La Crosse, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse will host the 31st running of the Jim Drews Invitational and the 18th running of the Tori Neubauer Invitational Saturday, October 15, at the Maple Grove Country Club in West Salem, Wis. The men's race begins at 10:30 a.m. with the women's race starting at 11:30 a.m.

Approximately 1,000 runners are expected to compete Saturday. The Drews Invitational will feature 23 teams running on an 8,000-meter course while the Neubauer Invitational also includes 22 teams competing on a 6,000-meter course.

The two meets will again include some of the finest teams in the nation. In the Drews, four teams were in the NCAA Division III rankings released October 12. In addition, the University of Minnesota will represent the Big Ten Conference in both races. The Gophers' men's squad is 17th in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) NCAA Division I rankings. Winona State University (Minn.) will represent Division II in both the men's and women's events.  

Minnesota captured the Drews Invite a year ago as a total of 28 teams competed. UW-Platteville placed second last year while UW-La Crosse was third, North Dakota State fourth, Hamline University (Minn.) fifth, UW-Eau Claire sixth, Paradise Valley Community College (Ariz.) seventh, Nebraska Wesleyan University eighth, Wisconsin Track Club ninth and Saint John's University (Minn.) 10th. A total of 17 teams in the top-20 from 2010 return this season.

UW-La Crosse is currently ranked 16th in NCAA III while Nebraska Wesleyan is 22nd; Hamline 23rd and St. Olaf College (Minn.) 26th.

In terms of the individual title for the Drews race, Hamline University senior Devin Monson is the top returning finisher after placing ninth last season. UW-La Crosse senior David Stilin was 14th a year ago while senior Phill Hernandez placed 22nd. Senior Sean Harrington was 24th last season with senior Brian Shonat 27th and sophomore Alex Ciesielski 32nd. Hamline senior Jack Deichert finished 19th in 2010.

UW-La Crosse junior Zach Wilhelmy was third in 2009.

The Eagles captured the Luther College (Iowa) All-American Invitational, Saint Mary's University (Minn.) Invitational and UW-Eau Claire Blugold Open this year while placing second in the Roy Griak Invitational. Junior Josh Kaul won the individual title at the Saint Mary's Invite while Stilin was fifth at the Griak Invite and Blugold Open.

Shonat was fourth and freshman Andrew Heinritz fifth at Saint Mary's. Junior Mark Punzenberger placed ninth at UW-Eau Claire and 15th at the Griak Invite.

The Neubauer features six ranked teams in NCAA Division III, including three in the top-15. UW-Eau Claire is ranked 10th while St. Olaf College (Minn.) is 13th and Carleton College (Minn.) 15th. Nebraska Wesleyan University is tied for 27th in this week's rankings while Luther College (Iowa) is 29th and UW-La Crosse 30th.

North Dakota State University took the women's team title last season with the University of Minnesota second. Luther College (Iowa) was third followed by St. Olaf College (Minn.) and UW-Eau Claire to round-out the top-five. Nebraska Wesleyan University was sixth; Wartburg College (Iowa) seventh; UW-La Crosse eight; Gustavus Adolphus College (Minn.) ninth and UW-Platteville 10th. A total of 14 teams in the top-20 from 2010 return this season.

Individuals to watch for the women's title include four of the top-nine finishers from last season. St. Olaf College (Minn.) senior Maren Westby was second in 2010 while UW-Eau Claire senior Alysssa Sybilrud finished seventh; Luther College (Iowa) senior Emma Spoon eighth and Nebraska Wesleyan University junior Amanda Costello ninth. Sybilrud was also 10th in 2009.

St. Olaf junior Emma Lee was 11th a year ago while Nebraska Wesleyan senior Katie Nelson finished 18th and Gustavus Adolphus College (Minn.) junior Kate Eggers placed 19th. Lee was 25th in 2009.

UW-L's top returning finisher from a year ago is sophomore Rachel Schroeder who placed 39th.

The Eagles opened their season finishing third at the Luther College (Iowa) All-American Invitational followed by a fourth-place finish at the Saint Mary's University (Minn.) Invitational. UW-L was fifth at the Roy Griak Invitational and sixth at the UW-Eau Claire Blugold Open.

Freshman Laura Mead has been the Eagles' top finisher in two races, placing 13th at the Luther All-American Invite and 36th at the Blugold Open. Schroeder finished 18th at Luther; 29th at Griak and 43rd at UW-Eau Claire. Freshman Corissa Conard placed 19th at Luther and was UW-L's top runner at the Griak Invite with a 28th overall finish. At Saint Mary's, senior Leigh-Ann DesRoches was 12th and sophomore Emma Crawford 17th.