PEORIA, Ill. -- After having its last meet canceled two weeks ago, the Bradley track and field teams return to action this weekend, competing at the 2012 State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships Friday, Saturday and Sunday in Wichita, Kan.
The Bradley men will compete in five events in the team's first conference championship since 1992, while the women's team looks to build on its best performance at the State Farm MVC Indoor Championship since 2000, finishing seventh at the indoor championship in February.
"We are finishing up finals today and tomorrow and then we will shift gears to getting recovered and ready to compete this weekend," head coach Marc Burns said. "The team is doing great and will be at their best in Wichita. Our goal is to score in as many events as possible and earn a few All-MVC honors with some top-3 finishes. This is the most exciting time of the season for us as we head to the championships. We have worked long and hard to prepare for the battles ahead. We will represent Bradley with pride and fight to the finish in each event."
Action is scheduled to begin Friday, featuring the men's and women's 10,000 meters starting at 7 p.m. Freshman Sarah McMahon (Colfax, Wis./Colfax) finished third in the 5,000 meters at the indoor championship and has earned all-conference honors in both cross country and at the indoor Valley championship in her first season on The Hilltop. McMahon, who will compete in both the 10,000 meters (Friday) and 5,000 meters (Sunday), clocked the best 5,000 meter time by a Brave since 1998 and second fastest time in school history in the event in early April.
On the men's side, sophomore Nathan Davis (Lewistown, Ill./Lewistown) will run in both Friday's 10,000 meters and Sunday's 5,000 meters. Davis ran the sixth fastest 10,000 meter time in school history at the Drake Relays last month and will be joined in both events by junior Jon Richards (Streator, Ill./Streator).
Highlighting Saturday's competition will be the 800 meters (7 p.m.) and 3,000 meter steeplechase (8 p.m.). Freshman Emily Delvo (Springfield, Ill./Sacred Heart Griffin) finished fourth in the 800 meters at the conference indoor championship and is expected to pace eight BU individuals in the field. She clocked the third fastest 800 meter time in school history at Eastern Illinois in March.
Sophomore Shane Garland (Webster Groves, Mo./Webster Groves) owns the third best 800 meter time in program history on the men's side and is expected to be lead seven Braves in Saturday's 7:10 p.m. race.
Freshman Molly Dahlquist (Peoria, Ill./Notre Dame) owns one of the top 10 times in the MVC this season in the women's 3,000 meter steeplechase and will be BU's lone representative in the race Saturday night. The men's 3,000 meter steeplechase will feature freshman Chase Coffey (Hanna City, Ill./Farmington), junior Nick Skromme (Ottawa, Ill./Marquette) and freshman Evan Tuisl (Clinton, Iowa/Clinton).
Saturday's action will also include the women's 200 meters and 100 meter hurdles.
Bradley wraps up the track and field championship Sunday with the 1,500 meters, 5,000 meters and 4x400 meter relay. Dahlquist owns the top 1,500 meter time on the women's side and is one of eight BU entrants. In addition to owning the top 800 meter time on the men's side, Garland also owns the top 1,500 meter time for Bradley and is one seven Braves in the field.
Bradley will conclude the three-day meet with the 4x400 meter relays at 3:55 p.m.
