FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                OCT. 30, 2010

AUGUSTA, KAN. -- The Drake men's cross country team placed fifth in the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Championship Saturday.

Head coach Dan Hostager left the meet, pondering what could have happened if three of his team's runners had finished the race.

Freshman transfer Omet Kak (Des Moines, Iowa), freshman Brogan Austin (Boone, Iowa) and junior Charlie Lapham (Golden Valley, Minn.) withdrew at various stages of the 8,000-meter race costing Drake at least two places in the final team standings.

Indiana State won the meet with 25 points followed by Southern Illinois with 61, Illinois State with 75, Northern Iowa with 87 and Drake with 155 in the 10-team meet.

"We only had five runners finish which greatly affected our team finish," said Hostager. "The temperature warmed up for the men's race and we had runners deal with hydration issues."

Kak was among the front group leaders before withdrawing at the 7,000-meter mark. Austin was among the top 20 runners at 5,000 meters before suffering side cramps which affected his breathing.

Junior Colin Hagan (Wichia, Kan.) was Drake's top finisher, placing 24th in the 8,000-meter race in 26 minutes 8.79 seconds.

Drake junior Ben Jaskowiak (Madison, Wis.) was 26th in 26:14.29.

Mike Bumgarner (Rosemount, Minn.), who was Drake's lone senior competing, placed 28th in 26:22.41, while freshman Doug Brady (Englewood, Colo.) was 29th in 26:25.01. Sophomore transfer Tim Cornish (Wellington, New Zealand) was 50th in 27:22.54.

"I was happy with our guys who did finish," Hostager added.

Southern Illinois' Dan Dunbar won the individual title in 24:29.38.

The Bulldogs will return to action in two weeks, competing in the NCAA Midwest Regional in Peoria, Ill.

"We need to get healthy and end the season on a better note," Hostager added.

Missouri Valley Conference Men's Cross Country Championships
At Augusta, Kan.
Men's Team Scoring
1.  Indiana State 25; 2. Southern Illinois 61; 3. Illinois State 75; 4. Northern Iowa 87; 5. Drake 155; 6. Evansville 181; 7. Wichita State 184; 9. Bradley 187; 9. Creighton 248.

Individual Winner (8,000 Meters) - 1. Dan Dunbar, Southern Illinois, 24:29. 38.

Drake Results
24. Colin Hagan, 26:08.79
26. Ben Jaskowiak, 26:14.28
28. Mike Bumgarner, 26:22.41
29. Doug Brady, 26:25.01
50. Tim Cornish, 27:22.54