WHAT'S AHEAD: The Drake women'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 women's 6,000 meter race will start at 5 p.m. with runners from host Minnesota, Minnesota State-Mankato, North Dakota State and South Dakota State competing.

LAST YEAR: Then Drake junior Casey McDermott  (Newton, Iowa) placed fourth in the 2009 Oz Memorial Run, covering the 6,000-meter course in 22 minutes 15.60 seconds. Then 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.

Senior Megan Duwell defended her individual title and led the Minnesota women's cross country team to the team title.

A LOOK BACK:  Drake senior Casey McDermott defended her individual title in the Bulldog Classic women's cross country meet last Friday at Ewing Park in Des Moines. McDermott covered the 4,000-meter course in 14 minutes 42 seconds to win by more than 25 meters over runner-up Kellien Oettle of Iowa State who was timed in 15:15.

Drake senior Tara Scieszinski was fourth in 15:25. Twenty-six runners, representing Drake, Iowa State and Northern Iowa, competed on the course.