NEW ORLEANS, La. - After a strong performance at the Notre Dame Cross Country Invitational Friday, the Bradley women's cross country team moved up one spot to No. 12 in this week's U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Midwest Regional ranking.

"We faced some very tough competition this past weekend at Notre Dame," said head coach David Beauchem. "We beat some regionally ranked teams from outside the Midwest."

The Notre Dame Invitational featured 10 teams ranked in the top-30 USTFCCCA NCAA Division I poll, as well as 10 more regionally ranked teams. The Braves finished 19th of 22; beating regionally ranked UC Riverside, Utah State and Houston.

Three of Bradley's five runners recorded 5K personal best times, including freshman Nicole Benson (Peoria, Ill./Limestone H.S.), junior Mary Goldkamp (Florissant, Mo./McCluer North H.S.) and senior Amanda Switzer (Machesney Park, Ill./Harlem H.S.). Benson crossed the finish line in 57th place with a time of 17:37. Goldkamp also cracked the 18 minute mark with a time of 17:56 for 86th place.

Senior Katie Nowak (Avon Lake, Ohio, Avon Lake H.S.) finished just outside the top-100 at 105 with a time of 18:14, while freshman Emily Gustafson (East Peoria, Ill./East Peoria H.S.) earned 128th in 18:33. Switzer's personal best time of 19:03 was good enough for 160th place.

Four other Missouri Valley Conference teams made appearances in this week's Midwest regional poll. Wichita State ranked eighth, followed by Illinois State at 11 and Missouri State at 14. Southern Illinois rounded out the top-15. The Braves will host the 2009 MVC Championships Oct. 31 at Newman Golf Course.

"I expect us to continue our progression and have a very good chance of being a top-10 team in the Midwest region," said Beauchem.

Bradley's men's and women's cross country teams return to action Saturday, Oct. 10 at SIU Edwardsville.