WHAT'S AHEAD: The Drake men's cross country team will continue action this Friday, competing in the Oz Memorial at the Les Bolstad Golf Course on the University of Minnesota campus in Falcon Heights, Minn.

The Oz Memorial is named after Gary Osborn, the longtime Drake women's track and field and cross country coach who died in 2000. Osborn was a longtime friend of Minnesota coach Gary Wilson.

The men's 6,000 meter race will start at 5:45 p.m. with athletes from host Minnesota, Minnesota State-Mankato, North Dakota State and South Dakota State competing.

LAST YEAR: Drake senior Jeff Grassmeyer (Fremont, Neb.) finished second in the 2008 Oz Memorial. Grassmeyer, who won the 2007 individual title, covered the 6,000-meter course in 19 minutes 26 seconds. Then Drake freshman Colin Hagan (Wichita, Kan.) was fifth in 19:52. North Dakota State senior James Schanandore won the race in 19:18.

Then Drake junior Zac Bales-Henry (Des Moines, Iowa) was 12th in 20:09, followed by then freshman Derek Campbell (Sycamore, Ill.) 14th in 20:19 and then sophomore Brandon Lewis (Plymouth, Minn.) 17th in 20:36.

A LOOK BACK: Sophomore Colin Hagan (Wichita, Kan.) placed third to pace the Drake men's cross country team in its season opener in the Bulldog Classic last Friday at Ewing Park in Des Moines.

Hagan was clocked in 12 minutes 37 seconds on the 4,000-meter course. Drake sophomore Derek Campbell (Sycamore, Ill.) was fifth in 12:46, while sophomore Josh Buschling (Washington, Mo.) was 11th in 12:57.

QUOTING THE COACH: Here are comments from Drake cross country coach Dan Hostager: "Colin (Hagan) had a great summer training and it showed today. It was a tough course so you can't read too much into the times, but our team overall has put in a great summer of training."