WALNUT, Calif. – Junior Chase Coffey (Hanna City, Ill./Farmington) broke his own school record to win his heat of the 3,000 meter steeplechase Thursday to highlight the opening day of competition for the Bradley track and field teams at the 56th annual Mt. Sac Relays. 

Coffey set a school record in his third different event this season, topping his own school record mark in the steeplechase Thursday night.  His time of 8:53.13 was 15 seconds better than his previous school mark of 9:08.49 set last spring.  In fact, Coffey's time is the best in the Missouri Valley Conference this season and would rank 11th best in the country coming into Thursday's competition.

Senior Whitney Schumacher (Appleton, Wis./Kimberly) ran in the 10,000 meters for the first time in her career and finished 16th overall in her heat to highlight action for the Bradley women.  Schumacher had a strong debut, clocking the sixth-best time in school history at 36:27.19 as she missed the top five in Bradley history by less than three seconds. 

The Braves will continue competition at the Mt. Sac Relays Friday in addition to running at the Brian Clay Invitational in Azusa, Calif.