 Billikens Set for Friday's Bradley Classic
Oct. 16, 2008
On Your Mark: In their final test before the A-10 Championships, the Saint Louis cross country squads will participate in the Bradley Classic at Newman Golf Course in Peoria, Ill., Friday evening. The women's 6K race begins at 4:15 p.m., with the men's 8K immediately following. Last Time Out: The Billikens traveled to Stillwater, Okla., to participate in the Cowboy Jamboree two weeks ago. The women finished 17th overall and the men finished 22nd. The biggest benefit of the race was the opportunity for SLU to get a look at the course, as it will be the same location for the NCAA Midwest Regional on Nov. 15. Brian Holdmeyer led the men's squad with an 8K time of 26:45, while Mary Moloney posted a team-best 6K time of 23:12 on the women's side. What to Watch For: A field consisting of several top regional squads awaits the Billikens in Peoria, Ill. Both the men's and women's teams have traditionally placed well at Bradley. In addition, individual SLU runners posted several personal-best marks at the Bradley Classic and at the 2007 NCAA Midwest Regional. Down the Road: SLU competes in the Atlantic 10 Championships on Saturday, Nov. 1, in Charlotte, N.C. Select athletes will make a return visit to Stillwater, Okla., to compete in the NCAA Midwest Regional on Nov. 15. Coaching Staff: Head coach Jon Bell is in his second season leading the Billikens' cross country and track & field squads. Also returning to the coaching staff this season are assistant coach Tim Bradley, graduate assistant Autumn Valk and volunteer assistant coach John Cunningham. The Atlantic 10 Conference: Saint Louis is in its fourth season as a member of the A-10. Last season, the women claimed their best showing in the A-10 Championship after turning in a seventh-place finish. The men have finished 12th in the league the past two seasons. The La Salle men, who have won six of the last seven titles, and the Richmond women are the A-10 favorites.
Good Golly Miss Molly: Junior Molly Burke (Plano, Texas/Ursuline) was the Billikens' third finisher at the Cowboy Jamboree with a 6K time of 23:45 ... has finished among the team's top five in all three meets this season. Above the Fray: Sophomore Sara Fraley (Cincinnati, Ohio/Seton) was the Billikens' fifth finisher at the Cowboy Jamboree, completing the 6K in a time of 24:02. M&Ms: Senior Mary Moloney (Bay Village, Ohio/St. Joseph) placed first among her teammates for the second straight meet at the Cowboy Jamboree, placing 70th overall with a time of 23:12. The Hills: Freshman Hilary Orf (St. Louis, Mo./Marquette) placed three spots behind Moloney at the Cowboy Jamboree, finishing 73rd overall while covering the 6K course in 23:16 ... has finished among the Billikens' top two in all three races, including the Big River Running Early Bird when she led her teammates and finished ninth overall with a time of 14:53.5. Body of Work: Junior Laura Peabody (Carmel, Ind./Cathedral) placed fourth among the Bills at the Cowboy Jamboree with a 6K time of 24:00. Pop Quiz: Freshman Adair Quisenberry (Owensboro, Ky./Daviess County) finished among the top seven for the Billikens at the Cowboy Jamboree, crossing the 6K line in 24:02. Re-Verzal of Fortune: Senior Lauren Verzal (Pewaukee, Wis./Catholic Memorial) placed sixth among the Billikens at the Cowboy Jamboree with a 6K mark of 24:23. Will to Win: Freshman Will Herrington (Sugar Land, Texas/Strake Jesuit) finished the Cowboy Jamboree 8K with a time of 29:02, which was seventh among his teammates. Holding Pattern: Sophomore Brian Holdmeyer (Washington, Mo./Borgia) continues to lead the Billiken men's squad ... finished first among his teammates and 80th overall at the Cowboy Jamboree with an 8K time of 26:54 ... has led the Bills in all three races this season. Return of the Mack: Freshman Stephen Mackey (Cincinnati, Ohio/St. Xavier) placed fifth among the Billikens at the Cowboy Jamboree with a personal-best time of 28:08. GO Greg GO: Junior Greg Orf (Ballwin, Mo./Marquette) was the sixth Billiken finisher at the Cowboy Jamboree, crossing the 8K line in 28:58. Lightning Rod: Junior Neal Rodrigues (Alameda, Calif./St. Joseph Notre Dame) finished second among his teammates for the third meet in a row at Oklahoma State, crossing the 8K line in 27:02. Red Ross: Sophomore Kyle Ross (Alton, Ill./Alton) placed fourth among his teammates at the Cowboy Jamboree, crossing the 8K line in a personal-best time of 27:58. Great Scott: Sophomore Scott Vicker (Creston, Iowa/Creston) had his best performance of the season at the Cowboy Jamboree, placing third among his teammates with an 8K time of 27:42. J-Dub: Junior John Woodman (Nashville, Tenn./Father Ryan) posted an 8K time of 29:16 at the Cowboy Jamboree. Bell's Bits: "I'm looking forward to this meet because the last two times the women ran there, they had several personal bests," head coach Jon Bell said. "They knew they could have run better at Oklahoma State, so I think that gives them a little extra motivation to prove themselves. The men improved from Notre Dame to Oklahoma State, so hopefully we can continue that trend of improvement. We have had great workouts, but the challenge with a young team is applying what we have gained in the workouts to the race course." |
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