Bradley University Athletics

Braves Set for NCAA Championship Debut on Saturday

Cross Country 11/15/2018 1:30:00 PM

For the first time in school history, the Bradley Braves will be represented as a team at the NCAA Cross Country Championship with the men's program making their debut.

MEET INFO
The Bradley men will compete against the nation's best in the second of two races on Saturday. The 10K race is slated to begin at 11:45 a.m. in Madison, Wisconsin, as Bradley is one of 31 schools competing as a team for the national championship.

Any runner that finishes in the top 40 on Saturday will also earn All-America honors.

A live stream via FloTrack and live results are both available.

Head coach Darren Gauson, senior Michael Ward and junior Will Anderson preview the NCAA Championship meet in this week's Peoria Tire Race Preview! pic.twitter.com/hMhuU16h0x
— BradleyXC-Track (@BradleyXCTrack) November 15, 2018

NATIONALLY-RANKED
For the first time in school history, the Braves entered the national rankings on Monday, slotting in at No. 25. Bradley received 65 votes in the 30-team poll and is the second of four ranked teams from the Midwest. Iowa State leads the way at No. 5, while Oklahoma State is 27th and Tulsa is 28th.

MIDWEST RECAP
The Braves earned their first ever bid to the NCAA Championship as a team by earning one of two automatic bids at the NCAA Midwest Regional. Bradley placed second with 102 points and narrowly edged out Tulsa (107) and Oklahoma State (124) for the final automatic bid.

Four Braves earned All-Region honors by placing in the top 25 on Friday. Luke Hoffert led the way in 12th place, while Haran Dunderdale (16th), Jake Hoffert (18th) and Michael Ward (23rd) also earned the accolade.

Additionally, Darren Gauson was named the recipient of the Roy Griak Award as the USTFCCCA Midwest Region Men's Coach of the Year.

NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY
While the Braves are making their first appearance as a team at the NCAA Championship, Bradley has sent three runners as individuals to the national meet in the last two years, including two members of the current team.

In 2016, Michael Ward became the first Brave in school history to advance to the national championship, placing 71st overall of 251 runners. Last season, Taylor Floyd Mews and Jake Hoffert both earned their first invites to the meet and finished 146th and 156th, respectively.

DEPTH IN NUMBERS
Bradley's biggest strength this season is their depth as BU has had a different runner finish first on the team in all seven meets this season. Of the runners featured for Bradley on Saturday, Alec Hartman led the Braves at the WIU Early Bird Invite, Will Anderson at the Bradley Intercollegiate, Haran Dunderdale at the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational, Jake Hoffert at the Ideal Rentals Bradley Pink Classic, Michael Ward at the Missouri Valley Conference Championship and Luke Hoffert at the NCAA Midwest Regional.

UP NEXT
While the cross country season comes to its conclusion on Saturday, the team returns to action for the indoor track season Saturday, Jan. 12 at the Hawkeye Invitational.

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