The men's and women's cross country teams will kick off their 2002 season this weekend as they host the Motor City Classic meet. The men's race will be a 4-mile event and start at 9:30 a.m., while the women will start their 5K run at 10:15 a.m. The meet will be held at Bloomer Park on Saturday, August 31st. Oakland was tabbed to finish second in both the men???s and women???s preseason polls. Head coach Paul Rice???s squads both finished second last year to Southern Utah; the men???s placement was its highest ever and the women???s was its second-straight runner-up finish. Three-time first-team all-conference honoree Kristie Kieffer (Sterling Heights, MI/Utica) should return to anchor the women???s team, while first-teamer Jason Bruscha (Sterling Heights, MI/Eastern Michigan)should do the same for the men. Also returning for the women will be seniors Stephanie Colombe (New Baltimore, MI/Anchor Bay), and Kathy Harenski (Warren, MI/Mott). Juniors Lisa Marie Cianciolo (Rochester, MI/ICS Home School) and Kristin Martin (Sterling Heights, MI/Stevenson) also return for coach Rice. Sophomore's Kara Coraci (Macomb, MI/Utica Eisenhower), Sarah Kane (Sterling Heights, MI/Sterling Heights), Tara Kurkowski (White Lake, MI/Lakeland), Melissa Nasers (Battle Creek, MI/Lakeview), and Andrea Sutter (Sterling Heights, MI/Stevenson) will be looking to help Oakland improve on last season's second place Mid Con finish. Oakland welcomes freshman Sarah Drouillard (Lake Orion, MI/Lake Orion), Amber Nagel (Napoleon, OH/Tinora), Kim Schultz (Vermilion, OH/Vermilion), and Stephanie Pierce (Marshall, MI/Harper Creek). On the men's side are seniors Ryan Bissell (Vassar, MI/Vassar), Rob Camilleri (White Lake, MI/Lakeland), Adam Feinstein (Orion, MI/Lake Orion), Bill Monnett (Clawson, MI/Clawson), Mike Withee (Clawson, MI/Clawson) and Gabe Wordell (Rochester, MI/Bethesda Christian). Representing the junior class are Brandon Fisk (Shelby Township, MI/Eisenhower), Michael Niemczycki (Rochester Hills, MI/Notre Dame Prep), Dave Renne (Waterford, MI/Mott), and Luke Williams (Wayland, MI/Hopkins). Sophomore's John Cook (St. Clair, MI/St. Clair), Adam Frezza (Oxford, MI/Lake Orion), Patrick Johnston (Harrison Twp., MI/Notre Dame Prep), Pat Klein (Commerce Twp., MI/White Lake Lakewood), Paul Kulisek (Wonder Lake, Illinois/Woodstock), transfer student, Matt Nistor (Sterling Heights, MI/Aquinas College), and Marcus Reath (Wyoming, MI/Godwin Heights) look to ensure a strong showing for coach Rice's squad. Freshman Josh DeBruyn (Kalamazoo, MI/Comstock), and Chris Furlong (Livonia, MI/Stevenson) join the program to help ensure a bright future for Oakland men's cross country. Next on the schedule for the Grizzlies is the Tommy Titan Classic hosted by Detroit Mercy. The races will take place at Cass Benton Park in Northville. The men will compete in the 4-mile, and the women will compete in the 5K.