The Bradley men's and women's cross country teams host the first of three home races during the 2016 campaign on Friday when 15 schools join the Braves for the 30th running of the Bradley Intercollegiate at Detweiller Park.
 
After opening the season at Iowa's Hawkeye Early Bird, the Braves are set to field a full team on Friday for the first time in 2016. Among the 15 schools participating at this year's event, Bradley is set to race against Division I schools Arkansas State, Chicago State, Illinois Chicago, Northwestern, Western Illinois and Wisconsin Green Bay.
 
The women's 3-mile race is slated to begin at 5 p.m. with the men's 8K following at 5:45 p.m.
 
Bradley is looking to repeat its success last season at the event, a race that jump started a campaign that led to two Missouri Valley Championships. Last year, the Braves swept through the Bradley Intercollegiate with the men claiming the top six individual finishers overall and the women posting 10 of the top 11 times.
 
Caleb Beck returns after claiming the men's title in 2015, edging out five teammates that finished within a second of Beck. Including the senior, the Braves' top four finishers from last season's conference championship are expected to make their 2016 debut with Michael Ward, Taylor Floyd Mews and Patrick Campbell joining Beck on the course.
 
On the women's side, the race is another opportunity for a young roster to showcase their abilities. Senior Lauren Cunningham and sophomore Gabby Juarez are both expected to make their 2016 debut this weekend and are the top returning performers from last year's meet after the graduation of the team's top four finishers. In addition, sophomore Sara Piller and rookie Rachel Iacofano are back in action after finishing as the Braves' top two finishers in the opener in Iowa.
 
Following the Bradley Intercollegiate, the Braves take a week to regroup before competing at the Notre Dame Invitational on Sept. 30.