Bradley cross country hit the ground running in their opening meet, wasting no time in making a statement to begin their 2025 campaign.
The Braves traveled to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign on Aug. 29 to compete in the Fighting Illini Open. Bradley continued the success they’ve enjoyed over the past few years, sweeping the men’s and women’s titles in their opening meet for the third consecutive season.
“This has kind of become a fun way to kick off our season,” head coach Andrew Carlson said. “It kind of felt more like a mid-season type meet with a large majority of the MVC schools there, so it took on more importance than it has in the past.”
Leading the way for Bradley in the women’s 4K was senior Kaitlyn Sheppard, who finished first in the event with a time of 13:08.0. The Braves had seven of the top 12 finishers, and each runner who competed placed inside the top 20.
“The first meet is so important in getting you back into the swing of things,” Sheppard said. “I’ve been consistent with my training for two years now, and consistency has played a key role in my running.”
The men’s team was led by junior JD Rosslee, who ran a time of 17:23.5 to capture the men’s 6K title. Senior Caleb Lind was not far behind, placing second at 17:33.1. Overall, the men’s team took seven of the top 11 places.
“I couldn’t be happier with where we are as a group,” Carlson said. “I saw a group that’s clearly prepared when they’re by themselves over the summer and committed to this.”
“For runners, it’s hard to keep a peak for a long time,” Carlson added. “These early season meets you’re often fatigued and kind of have to get through it, so then to go out and perform well is really promising for this point in the season.”
Early-season success only raises expectations on the runners to perform at a high level. Some runners, though, welcome the pressure as an opportunity to fuel their success.
“I kind of need pressure in order to race well,” Sheppard said. “I like knowing that I could do well in these races, and it has just given me confidence for the rest of the season.”
While Sheppard individually thrives on pressure, the team as a collective has shown total commitment to group success.
“Our group is really good at accountability and communication,” Carlson said. “The biggest thing right now is to do things to keep people healthy and feeling good, while also pushing the envelope. Because ultimately, this is a team that I think, on both sides, has a realistic chance to make the NCAA championships in November, which would be a big jump from where we’re currently at, but also, we know we can do it.”
The Braves will have a few weeks to prepare for their next meet, when they host the Bradley Intercollegiate at Detweiller Park on Sept. 19.
