CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- The Bradley women's cross country team had four individuals place in the top nine with season or career-best times to highlight 2012 Illini Open Friday afternoon at the University of Illinois Arboretum.
Junior Emily Gustafson (East Peoria, Ill./East Peoria) paced the women's team, finishing second in the 5K, while senior Nick Skromme (Ottawa, Ill./Marquette) finished 11th in the men's 8K to lead the Bradley men's squad.
Gustafson clocked a season-best 18:50 to finish four seconds behind individual champion Colette Falsey of Illinois. Freshman Arden Betzer (Central City, Iowa/Central City) was close behind in fifth with a season-best effort of 19:05 and sophomore Taylor Johnson (Lincoln, Neb./Southeast) clocked a career-best time of 19:09 to finish sixth.
Sophomore Hannah Booker (Tremont, Ill./Tremont) matched a career-best 5K time of 19:17 and was ninth overall, while fellow sophomore Kyela Specht (Muster, Ind./Munster) was 12th in the field at 19:26 to help lead the Braves
The lone senior in the men's race for the Braves, Skromme paced BU with a time of 27:18 to finish 11th. Freshman Joe Fritzsche (Mt. Zion, Ill./Mt. Zion) led a pack of three Bradley runners, crossing the line in 14th at 27:25. Fellow freshman Thomas Razo (Lockport, Ill./Lockport) followed in 15th (27:40) and sophomore Evan Tuisl (Clinton, Iowa/Clinton) was 16th at 27:41.
The Bradley men's and women's cross country teams return to action next Saturday (Oct. 27) at the Missouri Valley Conference Championships in Normal, Ill.
Junior Emily Gustafson (East Peoria, Ill./East Peoria) paced the women's team, finishing second in the 5K, while senior Nick Skromme (Ottawa, Ill./Marquette) finished 11th in the men's 8K to lead the Bradley men's squad.
Gustafson clocked a season-best 18:50 to finish four seconds behind individual champion Colette Falsey of Illinois. Freshman Arden Betzer (Central City, Iowa/Central City) was close behind in fifth with a season-best effort of 19:05 and sophomore Taylor Johnson (Lincoln, Neb./Southeast) clocked a career-best time of 19:09 to finish sixth.
Sophomore Hannah Booker (Tremont, Ill./Tremont) matched a career-best 5K time of 19:17 and was ninth overall, while fellow sophomore Kyela Specht (Muster, Ind./Munster) was 12th in the field at 19:26 to help lead the Braves
The lone senior in the men's race for the Braves, Skromme paced BU with a time of 27:18 to finish 11th. Freshman Joe Fritzsche (Mt. Zion, Ill./Mt. Zion) led a pack of three Bradley runners, crossing the line in 14th at 27:25. Fellow freshman Thomas Razo (Lockport, Ill./Lockport) followed in 15th (27:40) and sophomore Evan Tuisl (Clinton, Iowa/Clinton) was 16th at 27:41.
The Bradley men's and women's cross country teams return to action next Saturday (Oct. 27) at the Missouri Valley Conference Championships in Normal, Ill.
