EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Drake cross country was in Evansville, Ind. for the 2025 Missouri Valley Conference Championships earlier today. The Bulldogs ran some of their best races of the season as the women's crew earned sixth place finish while the men took fifth as a team.
The Bulldog men highlighted championship Friday. Brenden Heitzig took runner-up honors with a time of 24:18.90 while Aidan Palmer finished strong for a mark of 24:39.01, which earned sixth. Both Heitzig and Palmer garnered First Team All-MVC recognition for their stellar results.
Freshman John Moellers, a Marshalltown native, added a top 30 finish in 25:27.81. Another rookie, Daghyn True, crossed the line in 25:41.07 to take 42nd, immediately followed by Aziz Jdai in 43rd with a time of 25:41.66.
Carter Beasley and Bowen Martin rounded out the men's side for Drake with times of 26:13.05 and 27:18.43, respectively.
"Our men executed really well today," Drake head coach Sam Read said. "Brenden and Aidan earning All-MVC honors set the tone up front, and our pack behind them had their best race of the year. Losing a one-point team battle stings, but this was one of our most complete efforts of the season and something we should be proud of."
Anastasia Kirillov took 15th to lead the Drake women with a time of 21:30.87. Kirillov's placement was good enough for All-MVC Honorable Mention status and marked her best career finish at the conference meet.
Breanna Burak, Drake's top women's runner throughout the year, finished in 21:42.96 to earn 22nd while Sophia Agan added another top 50 finish in 22:39.39. Agan's precise placement was 48th.
The remainder of the Drake women finished as follows:
Ella Brown – 23:02.41 (58th)
Anika Mohrhauser – 23:23.09 (63rd)
Amilia Condon – 23:33.62 (65th)
Hannah Kilday – 24:19.15 (74th)
"Our women showed a lot of toughness and heart today, competing for each other from start to finish, even when things weren't clicking perfectly," Read added. "Anastasia earning All-MVC Honorable Mention was a great highlight and marked her highest MVC finish in her final conference meet. Sophia and Ella also stepped up, filling key spots on the back end of our scoring."
The complete list of MVC Championship top 10 finishers and league award winners is listed below.
WOMEN
All-MVC First Team (Top 10 finishers)
1. Kaitlyn Sheppard, Bradley - 20:48.73
2. Abigail Hancock, Bradley - 20:58.95
3. Noelle Steines, Bradley - 21:06.67
4. Rhune Vanroose, Bradley - 21:07.63
5. Trixie Wraith, Bradley - 21:09.84
6. Anna Perry, Bradley - 21:11.66
7. Nora Brady, Illinois State - 21:12.22
8. Brittney Burak, Indiana State - 21:13.61
9. Nadia Potgieter, Bradley - 21:14.04
10. Ruth Kimutai, Murray State - 21:18.87
All-MVC Honorable Mention
1. Molly Robertson, Murray State - 21:20.68
2. Pauline Schedler, Illinois State - 21:22.03
3. Liz Smith, Murray State - 21:25.63
4. Peyton Smith, Indiana State - 21:28.07
5. Anastasia Kirillov, Drake - 21:30.87
SPECIALTY AWARDS
Athlete of the Year: Kaitlyn Sheppard, Bradley
Freshman of the Year: Noelle Steines, Bradley
Coach of the Year: Andrew Carlson, Bradley
Elite 18: Nora Brady, Illinois State - 4.00 GPA (Nursing)
MEN
All-MVC First Team (Top 10 finishers)
1. Jayde Rosslee, Bradley - 24:01.52
2. Brenden Heitzig, Drake - 24:18.98
3. Daniel Chavez, UIC - 24:23.78
4. Caleb Lind, Bradley - 24:27.41
5. Andrew Hammel, Belmont - 24:37.45
6. Aidan Palmer, Drake - 24:39.21
7. Michael Rebello, Bradley - 24:40.94
8. Samuel Lea, Evansville - 24:41.65
9. Julian Baker, Illinois State - 24:45.84
10. Karson Hollander, Valparaiso - 24:48.32
All-MVC Honorable Mention
1. Alex Bacci, UIC - 24:51.79
2. Drew Brill, Belmont - 24:54.07
3. Oliver Burns, Bradley - 24:54.78
4. Zach Brill, Belmont - 24:57.22
5. Theodore Cunningham, UIC - 24:58.12
SPECIALTY AWARDS
Athlete of the Year: Jayde Rosslee, Bradley
Freshman of the Year: James Cruse, Evansville
Coach of the Year: Andrew Carlson, Bradley
Elite 18: Michael Rebello, Bradley - 4.00 GPA (Nutrition & Dietetics)
Next on the docket for Drake is the NCAA Midwest Regionals in Stillwater, Oklahoma on Nov. 14.
