NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Brooke Mullins dusted the competition to become the Missouri Valley Conference women's cross country individual champion and the Drake men's cross country team utilized a balanced effort to take home the MVC team title at Percy Warner Park on Friday (Oct. 27).
 
"Brooke's win today was a testament to the mentality and consistency that has been the theme of her season all fall," associate head coach Anna Bearss said. "No one deserved to win more than Brooke. Seeing her finish first felt right. She's ready for Stillwater in two weeks."
 
Even with a DNF from Isaac Basten, the Bulldog men's squad dominated for a comfortable team victory with 41 points with runner-up Bradley 30 points back. Drake men's cross country won its 13^th MVC team title in program history.

"We are extremely excited to win," head coach Jay Koloseus said. "I am so proud of the men that stepped up when our All-American Isaac Basten dropped out. We are excited to take this momentum into Regionals."

Brooke Mullins ran a 6k personal best and course record of 20:13.8 to be the first Drake women's cross country runner since Ashley Anklam in 2006 to win at the MVC Championships. Mullins cemented herself as the sixth-ever women's cross country individual champion from Drake.
 
Emilie Meyer (21:49.5) in 18^th and Carmen Krawczynski Gonzalez (21:51.6) in 20^th both placed in the Top-20.
 
"We had a strong pack who gave what they had to give today," Bearss said. "We took risks and ran with confidence, so even though we fell short of some goals we set for the day, we can walk away proud and hungry going forward. We still have more left in the tank to give at Regionals. It's been an honor to watch these women grow and step up as competitors this fall."
 
Anastasia Kirillov turned in a personal record of 22:10.8 while Amanda Radava (22:54.7) rounded out the scoring. Barbara Vrhovac (23:21.9), Meghan Coulter (24:27.3) and Erin MacFarlane (24:42.7) were the remaining Drake competitors.
 
Drake women's cross country finished fourth in the team standings with a score of 123.
 
In the men's 8k, Jake Turner (24:37.1) and Enzo Marie (24:38.9) crossed the finish line in third and fourth respectively.
 
Cameron Bell (eighth place, 24:55.1) and Aziz Jdai (ninth place, 24:56.4) were not far behind.
 
Brogan Giffin cracked the Top-20 with a time of 25:16.6 to complete the scoring. Juan Trasobares (25:33.2) finished in 25^th while Connor Visnic (25:46.0) was 34^th.
 
Basten, the reigning MVC men's cross country individual champion dropped out of the race and did not finish.

The NCAA Midwest Regional will take place in Stillwater, Okla., on Friday, Nov. 10.