FALCON HEIGHTS, MINN. -- Drake sophomore Omet Kak (Des Moines, Iowa) finished 69th overall out of 213 runners to help lead the Drake men's cross country to 17th in the Roy Griak Invitational Men's Gold Division race Saturday at the Les Bolstad Golf Course.

Kak, a transfer from Northern Iowa, covered the 8,000-meter course in 25 minutes 45 seconds.

Two-hundred thirteen runners, representing more than 22 schools from across the country, helped comprise the strongest cross country field a young Drake team will face this fall.

Drake freshman Brogan Austin (Boone, Iowa) was 80th in 26:00, while junior Ben Jaskowiak (Madison, Wis.) was 103rd in 26:19.

Drake sophomore Tim Cornish (Wellington, New Zealand) was 111th in 26:40, while freshman Doug Brady (Engelwood, Colo.) was 117th in 26:48.

"This was the first time our newcomers had ever run an 8,000 meter race and I thought they adjusted well against a very strong field," said Drake head cross country coach Dan Hostager.

The 21st-ranked Duke Blue Devils placed five runners among the top 25 to win the Men's Gold (Division I) race. It was the first Griak title for Duke in just its second appearance after finishing third in 2009. Senior Bo Waggoner was the top finisher for Duke, taking eighth place in 24:26.8.

The individual champion was Arizona's Stephen Sambu, who broke away from the rest of the field to cross the finish line 23:40.7, well ahead of runner-up Nicholas Kipruto of New Mexico (23:59.6).

New Mexico (80 points) and North Carolina State (80) finished tied for second in the team standings, followed by Brigham Young (102) in fourth place, and the University of Minnesota (117) in fifth.

Drake will have runners compete in both the Grand View Invitational Friday as well as the Loyola of Chicago Invitational Saturday,

MEN'S GOLD DIVISION
1. Duke 83; 2. North Carolina State 92; 3. New Mexico 93; 4. Brigham Young 118; 5. Minnesota 136; 6. Navy 199; 7.Iowa State 200; 8. Colorado State 206; 9. Penn State 221; 10. Boise State 255; 11. McNeese State 368; 12. Utah Valley 375; 13. Baylor 380; 14. Arizona 392; 15. South Dakota State 451; 16. Toledo 457; 17. Drake 480; 18. Central Michigan 505; 19. Loyola-Chicago 516; 20. South Dakota 598; 21. Alberta 620; 22. North Dakota 636.

Individual winner
(8,000 meters)
1. Stephen Sambu, Arizona, 23:41.

Drake Results - 69. Omet Kak, 25:45; 80. Brogan Austin 26:00; 103. Ben Jaskowiak 26:19; 111. Tim Cornish 26:40;  117. Doug Brady  26.48;  121. Colin Hagan, 26.52; 122. Mike Bumgarner 26:56