PEORIA, Ill. -- The Bradley men's track and field team will compete in its first meet since the 1992 season when the Braves travel to Nashville, Tenn., for the Vanderbilt Black and Gold Saturday. The men will send a contingent of 10 individuals to compete in five events in the squad's first meet since the team was reinstated in January.
"This is a huge weekend for Bradley Men's Track & Field as we open back up the history books on a storied track & field program," head coach Marc Burns said. "It has been 20 years since Bradley has officially sponsored men's track & field and this meet goes out to all of the men who have worn Bradley on their chest in the past. It is an honor to represent Bradley this weekend and we will make sure our men understand the significance of this meet. The team has been working very hard over the last month and is chomping at the bit to race again. The meet is a little bigger than anticipated so each event should be exciting. We are looking forward to setting the tone this weekend for a fantastic outdoor track season."
The first event for the men's team will be the 3,000 meters tentatively scheduled for Saturday at 11 a.m., with sophomore Nathan Davis (Lewistown, Ill./Lewistown), freshman Marshall Moyer (Burlington, Iowa/Burlington) and junior Jon Richards (Streator, Ill./Streator) representing the Braves. Moyer was Bradley's top finisher four times during the cross country season, including the MVC Championship where he finished 29th.
Sophomores Daniel Allen (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield) and Shane Garland (Webster Groves, Mo./Webster Groves) will both run in the men's 1,500 meters later in the day.
The afternoon will also include the 800 meters with Allen and Richards the likely candidates to pace a field of five Bradley runners in the field. Richards was BU's top finisher at the NCAA Regional Cross Country Regional in November and was one of the team's top five finishers in all six outings in the fall.
Freshmen Chase Coffey (Hanna City, Ill./Farmington) and Evan Tuisl (Clinton, Iowa/Clinton) along with junior Nick Skromme (Ottawa, Ill./Marquette) will compete in the men's 2K steeple chase and the men's squad wraps up the day with Allen, Garland and the freshmen duo of Eric Delvo (Springfield, Ill./Sacred Heart Griffin) and Aaron Peck (Moline, Ill./Moline) in the 4x400 meter relay.
Following the season-opening Vanderbilt Black and Gold, the Braves will be back in action March 30 & 31 at the EIU Big Blue in Charleston, Ill.
