DES MOINES, Iowa – Freshman Rachel Sudbury (Tomahawk, Wis./Tomahawk) ran a career-best in the women's 800 meters to reach Sunday's finals and sophomore Chase Coffey (Hanna City, Ill./Farmington) finished fourth in the men's 3,000 meter steeplechase to highlight Saturday's action for the Bradley men's and women's Track and Field teams at the Missouri Valley Conference Outdoor Championship.
Sudbury won her 800 meter preliminary heat with a season-best time of 2:11.72 to advance to Sunday afternoon's final. Her time ranks as the fourth fastest career-best time in school history and was the second fastest time run Saturday afternoon. Sophomore Kyela Specht (Munster, Ind./Munster) missed qualifying for Sunday's 800 meter finals by less than three-quarters of a second, finishing 10th Saturday with a time of 2:15.06.
Coffey, who finished fifth at last year's MVC Championship in the 3,000 meter steeplechase, improved to fourth with a time of 9:10.05 and scored five points for the Braves. The five points in the steeplechase pushed the Bradley men's total to seven points, one short of last year's eight points. Coffey's fourth-place time was less than nine seconds out of qualifying him for all-conference honors.
Senior Nick Skromme (Ottawa, Ill./Marquette) wrapped up his collegiate career with a career-best time of 9:48.66 in the 3,000 meter steeplechase to finish 10th in the event. Sophomore Eric Delvo (Springfield, Ill./Sacred Heart Griffin) also helped highlight Saturday's action for the men's team, placing 10th in the men's 800 meters at 1:56.01. Delvo crossed the line than two seconds out of eighth, narrowly missing a spot in Sunday's finals.
"We had some great efforts in day two,” said Bradley head coach Marc Burns. “Chase (Coffey) ran a smart race in the steeple. He was able to get out in control and finish strong for a big fourth-place finish. It was also nice to see Nick Skromme conclude his career at Bradley with a personal best in the steeple.”
“It was really windy during the heats of the 800 meters and our crew ran some of the best races of the year,” added Burns. “Rachel (Sudbury) was the only one to get through to the finals, but everyone was competitive. We are fired up for tomorrow. We have some really good chances to score in the 800, 1500 and 5,000 meters. The intensity has been great so far and now we need the rest of the team to be ready to step up in day three."
In the women's sprints, freshman Danyale Griffin (Evanston, Ill./Evanston Township) turned in season-best efforts in both the 100 and 200 meters. Her 100-meter time of 12.75 seconds ranks fourth among Bradley career-best marks. Fellow freshman Elizabeth Dutcher (Williamsville, Mich./Williamsville) clocked the sixth-best 100 meter hurdle time in school history (15.12 seconds) and was 12th overall in the 400 meter hurdles at 1:06.09.
The Bradley track and field teams wrap up competition at the MVC Outdoor Track and Field Championship Sunday starting at 1 p.m.
