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MACOMB, Ill. - The Fighting Leatherneck cross country teams will head to Peoria, Ill. Friday (Oct. 12) for their last meet of the season before the Summit League Championships Saturday (Oct. 27).
There are, however, some expectations for the purple and gold going into this meet to fine tune themselves for the Championships.
"From the men, I am looking for the team to race what we have executed in our training. The gap between our scorers [#1-#5] has to be reduced," said third-year head coach David Beauchem. "On the women's side we have to be out faster and be much more competitive early in the race. We don't have to be perfect, but we certainly need to be better."
THE BREAKDOWN
What: Bradley Cross Country Classic
When: Friday, October 12, 2012
Where: Newman Golf Course, Peoria, Ill.
Event: Men's 8K at 4:25 p.m. and Women's 5K at 5:05 p.m.
The top runners on both teams, Michael Castel and Alycia Thurston, will be the ones leading their teams this Friday.
There have been some strong individual performances throughout this season, no doubt. But, with this meet on Friday and the Summit League Championships looming a couple weeks away, Coach Beauchem sees that last chance to be able to put it all together.
"Honestly, I expect everyone to perform at the highest level they have during this season. But, Zach Wiedeman and Chase Marlow have to race well for our men to be successful. On the women's side that role falls on Lydia Smith and Mackenzie Gray. They represent the key scoring positions on each team. Again, they don't have to be perfect," said coach Beauchem.
In 2011, Castel led the Leatherneck men individually finishing with a time of 25:15 in his 8K. Chelsea Lynes led the women in the 5K race with a time of 22:27.
MEN'S TEAMS: Bowling Green, Bradley, Creighton, DePaul, Drake, Eastern Illinois, Illinois-B, Illinois State, Fort Wayne, IUPUI, Marquette-B, Northern Iowa, Oakland, Southern Illinois-Carbondale, St. Louis, Illinois-Chicago, Wisconsin-Green Bay, Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Western Illinois
WOMEN'S TEAMS: Alabama-Birmingham, Bowling Green, Bradley, Creighton, DePaul, Drake, Eastern Illinois, Illinois-B, Illinois State, Fort Wayne, IUPUI, Marquette, Northern Illinois, Northern Iowa, Northwestern-B, Oakland, Southern Illinois-Carbondale, Illinois-Chicago, Wisconsin-Green Bay, Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Western Michigan, Western Illinois
"The Bradley Classic is going to be a great challenge for our team. It will be the best mix of Illinois schools and Summit League schools we have had during the regular season. The strength of cross country and track and field throughout the state of Illinois is tremendous and we look forward to competing in Peoria this weekend," said coach.
