The Bradley women's cross country team was picked fourth in the preseason Valley coaches poll and is expected to be led by cross country and track and field all-conference performer Mary Goldkamp (Florissant, Mo./McCluer North).  The senior runner was fifth at the 2009 State Farm MVC Cross Country Championship and was the 1,500-meter champion at the MVC Outdoor Track and Field Championship in the spring. 

Sophomore Emily Gustafson (East Peoria, Ill./East Peoria) also had a strong freshman campaign and is expected to be one of BU's top runners this fall.  Gustafson was 11th at the 2009 Valley Cross Country Championship and helped Bradley to its best conference finish since 2002 with a third-place showing.

The men's cross country team is coming off its best conference finish since the 1989 season, taking fifth at last year's conference championship.  Sophomore Jon Richards (Streator, Ill./Streator) paced Bradley at the Valley Championship and was BU's second finisher at the NCAA Regional.  Senior Andrew Wieser (Chesterfield, Mo./Parkway Central) was Bradley's top finisher in three of seven events in 2009, while senior Billy Miller (Metamora, Ill./Metamore) turned in the Braves top time at the Bradley Open. 

Following Saturday's season-opening event, the Braves return to action Friday, Sept. 17 at the Illinois Intercollegiates in Normal, Ill.  Bradley heads to Chicago for the Sean Earl Loyola Invite (Oct. 2) and hosts the Bradley Classic Friday, Oct. 15 at Newman Golf Course.  The State Farm MVC Championship will be held in Augusta, Kan., on Oct. 30 at the site of this weekend's J.K. Gold Classic and the Braves will host the NCAA Midwest Regional Saturday, Nov. 13 at Newman Golf Course.