PEORIA, Ill.
? One year removed from an eighth place finish at the Missouri Valley Conference Cross Country Championships, the Bradley men's cross country team has been chosen to finish seventh in the preseason MVC poll conducted by league coaches earlier this month, the league office announced Wednesday. The Bradley women's cross country team was picked to finish eighth in the ten-team league.
The men received 23 points in the poll to be chosen ahead of Creighton and Evansville for seventh place. Sophomore Andrew Wieser (Chesterfield, Mo./Parkway Central H.S.) is the top returning runner on the men's team this season, turning in a 37th place finish in the conference race last season. Seniors Nathan Ahart (Chesterfield, Mo./Parkway Central H.S.) and Pat Greene (Joliet, Ill./Plainfield South H.S.) will redshirt this fall.
The Bradley women received 33 points in the vote. The Braves finished eighth in the MVC championships last fall. The Braves return sophomore Mary Goldkamp (Florissant, Mo./McCluer North H.S.), who finished 25th in last season's conference championship. Senior Katie Nowak (Avon Lake, Ohio/Avon Lake H.S.) will redshirt this fall after recording a 19th place finish in the MVC championships last October. The Braves will welcome freshman Nicole Benson (Peoria, Ill./Limestone H.S.) to the team this season, the 2007 IHSA Class AA cross country champion.
Defending league champion Southern Illinois has been picked by Valley coaches to win the conference again in 2008. The Salukis received six of nine first place votes to edge out Illinois State for the top spot and return 2007 individual conference champion Jeff Schirmer to the their lineup. The league coaches have tabbed Missouri State as the favorite on the women's side. The Bears received 95 points in the vote, four points ahead of second place Wichita State.
Both the men's and women's teams will open the season Friday, Sept. 5 at the Early Bird Invitational hosted by Western Illinois. The women's race will begin at 5:30 p.m., followed by the men's race at 6:15 p.m.
