The Iowa State cross-country team opened their 2012 season in dominating fashion.

On the men’s side, the team took three of the top five spots, and the women claimed three of the first four finishers at the Drake Bulldog Classic in Des Moines Friday. Northern Iowa and Drake University competed against the Cyclones in their first meet of the year.

Runner Josh Heitkamp came in second with a time of 12:49 while Nick Schulze and Kyle Zankowski finished fourth and fifth respectively for the Iowa State men.

The women, who are ranked first nationally in the USTFCCCA preseason Midwest Regional cross-country rankings, showed why they are deserving of the honor. Andrea Toppin ran to a second place finish crossing the line with a time of 15:04. Colleen Riley and Bethany Olsen followed close behind securing third and fourth place finishes, and Ejiro Okoro, Emily Meese and Erin Valenti filled out the top 11 coming in seventh, ninth and eleventh place for the Cyclones.

The squad will next compete in Ames as they host the Iowa Intercollegiate meet Saturday, September 15 at 11 a.m.