ST. LOUIS – The Bradley men and women have been selected as the 2022 favorites by a vote of Missouri Valley Conference cross country coaches in their annual preseason poll. The Bradley men will compete for their first title since 2019 while the women will try for their first crown since 2018. The MVC Cross Country Championship will be aired on The Valley on ESPN on Friday, October 28.

MEN'S PRESEASON POLL

The Bradley men totaled 112 points and six first place votes during the voting. The Braves return an excellent group of returners, plus three excellent signees with good cross country experience.  Bradley returns four runners who placed among the Top 15 at the 2021 MVC Championship meet, earning All-Valley honors. Alec Danner, Charlie Parrish, Matt Aho and George Watson all look to headline the Braves roster this fall. 

Drake was picked second in the coaches’ poll earning 110 points and four first place votes. The Bulldogs claimed the MVC title in 2021, capturing the program’s first men’s championship since 1999. Isaac Basten, Aziz Jday and Enzo Marie all finished among the top six at last year’s championship and all three return this fall. Basten won the individual title a year ago, finishing the course in 24:13.0.

Illinois State came in third place with a total of 100 points and one first place vote. The Redbirds have a strong group returning this season and are looking to capitalize on the depth of the roster. Charlie Wetzel and Matt Blanco each return to the Redbirds roster after finishing among the Top 15 at the 2021 MVC Championship. The team also welcomes five newcomers that could make an impact.

Southern Illinois notched the No. 4 spot in the poll, tallying 80 points. The Salukis welcome back a pair of Top 15 finishers from last year’s championship meet. Ethan Senti placed 10th a year ago, while Dawson Smith finished 11th to earn All-MVC honors.  Southern Illinois will also welcome a pair of newcomers this fall that could make an immediate impact. 

Belmont came in fifth place with 74 points. The Bruins placed second at last year’s OVC Cross Country Championship but lose their top two runners to graduation. Ethan Hammer and Kevin Vanderkolk are the top two returners for the Bruins as Vanderkolk placed fourth at the OVC meet and Hammer finished seventh. 

Securing sixth place and 61 points is Indiana State. The Sycamores return six of their top eight runners this fall and will look to improve upon last year’s sixth place finish at the MVC championship. Cael Light was the top Indiana State finisher a year ago, placing 21st overall as a freshman. 

UIC secured seventh place and 57 points in their first year as a league member. The Flames finished in the top four of the Horizon League last season and hope for a higher level of success in year one as a member of The Valley.   UIC returns four key runners this fall and has three newcomers that could impact things at the championship meet. 

UNI was chosen eighth with 52 points. The Panthers have a fairly young team but with the return of all but one from last year’s roster, UNI is working towards a much-improved conference performance. Sam McCool is the top returning runner from last season, and he will be joined by four newcomers that hope to make an impact. 

In its first year in The Valley, Murray State checks in at ninth with 42 points.  The Racers took a hit, losing two top contributors from last season’s team that placed sixth at the OVC Championship. MSU is hopeful that newcomers Daniel Schalk and Joey Santoro can step right in and fill those gaps at the top. 

Valparaiso was selected 10th with 25 points and Evansville rounds out the men’s poll in 11th with 13 points.

The Beacons have a balance of strong veterans looking to make a big jump at the conference level as well as some new incoming freshman that have been making huge strides this summer to try and make the roster’s top seven.

Evansville returns six key runners this fall and welcomes one new addition to the roster.  The Aces will look to replace their top finisher from 2021 as Peter Epur departs. 


WOMEN'S PRESEASON POLL

After placing second at the MVC Women’s Cross Country Championship for the third-straight year and returning its top eight runners, Bradley was picked to win with 11 first-place votes and 142 points. The trio of Nicola Jansen, Sophia McDonnell and Wilma Nielsen all return after placing among the Top 15 at the 2021 championship meet. The Braves will also welcome four newcomers to the roster to add to their already impressive depth. 

Illinois State earned 126 points to finish second in the poll. The Redbirds six of their top seven runners and will look to build off last year’s third place finish. Ailey Mitchell (8th), Caroline Meyers (13th) and Rachel Hickey (14th) all placed among the Top 15 at last year’s MVC Championship meet, earning All-MVC accolades. 

Belmont was tabbed as third place in its first year as a league member, receiving 111 points. The Bruins won the OVC Championship last fall and will look to make an immediate impact in The Valley this season.  Belmont returns its full squad from last season, including four runners that placed among the Top 10 at the OVC Championship.  Kaitlyn Vanderkolk, Katie Flaherty, Grace Litzinger and Brooke Stromsland will once again look to set the pace for the Bruins’ roster.

Picked as fourth place is Drake with a total of 105 points and the final first place vote. The Bulldogs finished fifth at The Valley championship last fall and will look to move up the standings this fall.  Drake returns its full roster this fall and will lean on Brooke Mullins to lead the pack after she placed 11th a year ago. 

Southern Illinois came in fifth place earning 95 points. The Salukis will look to replace Kayla Schiera’s fifth place finish at the 2021 MVC Championship.  Southern welcomes three key newcomers this fall as the trio will look to solidify the Salukis’ arsenal. Stephanie Anthonies is the top returner from last year’s group as the sophomore placed 16th at the championship a year ago.  

UNI is picked sixth with a total of 72 points as they welcome back nearly its entire roster. The Panthers had a strong indoor and outdoor track season and will look to ride that momentum onto the course this fall.  UNI returns five of its top six runners from 2021 and will add a pair of key newcomers that will look to enter the mix. 

Indiana State notched the No. 7 spot in the coaches’ poll, tallying 69 points. The Sycamores will rely a little more on their newcomers this fall as the roster lost some senior leadership, including Jocelyn Quiles who was seventh at the MVC meet. Indiana State will see a total of five newcomers on the roster this fall. 

Missouri State was chosen eighth with 68 points.  The Bears will look to challenge for a top half finish at the 2022 MVC Championship this fall. MSU will look to replace Sierra Williams who placed 15th at the 2021 MVC meet, earning honorable mention All-MVC honors. The Bears will have four key returnees this fall, including Edna Dar, Shelby Palmer, Alex Hamre and Mary Margaret Harris. 

UIC placed ninth in the poll with 61 points while Murray State earned 10th having 48 points, Valparaiso 11th with 22 points and Evansville rounded out the poll in 12th (17 points).

UIC will have lots of experience on the team and will be anchored by their top-returners Teresa Mejia, Cailyn Persinger, Jenna Boyle and Daniela Martinez.  The Flames should have a strong top seven with the newcomers making an immediate impact to help ensure a top half finish in year one as a Valley member.

Murray State enters year one in the MVC after placing fourth at the OVC Championship in 2021. The Racers will look to replace Dani Wright after she placed among the Top 10 at the OVC meet last fall. MSU returns a trio of runners that will look to anchor the lineup as Ruth Kimutai, Ainsley Smith and Amirr Evans will take aim at The Valley competition.  

Valparaiso lost five runners from last year’s lineup but will look to make some strides this fall. Grace Aurand is coming off a personal-best in the 5K at the 2022 MVC Outdoor Track & Field Championship. 

Evansville will look to replace two-time first team All-MVC selection Anna Lowry this fall. The Aces lost three of their top five runners from last year’s roster. 



Indiana State hosts the 2022 MVC Cross Country Championship, Oct. 28 in Terre Haute, Indiana. Check out the Valley's championship central page HERE – for more championship details.