PEORIA, Ill. -- The Bradley men's and women's cross country teams will open the 2011 season with the first of two home meets, when the Braves host the 25th running of the Bradley Open Friday at 5:30 p.m. at Detweiller Park. The Bradley Open had been held for 24 consecutive years, before last year's hiatus for upgrades to Detweiller Park.
The women's three mile will start at 5:30 p.m. with the men's 6K slated to follow at 6:15 p.m. at the site of the IHSA state championship. A total of seven men's teams and eight women's squads will compete in the event.
The men's field features Division I teams Bradley, Chicago State and Western Illinois along with Carl Sandburg, Illinois Central, Illinois Wesleyan and Spoon River. The women's race includes four Division I squads (Bradley, Chicago State, Illinois and Western Illinois) in addition to Carl Sandburg, Illinois Central, Illinois Wesleyan and Robert Morris.
"The team is excited and chomping at the bit to begin the racing season," Bradley head coach Marc Burns said. "This is a perfect way to start our season as we head to historic Detweiller Park. The meet will be small but will have some nice competition to allow us to see where we stand early in the season. Our teams will run a conservative race plan and try to finish fast over the last half of the race. We are expecting them to be flying down the homestretch. The team has done a tremendous job of preparing for the season and we have noticed a huge difference in similar workouts this year compared to last year at this time."
The Bradley women's team was picked to finish third in the preseason Missouri Valley Conference coaches poll and return nine letterwinners from last year's squad which finished fifth in the Valley in 2010. Helping lead a cast of talented youngsters, which includes 11 underclassmen, are junior Emily Gustafson (East Peoria, Ill./East Peoria) and Cassie Lohmeier (East Peoria, Ill./East Peoria).
The Bradley men's team was picked seventh in the preseason coaches poll after finishing eighth last year. Junior Jon Richards (Streator, Ill./Streator) is one of just three upperclassmen on the 2011 roster, which welcomed seven freshman.
Both squads will be back in action next weekend, running at the Illinois Intercollegiates in Normal, Ill., on Sept. 16.
