NOTRE DAME, Ind. - After earning a top-15 Midwest regional ranking Sept. 28, the Bradley women's cross country team received a last-minute invitation to compete in the Notre Dame Cross Country Invitational Oct. 2.

Of the meet's 22 teams, 10 were ranked in the top-30 U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association NCAA Division I poll, while 10 more earned spots in their respective regional polls. The Braves finished in 19th place with 504 points, one spot and 10 points behind Missouri Valley Conference foe Illinois State.

Three of Bradley's five runners set 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.

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