For the second week in a row, the men’s cross-country team garnered a third place finish.
This time the Braves ran at the Missouri State Classic.
Senior Andrew Weiser led the Braves after finishing eighth place with a time of 26 minutes and four seconds.
“Andrew is a good leader,” junior Brian Tyne said. “He is always working hard, leads by example and doesn’t get down on other people.”
After Weiser, senior Nathan Ahart finished 11th with a time of 26 minutes and 20 seconds.
The third through sixth runners for Bradley all finished within about four seconds of each other.
Tyne led that pack with a time of 26 minutes and 44 seconds and was followed by junior Zach Bowling, who ran the eight-kilometer course in 26 minutes and 45 seconds. Rounding out that pack were freshman Jon Richards, who had a time of 26 minutes and 45 seconds as well, and senior Pat Greene, who finished with a time of 26 minutes and 49 seconds.
Those four took 15th, 16th, 17th and 19th places, giving the Braves their top five runners in the top 20 spots.
“Running in a pack is great for a team because when you run with your teammates, you take turns leading and you continue to run faster,” junior Tim Owdom said. “It’s demoralizing to a runner to see a bunch of guys run past them.”
The Braves had eight runners in the top-25 spots with juniors Billy Miller and Owdom in 20th and 25th places.
“This meet signifies where we were as a team and is setting the tone for the rest of the season,” sophomore Eric Garcia said.
The women’s cross-country team also competed at the Missouri State Classic and won third place as team as well.
Freshman Nicole Benson took home sixth place to pace the Braves. She ran the five-kilometer course in 17 minutes and 43 seconds.
Senior Katie Nowak wasn’t far behind, finishing ninth, with a time of 18 minutes and 12 seconds.
Junior Mary Goldkamp also placed in the top 10, running a time of 18 minutes and 16 seconds.
The ladies’ top five was rounded out by freshman Emily Gustafson, who finished in 12th with a time of 18 minutes and 20 seconds, and senior Rachel Brubaker, who finished in 25th with a time of 19 minutes and 17 seconds.
The Braves aren’t in action again until Oct. 10, when they run at Southern Illinois at Edwardsville.
