Cross Country Hosts NCAA Midwest Regional on Friday

Cross Country 11/8/2018 3:05:00 PM

Fresh off sweeping the Missouri Valley Cross Country Championships two weeks ago, the Braves return to site of their victories, hosting the NCAA Midwest Regional on Friday at Newman Golf Course.

MEET INFO
The women's 6K is first on Friday at 11 a.m. with the men's 10K to follow at noon. The regional includes all Division I schools from nine Midwest states – Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.

The top two schools in each race plus the top four individuals not featured on the top two teams qualify automatically for next weekend's NCAA Championship. Additional teams and individuals can still advance via at-large selections, announced by the NCAA after the regional meet.

Parking for Friday's meet is available at the Newman Clubhouse with overflow parking available at Corn Stock Theatre on the corner of Park and Nebraska.

Want to know more about the Braves going into the NCAA Midwest Regional? Find out in this week's Peoria Tire Race Preview as the team attempts to qualify for the national championship! pic.twitter.com/odXRsw61E3
— BradleyXC-Track (@BradleyXCTrack) November 8, 2018

MVC CHAMPIONSHIP RECAP
Bradley swept the Missouri Valley Conference Championships for the second-straight season and the third time in four years on Oct. 27.

The women opened the meet with their fifth title in school history (and fourth in the last five seasons). Junior Gabby Juarez paced the team with a third-place finish, while rookie Tyler Schwartz crossed the line in fourth and was named the league's Freshman of the Year. Rookie Ayay Aldadah joined the duo on the All-MVC Team after finishing 10th in her debut performance.

The men then followed and placed six runners in the top-15 to win their fourth-straight conference crown – a first in the Valley since 1983. Michael Ward (2nd), Haran Dunderdale (6th) and Jake Hoffert (9th) all earned All-MVC accolades, while Luke Hoffert (11th), Will Anderson (12th) and Jack Franklin (15th) received honorable mention to all-conference team.

REGIONAL RANKINGS
The men are currently ranked fourth in the Midwest Region – matching the highest placement in school history in the USTFCCCA poll. Iowa State, Oklahoma State and Tulsa rank one through three, while Iowa finishes out the top-five rankings.

The women place 11th in their poll with Iowa State, Oklahoma State, Minnesota, Northwestern and Kansas completing the top five.

2017 REGIONAL RECAP
Both the Bradley men and women placed sixth at the NCAA Midwest Regional one year ago, held at Iowa State.

Taylor Floyd Mews led the BU men with a sixth-place finish – the best in program history. Jake Hoffert also finished ninth as the duo became just the second and third Braves in school history to earn a bid to the NCAA Championship (Michael Ward also earned an invite in 2016 before redshirting the 2017 campaign).

Three Braves placed in the top 50 for the Bradley women. McKenzie Altmayer led the way at 34th, while Hannah Witczak (39th) and Natalie Burant (43rd) closely followed.

UP NEXT
The top two teams and four additional individuals automatically qualify for the NCAA Championship with 13 at-large spots also available for team entry. The 2018 NCAA Championship is set for Saturday, Nov. 17 in Madison, Wisconsin.

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