WHAT'S AHEAD: After a week off, the Drake women's cross country team will travel to the Roy Griak Invitational at the University of Minnesota this Saturday. Some of the top collegiate teams in the country will compete in the 6,000-meter race that starts at 12:55 p.m. at the Universityof Minnesota Les Bolstad Golf Course.

This will mark Drake's first appearance in the meet since 2006.

A LOOK BACK: Drake junior Casey McDermott (Newton, Iowa) placed fourth in the 10th annual Oz Memorial Run at the Les Bolstad Golf Course on the University of Minnesota campus Sept. 11. McDermott covered the 6,000-meter course in 22 minutes 15.60 seconds.

Drake junior Meredith Bell (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) was 31st in 24:36.75, while junior Tara Scieszinski (Albia, Iowa) was 39th in 25:00.64. Drake senior Courtney Heinz (St. Paul, Minn.) was 55th in 25:39.12 and freshman Elle Yesnes (Hopkins, Minn.) was 67th in 26:33.31. Drake freshmen Cammy Dole (Anamosa, Iowa) and London James (Adair, Iowa) placed 75th and 80th, respectively, in 27:45.90 and 29:43.56.

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.

Senior Megan Duwell defended her individual title and led the Minnesota women's cross country team to the team title. Duwell led from the opening gun and clocked an impressive early-season time of 21.13.24. The Gophers grabbed six of the top seven finishes to score 17 team points. South Dakota State was second with 72 points, followed by North Dakota State with 86, Minnesota State-Mankato 99, and Drake at 103.