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Braves break records in Seattle: Gagne and Ward excel

The Bradley track team sent two runners to Seattle last Saturday and seized two school records. Seniors Dan Gagne and Michael Ward set school records in the one mile and the 3,000 meter run, respectively.

Gagne started the day off with the one-mile race, which featured many nationally ranked and professional runners. Gagne finished seventh overall, with a time of 4:00.39, beating Ward’s previous school record by over two seconds.

“It was definitely the best race I have ever ran in,” Gagne said. “I just held back for the first couple laps and tried to close hard.”

Head coach Darren Gauson said the most impressive part of his race was his finish.

“He closed really well with a 57-second last 400m,” Gauson said. “It is great for him to be that close to a four-minute mile at this point in the season.”

After losing his school record in the one-mile, Ward set a school record of his own with his performance in the 3,000m run. Ward finished seventh with a time of 7:58.64, beating the school record and becoming the first Brave ever to break eight minutes in the event.

Gauson said Ward’s performance puts him among the top college runners in the country.

“His time ranks him 12th nationally,” Gauson said. “He also leads the Valley by 17 seconds.”

Gauson said he would like to have a runner qualify for the indoor national meet this season,

which has not been accomplished in his time coaching Bradley.

“This year, if we can get someone there, that will be huge for this program,” Gauson said.

The Braves will race at the Meyo Invitational this weekend in Notre Dame, Indiana.

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