The Bulldogs will take on the toughest field of their 2022 season to date when they make the drive up I-31 to South Bend for the Joe Piane Invitational hosted by Notre Dame.

THE FIELD: On the men's side, Butler is ranked No. 24 in this week's national coaches poll. The elite blue race will feature a total of 21 teams, including No. 14 host Notre Dame, No. 22 Montana State, No. 25 Alabama, and No. 27 Michigan. In addition, a number of teams representing power conferences will run in Tennessee, Florida State, Purdue, North Carolina State, Penn State, and Pittsburgh. Among that group, Tennessee, Florida State and North Carolina State are receiving votes in the national poll this week.

The women's elite blue race field is headlined by No. 1 North Carolina State, No. 3 New Mexico, No. 8 host Notre Dame, and No. 10 Alabama. The field also includes No. 27 Oregon State and five additional teams receiving votes in the national poll: Florida State, Liberty, Penn State, Toledo, and San Francisco.
 
THE BUTLER MEN: The No. 24 Butler men will be led by Jesse Hamlin and Barry Keane, who each posted Top-5 finishes in the team's last outing at the Penn State Spiked Shoe Invitational Sept. 9. Hamlin was named the BIG EAST Athlete of the Week for his third-place finish.

Evan Byrne, Jack McMahon and Will Minnette also placed among the Top 20 in that meet.

Matthew Forrester, the 2021 Mountain East Conference Freshman of the Year in Cross Country, transferred to Butler from the University of Charleston and will make his Butler debut.

Edouard Morin-Luzuy, who finished eighth at the 2021 European U20 Cross Country Championships while redshirting the 2021 season, will make his Butler cross country debut in South Bend.

The Bulldogs will also have Ryan Adkins, Liam Dennis, Nick Doud, Max Lauerman, Sean Robertson and Carter Schorr in action Friday. Several Bulldogs will compete in the open race.

THE BUTLER WOMEN: Mia Beckham headlines the Bulldog women after earning BIG EAST Athlete of the Week honors with her win at the Redbird Invitational Sept. 16.

Abby Olson, Laure Bertrand and Katherine Olsen also had Top-10 finishes at that event.

The Bulldogs' depth, split among the blue and open races, will include Lexi Affolter, Abby Fostveit, Ashley Learn, Ashlyn Minton, Morgan Walsh, and Morgan Werner.

THE DETAILS: The women's 5,000-meter blue race will begin at 10:30 a.m., followed by the men's 5-mile blue race at 11:15 a.m. The Bulldogs will also have a handful of runners compete in the women's and men's open races at Noon and 12:45 p.m., respectively.  
 
FOLLOW ALONG: Live results will be available with a link on ButlerSports.com.