Butler embarks on its final tune-up in advance of next week's BIG EAST Cross Country Championships, hosting the Stan Lyons Bulldog Invitational Friday in Carmel, Ind.
 
The Northview Church Course will be utilized for the event, just as it will a week later for the BIG EAST Championships.
 
The Stan Lyons Bulldog Invitational is named after the Butler hall of fame coach who led Butler's cross country and track programs for 30 years before retiring in 1995.
 
It is expected that a majority of Butler's line-ups from last weekend's Nuttycombe Invitational in Wisconsin will continue training in advance of the BIG EAST event and sit out Friday's event. The Bulldog Invitational offers the opportunity for a number of Butler's younger runners to gain race experience.
 
Behind their performance at the Nuttycombe Invitational against one of the top fields of the season, Butler's women climbed into the national poll at No. 29 this week.
 
On the men's side, Butler will be joined in the field by IUPUI and Purdue. Butler's women will compete alongside Purdue, Marquette and Thomas More.
 
The event begins at 4 p.m. with the women's 5k race; the men will follow with an 8k at approximately 4:45PM.
 
Live timing will be available with a link on ButlerSports.com.
 
This will be Butler's third time competing this season on the Northview Church course, following the season-opening Butler Twilight and the IUPUI Jaguar Classic.