DES MOINES, IOWA -- Drake junior Casey McDermott (Newton, Iowa) captured individual honors as the women's cross country team opened its fall campaign Friday in the Bulldog Classic at Ewing Park.

McDermott covered the 4,000-meter race in 14 minutes 15 seconds. Nicole Braunsdorf  was second in 14:21.

Drake junior Meredith Bell (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) was fourth in 15:53, while junior Katie Coomer (Overland Park, Kan.) was sixth in 15:56.

"Casey (McDermott) ran a great race as did Meredith (Bell)," said Drake cross country coach Dan Hostager. "We had a lot of people run faster than a year ago but we still have a long ways to go."

Drake junior Tara Scieszinski (Albia, Iowa) placed eighth in 16:06, while sophomore Kirsten Lake (Parker, Colo.) was ninth in 16:07.

The Bulldogs will continue action next Friday (Sept. 11), competing at the Oz Memorial in Minneapolis, Minn.

"We will know much more next week because Minnesota is nationally ranked," Hostager added.

BULLDOG CLASSIC
At Ewing Park, Des Moines, Iowa
Women's Division
4,000 Meters
1. Casey McDermott, Drake, 14:15
2. Nicole Braunsdorf, unattached, 14:21
3. Erin Penticoff, Iowa State, 15:25
4. Meredith Bell, Drake, 15:53
5. Kayla Marsh, Iowa State, 15:54
6. Katie Coomer, Drake, 15:56
7. Christin Fries, Iowa State, 15:57
8. Tara Scieszinski, Drake, 16:06
9. Kirsten Lake, Drake, 16:07
10. Kim Brown, Iowa State, 16:15
11. Kaylee Small, Iowa State, 16:23
12. Lindsay Smith, Drake,16:26
13. Cammy Dole, Drake, 16:26
14. Molly Lohry, Iowa State, 16:41
15. Elle Yesnes, Drake, 17:08
16. London James, Drake, 17:08
17. Kara McCartney, unattached, 17:13
18. Courtney Heinz, Drake, 17:15
19. Dawn Stallman, unattached, 17:21
20. Emily Zipoy, Drake, 17:50
21. Clarissa LaFlora, unattached, 18:11
22. Sarah Hamling, 20:13