BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Sophomore Kyela Specht (Munster, Ind./Munster) clocked the seventh fastest career-best time in school history in the 800 meters and the 4x800 meter relay squad turned in the second-fastest time in program history to highlight the final day of competition for the Bradley track and field team at the Indiana Relays Saturday.
Running the 800 meters for the first time in her career, Specht's time of 2:17.30 ranks as the seventh fastest career-best time in school history. She finished sixth in her heat and 13th overall to pace three Braves in the field.
"Our women ran some great races this weekend," said Bradley head coach Marc Burns. "We hit the top ten list pretty hard. Mac (Sarah McMahon) looked strong last night in the 3k and is ready for a big 5k next week at Notre Dame. Our DMR and 4x800m relays were both in the top four all time. It was nice to see Cassie (Lohmeier) make a big step up in the 3k. She is a couple weeks away from challenging 10 minutes. Our staff is excited about where we are with just four weeks until the MVC Championships."
Sophomore Taylor Johnson (Lincoln, Neb./Southeast) placed seventh in the same 800 meter heat with a career-best time of 2:18.26 and sophomore Hannah Booker (Tremont, Ill./Tremont) was close behind in eighth in the second heat at 2:19.15.
The freshmen quartet of Kristen Busch (Waterloo, Ill./Freeburg), Caitlin Busch(Waterloo, Ill./Freeburg), Lauren Houmes (Hoopeston, Ill./Hoopeston) and Rachel Sudbury (Tomahawk, Wis./Tomahawk) turned in the second fastest 4x800 meter relay time in school history. The group was fifth overall and 11 seconds off a school-record pace with a time of 9:25.67.
In the 200 meters, sophomore Dana Markech (Arlington Heights, Ill./Hersey) also clocked a career-best time, finishing 13th with a time of 29.40 seconds.
The Bradley women's track and field team returns to action next weekend, sending a small group to the Meyo Invitational in South Bend, Ind., Friday and Saturday, with the rest of the squad heading to Bloomington, Ill., Saturday for the Keck Invitational at Illinois Wesleyan.
