Bradley men’s and women’s track and field competed at the Grand Valley State University Big Meet on Friday and at the Iowa State Classic on Friday and Saturday.
Junior David Shadid excelled at the Iowa State Classic on Saturday, breaking his own school record in the 400m run with a time of 48.26. He said he credits his improved durability and strength during the end of races as a key to his success.
“I’ve been able to actually beat some people out when I normally wouldn’t be able to on the home stretch,” said Shadid.
That extra push at the end of races has propelled him to school records in the 200, 400 and 600 meter races. Head coach Darren Gauson said he has been very impressed with him this season.
“It’s a lot more difficult for him because he’s doing two events,” Gauson said. “Before he would just run the 800 meters, so now his junior year, he’s running the 400 and the 800, and he’s top-eight in the conference in two events.”
Other highlights last Saturday included Daniel Gagne, who finished just shy of breaking 4 minutes in the mile and finished third place at the event. His time was the second best in school history, trailing his own school record by only a second.
“He ran really well to finish third, you know, if you look at the people who were in here: Ole Miss, Arkansas, Alabama,” Gauson said. “He’s running against some really elite athletes.”
The women’s 4x400m relay team finished just 0.63 seconds short of the school record at the GVSU meet on Friday. Junior Natalie Burant eclipsed her previous personal best by a whopping 43 seconds, finishing 12th out of 123 runners in the 5000m run. In the 800m run, Niamh Markham, Kathryn Adelman and Emma Makowski all finished in the top-10 at the event.
Both the men and women will be competing this weekend at the EIU Friday Night Special on Friday. Shadid, Gagne, Taylor FloydMews and Alec Hartman will travel to Notre Dame’s Alex Wilson Invitational on Saturday to compete in the distance medley relay. The Missouri Valley Conference Indoor Championship will be held in Cedar Falls, Iowa, on Feb. 24 and 25.
