PEORIA, Ill. - Each year, the Bradley Open marks the official beginning of the cross country season in the Peoria area. Nearly 400 collegiate runners will gather at Detweiller Park on Friday, Sept. 11 to participate in the 24th installment of the meet. The men's 8K race will begin at 5:30 p.m., with the women's 5K race to follow at 6:15 p.m.

This year's field includes 16 men's and 16 women's teams from three different states. On the men's side, five runners that finished in the top-10 at the 2008 Bradley Open will compete in this year's race, including three from three-time defending men's team champion Indiana State. The women's field also features five top-10 finishers from a year ago, including two from 2008 women's team champion Indiana State.

Bradley senior Katie Nowak will compete in the final Bradley Open of her career on Friday. On the track, Nowak holds the Bradley school record in the indoor mile (4:50.88) and the outdoor 800M (2:12.80). A mechanical engineering major from Avon Lake, Ohio, Nowak returned for a fifth year at Bradley to run with her teammates for one final season. Nowak is poised for an exciting senior campaign as she runs the 24th annual Bradley Open as her first race in 2009.

The Braves will host two more men's and women's cross country meets this fall, including the Bradley Classic on Friday, Oct. 16, and the Missouri Valley Conference Championship on Saturday, Oct. 31.