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Season Preview: Cross country touted as No. 1 teams

Bradley cross country runner Nicola Jansen. Photo courtesy of Bradley Athletics.

After a great 2021-2022 season, expectations are high for both the men and women’s cross country teams. In the Missouri Valley Conference preseason poll, both Braves’ teams were ranked No. 1 in the MVC.

Despite the high expectations, head coach Darren Gauson is confident in his runners and has a higher goal than an MVC championship set for his teams.

“I think we are a team that can win the Missouri Valley; I think we are a team that can be talked about on a national level,” Gauson said. “Our goal is to be a national level program. We recruit on a national level, we coach on a national level. It’s not about Missouri Valley, it’s not about this meet and that meet; we are trying to develop this program into being top 10 in the nation.”

At first glance, Gauson seems to have the runners to achieve his goal. Both men and women’s teams are experienced, with a combined total of 28 runners returning for the season and 14 newcomers joining the Braves.

Among the returning Braves is graduate senior Alec Danner, who is a two-time All-MVC recipient and led the team in three out of the five races he participated in last season. The veteran is ready to lead his younger teammates this upcoming season.

“I’m trying the best I can to lead by action,” Danner said. “Words can only go so far.”

Danner’s leadership runs deeper than just giving advice on the course, extending into important tips to help the Braves’ young runners improve their mindset.

“I think it means a lot to younger athletes that you practice what you preach: getting good sleep, eating right, showing up to practice on time, and getting the work in,” Danner said. “When I was a freshman, seeing the older guys do that, led to the results speaking for themselves. Those same guys were leading the team. Seeing that instilled a ‘hard work leads to good places’ mentality that I try to instill into the younger guys.”

The Braves also return last year’s MVC Freshman of the Year, sophomore Nicola Jansen, who claimed both 3,000-meter and 5,000-meter titles at the MVC Championship last year. Even after a stellar rookie season, Jansen knows both she and the team can improve as a whole.

“Last year, I came in with no idea where I was going to go,” Jansen said. “This year, I have more of an idea of where I can be. It would be nice to get that national qualification as an individual and even nicer to get it as a team as well.”

The Braves’ runners will kick off the season today at Western Illinois University for the WIU Early Bird meet.

One Comment

  1. Mecca Eaves Mecca Eaves September 2, 2022

    This is an exceptionally written article. Keep up the great work. All of you will win and your team will be at the top this year!

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