The Bradley men’s and women’s track teams capped off an impressive season with a top-five finish and multiple broken records at the Missouri Valley Conference Championship this past weekend.
On Saturday, junior Michael Ward finished first in the 5,000-meter event with a time of 14:49.53. Ward’s first place finish marked the first victory for a male in the 5,000-meter event in Braves history. The men’s distance medley relay team also placed first in their event with a time of 10:01.72.
Earning points for the women was senior Natalie Burant, who placed fourth in the 5,000-meter with a time of 17:30.09. The women’s DMR team also earned points after a time of 12:15.29 earned the team a fourth place finish.
At the end of day one, the men’s team stood at fourth in the standings with 28 points. The women were sixth in the standings with 10 points of their own.
On the Sunday, Ward continued his individual success after winning the 3,000-meter run with a time of 8:17.31, becoming the first Brave to do so. Ward became the first male in program history to win multiple individual championships at the MVC.
According to Ward, motivation and determination led to his success in distancing himself from his opponents.
“The incentive of my first individual title and needing to do my part for the team helped me find that gear,” Ward said via email.
Senior Daniel Gagne also earned his first individual championship finishing first in the mile run with a time of 4:23.75.
The men’s team ended with their best finish since 1970. After placing fifth in the standings. The 78 points scored by the men is the most in program history. The previous mark was held by the 1970 men’s team with 70 points.
Head coach Darren Gauson credits his team’s success to experience in major races.
“A lot of them are just older and have been in that championship three or four years,” Gauson said. “Having years of training also prepares them.”
For the women’s team, senior Hannah Witzcak finished sixth in the 3,000-meter with a time of 9:59.27. Junior Niamh Markham finished seventh in the 800-meter in 2:14.06, and Brooke Nauser finished seventh with a time of 5:03.06 in the mile.
The women finished eighth with 17 points, improving on last year’s ninth place finish at the MVC Championships.
Both teams will have their longest break of the season before competing in their first outdoor meet at the Bill Cornell Spring Classic in Carbondale on March 24.
