Despite the recent name change from the “Drake Fall Classic” to the “Bulldog Classic,” this year’s race at Ewing Park in Des Moines doesn’t look to be any different for the ISU cross country team.

Last year, then junior Daniel Murray edged out fellow Cyclone Alex Whitesell in the 4,000-meter race to place fourth overall, completing the sweep for the Cyclone men by placing four runners in the top four. Whitesell finished just four seconds off Murray’s pace to place sixth overall with a time of 12:37, just one second behind Drake’s leading runner Colin Hagan.

“It was very disappointing and I brewed on it for a little bit,” Whitesell said. “But in any sport you have to handle disappointment by moving on and taking the next step forward.”

Whitesell will be running the event again, hoping to improve his time from last year’s finish and help Murray propel the Cyclone men to another astounding finish.

“We have a lot of younger guys who haven’t really raced before, especially in cross country,” Whitesell said. “But it just gives us a nice idea of where our speed is at and what we have to work with.”

On the women’s side, then junior Kaylee Small finished eighth last year with a time of 16:19 for the women, who finished fifth overall in the meet. Senior Kim Brown, who will also be running at this year’s event, finished one second behind Small to place ninth overall in the meet. Small and Brown look to make a big impact at this year’s event and hopefully propel the Cyclone women to a higher place finish than last year.

“I’m just going to keep working hard and do the same as I do any other day,” Small said in reference to her preparations for the upcoming meet.

The cross country team starts its season with the Bulldog Classic today at 5 p.m. The Cyclones’ next meet will be the ISU Open on Sept. 19 in Ames.