BLOOMINGTON, Ill. -- Junior Sarah Higgins (Bourbonnais, Ill./Bradley-Bourbonnais) turned in a career-best effort in the mile and senior Emily Gustafson (East Peoria, Ill./East Peoria) clocked a career-best time in the 3,000 meters to help highlight action for the Bradley track and field team at the Keck Invitational Saturday afternoon.
The duo helped highlight a day which saw seven individual career-best efforts. Higgins finished seventh in the mile with a career-best time of 5:19.63 and was followed by freshman Caitlin Pribble (Morton, Ill./Morton) at 5:25.90, who was running the event for the first time this season.
Gustafson beat her previous career-best time in the 3,000 meters by almost two and a half seconds, placing seventh in the event by clocking a 10:54.85. Sophomore Ashley Schmitt (East Peoria, Ill./East Peoria) finished right behind Gustafson in eighth with a time of 10:56.30.
In the 800 meters, junior Emily Wolbers (Moline, Ill./Moline) was Bradley's top finisher in 14th at 2:26.57, running in the event for the first time this year. Freshman Arden Betzer (Central City, Iowa/Central City) beat her previous season-best time, crossing the line in 18th at 2:28.30.
Freshman Elizabeth Dutcher (Williamston, Mich./Williamston) turned in a strong performance, leading Bradley in three events. Her 200-meter time of 27.73 seconds ranks as the ninth fastest career-best time in school history. Dutcher also finished third in the 60-meter hurdles after winning her heat with a season-best time of 9.66 seconds and placed 10th in the long jump at 4.80 meters (15-09.00) to finish 10th.
Betzer, Higgins, Wolbers and freshman Lauren Houmes (Hoopeston, Ill./Hoopeston) combined to post a season-best time in the 4x400 meter relay, finishing third at 4:15.40. The distance medley relay squad of Kristen Busch (Waterloo, Ill./Freeburg), Taylor Johnson (Lincoln, Neb./Southeast), Caitlin Busch (Waterloo, Ill./Freeburg) and Rachel Sudbury (Tomahawk, Wis./Tomahawk) took second, finishing 17 seconds behind Washington University's squad with a time of 12:25.45.
Sophomore Dana Markech (Arlington Heights, Ill./Hersey) rounded out competition for the Braves in the 60-meter dash, running a career-best 8.53 seconds to place 22nd.
Bradley returns to action Friday at the Iowa State Classic in Ames, Iowa.
