Brookings, S.D. — The Jackrabbit Men's Cross Country team will be back in action this Friday, Sept. 7, when they travel to Falcon Heights, Minn. to compete in the OZ Memorial.
The OZ Memorial is first of two races hosted by the University of Minnesota that the Jackrabbits will be competing in this year. The second race is the Griak Invitational, and that will take place on Sept. 29.
Last Friday the Jackrabbits finished second at the NDSU Dual.
Returning to OZ:
Last year at the OZ Memorial, the men placed third. Trent Lusignan, will be looking to improve his 12th place finish from last year.
At the 2011 OZ Memorial, the women took fourth. Erin Hargens had the best finish for the Jackrabbits, after finishing in 15th place.
About the OZ Memorial:
The race will take place at the Lee Bolstad Golf Course. There will be four teams competing including: Drake, Minnesota, Minnesota-Duluth, and South Dakota State.
The men will begin their race at 4:30 p.m. and the women will follow at 5 p.m. Both races are 6ks.
About the competition:
Drake (Men):
Top
Returner: Brogan Austin
2011
Finish: 3rd (Missouri Valley Conference), 36th (Midwest
Regionals)
Conference Preseason Poll/USTFCCA
Ranking: Third (Missouri Valley), 11th (Midwest Region Preseason)
Minnesota (Men):
Top
Returner: Pieter Gagnon
2011 Finish: Tied for Third (Big
Ten), Fourth (Midwest Regionals), 16th (NCAA Championships)
Conference Preseason Poll/USTFCCA Ranking: No Big Ten Poll, Fourth (Midwest Region Preseason), 18th (USTFCCA National Ranking
Minnesota-Duluth (Men):
Top
Returner: Tim Lasch
2011
Finish: 3rd (NSIC), 10th (NCAA II Central Region)
Conference Preseason Poll/USTFCCA
Ranking: Third (NSIC), 10th (DII Central Region)
Drake (Women):
Top
Returner: Mariel Fulton
2011 Finish: Ninth (Missouri
Valley), Did not compete in the Midwest Regional
Conference Preseason Poll/USTFCCA Ranking: Eighth (Missouri Valley), Not ranked in the Midwest Region
Minnesota (Women):
Top Returner: Maggie Bollig
2011 Finish: Fifth (Big Ten), Third
(NCAA Midwest Regionals), 27th (NCAA Championships)
Conference Preseason Poll/USTFCCA Ranking: No Big Ten Poll, Third (Midwest Region Preseason Poll), 27th (USTFCCA National Ranking)
Minnesota-Duluth (Women):
Top
Returner: Alexandra Rudin
2011
Finish: Fourth (NSIC), Fifth (DII Central Region) 21st (NCAA DII Championships)
Conference Preseason Poll/USTFCCA Ranking: Fourth (NSIC) Fourth (DII Central Region), 18th (USTFCCA Preseason Poll)
Looking ahead:
After the OZ Memorial, the Jackrabbits will be back in Brookings to host their annual meet. The SDSU Classic will take place on Sept. 14 starting at 6:15 p.m.
