SLU cross country extended their outstanding results this season in the Bradley Pink Classic in Peoria, Ill. The men’s team won the team title, the third team title that the Billikens have won this season.
Sophomore Manuel de Backer was the SLU men’s standout performer in the Bradley Pink Classic, leading all Billikens runners and finishing second overall with an 8-kilometer time of 24:23.5. SLU’s team score of 103 was well below the team scores of the other universities present at the meet, with Windsor receiving 128 points, Lamar receiving 143 points, Notre Dame receiving 181 points, Eastern Illinois receiving 182 points, Colorado receiving 194 points and Indiana receiving 231 points. 20 additional schools were also present at the Bradley Pink Classic, all of which could not match the SLU team’s outstanding performances.
The women’s cross country team also turned in a relatively strong performance. Sophomore Anna Schmitz led the Billikens with a 6-kilometer time of 21:45.6, to earn 39th place. The Billikens as a team finished in a respectable 12th position.
SLU head coach Jon Bell commented on the men’s team’s successful meet and on their individual races after they were complete. “The men ran another outstanding race,” SLU head coach Jon Bell said. “They ran with great poise this afternoon and are very deserving of this victory. We have 15 more days to prepare for the Atlantic 10 Conference Championships, and we still have a few finishing touches to put on our training. The men are excited as we enter the championship portion of the season.”
He also had praise for the entire women’s team, and certain runners in particular. “Anna Schmitz did an excellent job leading our women today,” Bell continued. “She is starting to take a leadership role, which I’m happy to see. Natalie Davis had a huge PR today and ran herself into our scoring five. We are continuing to progress and are looking forward to the A-10 Championships.”
Overall, coach Bell appears firmly focused on the Atlantic 10 Cross Country Championships. The conference championships will be SLU’s next race, and will take place on Saturday, Oct. 29. For the A-10 championships, SLU will travel to the Richmond suburb of Mechanicsville, Va. The championships will take place at 9 a.m. on Oct. 29.
