WHAT'S AHEAD: The Drake women's cross country team will continue action competing in the Viking Invitational, hosted by Grand View University Friday, as well as the 37th annual Loyola Lakefront Invitational in Chicago this Saturday.

The Viking Invitational 5,000 meter race will start at 5 p.m. at Ewing Park in Des Moines. The Loyola 5,000-meter race will take place at the Montrose Avenue Beach off North Lake Shore Drive, starting at 11:45 a.m.

A LOOK BACK: Junior Casey McDermott (Newton, Iowa) finished 27th to pace the Drake women's cross country team at the Roy Griak Invitational last Saturday in Falcon Heights, Minn. McDermott was timed in 22 minutes 50 seconds in the meet which attracted 191 runners from across the country. The Bulldogs placed 15th in the team standings with 384 points.

Drake junior Meredith Bell (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) was 82nd in 24:33, while junior Tara Scieszinski (Albia, Iowa) was 85th in 24:37. Drake junior Katie Coomer (Overland Park, Kan.) was 92nd in 24:45 and senior Courtney Heinz (St. Paul, Minn.) finished 98th in 24:56.Sophomore Kirsten Lake (Parker, Colo.) and freshman Cammy Dole (Anamosa, Iowa) rounded out Drake's performances by placing 107th and 110th, respectively.