PEORIA, Ill. ? Bradley cross country coach David Beauchem announced Wednesday the addition of two athletes to the cross country team. Nicole Benson and Rachel Garrett, both from Limestone High School in Bartonville, Ill., will join the Braves for the 2008 cross country season. The duo will also run for the Bradley track & field team.

Benson, a native of Peoria, Ill., joins the Braves following a high school career in which she won the 2007 IHSA class AA cross country championship with a career best three mile time of 16:37. The cross country title helped Benson earn the 2007 Peoria Journal Star cross country runner of the year award.

"I know that I can build a strong future for myself at Bradley," Benson said.

Benson owns a personal best time in the 800 meters of 2:14.3, while her 1600 career best is 4:59.7.

"Nicole might be the best women's recruit ever to sign out of high school to come to Bradley University," Beauchem said. "She is certainly the best I have ever signed and the first IHSA girls' state champion I have signed at BU. I think the real key in the recruiting process for Nicole was finding a place she really felt comfortable. She has the confidence to know she will race well at a lot of different places, but she felt she was going to fully reach her potential at the place she felt she fit in the best. Fortunately for everyone she was able to find that place in Bradley University."

Garrett, also from Peoria, Ill., will join both Bradley teams. At Limestone High School, she was was a two-time cross country all-Mid-Illini Conference selection, earning first team honors as a junior in 2006. In 2007, she was a IHSA state qualifer in cross country, as well a track & field state qualifer in the 4 x 800 meter relay. Her personal best in the 1600 meters is 5:26. In the 3200 meters, her personal best is 12:00. Garrett was selected to run in the Peoria Journal Star Honor Roll Meet as a sophomore in 2005 and as a senior in 2007.

"Rachel is going to be a great addition to our program," Beauchem said. "Her enthusiasm and interest in everything related to cross country and track & field is incredible. I think she is going to progress into a very solid performer for our women's program, but her daily contributions are going to be very important to the success of our women's team. I am anxiously looking forward to having Rachel in our program the next four years."