FERRIS CROSS COUNTRY TO HOST ANNUAL BULLDOG INVITATIONAL FRIDAY

The women's 5,000-meter race is set to begin at 4:30 p.m. (EDT) and will be followed by the men's 8,000-meter event at approximately 5 p.m. (EDT). The invitational is open to the public and admission is free of charge.

In addition to Ferris State, the invitational field will include a variety of student-athletes from both local schools and Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC)-member institutions.

This year (2005) marks the 30th-straight (31st overall) running of the Bulldog Invitational. Either a men's or women's event has been held each year since 1976.

The first men's race was held in 1971 before being discontinued and restarted in 1976. Ferris, which did not participate in men's cross country from 1994-98, has claimed two team titles. The Bulldogs placed fourth in the men's field last season (2004).

The women's invitational has been held every year since the program began in 1980. Friday's run will be the 26th consecutive women's race. The Ferris women have won eight team championships, including four of the last five years. The Bulldogs won their third consecutive women's meet title last campaign.

The invitational will also allow participants an opportunity to run the host course for the 2005 NCAA-II Great Lakes Regional Championships, which will be hosted by FSU on Saturday, Nov. 5, at Katke Golf Course. The course, which opened in 1974, also recently played host to the 2003 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Men's and Women's Cross Country Championships.

Katke Golf Course, a university-owned 18-hole golf course situated on the western flank of the Ferris State campus, serves as the host site of all home Bulldog cross country along with men’s and women’s golf events. The course is named after Mr. and Mrs. Marvin L. Katke, whose generous donation influenced campus development and the initial phase of the golf course. Katke, a friend of Ferris and a Mecosta County native, was vice president for manufacturing of the Ford Motor Company and a 1967 recipient of an honorary degree from FSU.

The Ferris State men's and women's cross country teams both earned runner-up accolades in their most recent action (Sept. 10) at the Northern Michigan Invitational (Sept. 10), which was held at the Al Quaal Recreation Area in Ishpeming, Mich.