Rapid Recap: Braves hold their own against nation’s best at Joe Piane Invitational

Bradley cross country faced one of the most challenging fields of the season at the Joe Piane Invitational last weekend.

Despite the strength of competition, the Braves showed they can compete nationally.

The women’s squad placed seventh out of 20 teams in the 5K Blue Race, while the men finished ninth out of 18 in the 8K Blue Race.

The meet marked a shift in competition for Bradley after two early-season sweeps, and the Braves responded by delivering their fastest performances yet.

Senior Kaitlyn Sheppard led the charge for the women, clocking a personal-best 16:34.0 to finish 16th overall — the second-fastest 5K time in program history. Her performance set the tone for a day, as five teammates also ran career-best times.

Graduate student Abigail Hancock (17:09.2) and freshman Noelle Steines (17:15.2) added strong top-70 finishes, helping Bradley secure a top-10 team result in a deep field packed with Power Five programs.

Senior Caleb Lind continued his breakout season on the men’s side, placing 24th with a personal-best 23:34.5, the third-fastest 8K mark in Bradley history. His effort anchored a tight pack that saw Michael Rebello (23:55.0) and Travis Gaffney (23:56.6) break the 24-minute barrier.

While the Braves couldn’t extend their streak of team titles, the meet proved to be an essential test that showed both squads can run with elite national competition.

Bradley now turns its focus to hosting the Pink Classic on Oct. 17 at Newman Golf Course, where momentum and a home-course advantage could translate into another strong showing.