Scots Run Season-Bests at Bradley Pink Cross Country Invitational

Monmouth, IL (10/18/2019) — Monmouth's cross country teams turned in 12 of a possible 17 season-bests Friday afternoon at the Bradley Pink Invitational held at Peoria's Newman Golf Course. The Scots' men placed fourth in the field of 11 teams on the 8K layout while the women placed sixth on the 6K circuit.

The Scots' top eight men ran season-best times while also keeping the pack tight. Griff Morrill finished well out in front of Monmouth's pack with a 25:58.6 to place 10th in the field of more than 130 runners. Riley Dulin (48th) and Tanner Heiple (50th) formed a five-second pack, running a 27:24.3 and 27:29.4, respectively. C.J. Bonifer led the secondary pack with a 28:45.4, closely followed by Gavin Conway's 29:11.0, eight seconds ahead of Carlos Miranda's finishing time of 29:19.6. Mike Bersell (29:26.2) and Jonah Cecil (29:57.8) finished the men's season-best times. Alex Urbina closed out the squad with a 31:05.3.

Monmouth's top two women were among four on the team with season-best times. Mik Moore placed 25th in 23:59.6 and Ezzie Baltierra-Chavez was 31st with a 24:17.1 to lead a six-runner pack. Julie Steer (24:52.5) and Caitlyn Allen (24:58.3) formed the middle of the group, followed by Arika Hofmann's 25:08.3 and a season-best of 25:12.5 by Kara Fisher. Kirsten Menke narrowly missed her season-fastest time, clocking a 26:18.0, only three seconds off her best fall mark. A season-best of 27:38.9 by Teagan McKenna rounded out the Scots' women.

Monmouth will next focus on the Midwest Conference Championships hosted by Knox on Nov. 2 at Oak Run.