgen
Elphas Sang
Josh Mellman
Stephen Miller*
Garrett Eklof
Dan Murray
Charlie Paul
Tyler Rich*
Stephen Saylor*
Nick Schulze*
Alex Whitesell

*-running unattached