PEORIA, Ill. ? After strong showings by both the Bradley men's and women's cross country teams at the season-opening Early Bird Meet last weekend in St. Louis, the running squads will host the 21st annual Bradley Open Friday evening at Detweiller Park.

The 21st annual Bradley Open will feature 420 runners from 20 colleges. This year's men's field includes two-time defending Missouri Valley Conference champion Indiana State University. Other teams to watch for in the men's field include the University of Northern Iowa, and the home team Bradley Braves. The women's team race looks to be a wide-open affair as the University of Northern Iowa, Illinois State University, Northwestern University, Indiana State University and Bradley Braves all look to establish themselves early in the 2006 cross country campaign. Both individual races should see a strong and large group of contenders battling for the title. The men's lead group should include Dorian Ulrey of UNI, Bradley's Nathan Ahart and Chris George and a host of Sycamores from Indiana State's strong pack of harriers. The women's title should come from a group including Olivet Nazarene's Bethany McCoy, Indiana State's Laura Engle, Illinois State's Betsy McDonald, UNI's Traci Hawley and Caedryn Schrunk and Bradley's Rachel Brubaker.

The 21st annual Bradley Open kicks off a busy weekend and fall season of running events in Central Illinois.  This weekend's events include the Woodruff High School Cross Country Invitational on Saturday at Detweiller Park and Sunday's IVS Half Marathon, hosted by the Illinois Valley Striders, in Peoria's Lower Glen Oak Park and Springdale Cemetery.  Visit www.ivs.org for more race information.  Bradley men's and women's cross country teams will return to action in Peoria at Newman Golf Course for the Bradley Classic Friday, October 13.