PEORIA, Ill. – The Drake University cross country team was in a familiar location on Friday at the Bradley Pink Classic. The Bulldogs produced a pair of top 15 performers across four sections.
The men's and women's groups were split into four different races with a "White" and "Red" division on each side.
John Moellers led the Drake effort in the men's white race with a 14th place finish of 24:59.2.
Xander Kwa rounded out the top 25 in that heat with a time of 25:12.9.
Other Bulldog finishers in the men's white race included
Vaughn Larson (25:39.7),
Luke Smith (25:52.0),
Ryan Tobin (25:56.0),
Landon Bendgen (26:06.1), and
Thomas Garrett (26:40.0).
The Drake men had a higher finisher in the red race as
Daniel Rotich took 12th with a pace of 23:41.1.
Brenden Heitzig was behind Rotich with a 31st-place finish and time of 24:07.1. Hed led the balance of the Bulldog men ahead of
Juan Trasobares (24:12.7),
Lanse Larsen (24:31.9),
Titus Kiprotich (24:34.4),
Daghyn True (24:50.8), and
Jed Wilson (24:55.8).
Drake sophomore
Austra Osina highlighted the women's white race for the Bulldogs. Osina was 16th with a time of 22:21.3. Other Drake participants in that section were
Hannah Kilday (23:09.7),
Scarlett Byrnes (23:11.7), Bella Hodges (23:17.4),
Fabi Gipson (23:30.9),
Adeline Viergutz (23:37.4),
Catherine Beltrame (23:37.7),
Addie Appleby (23:54.1), and
Ellen Cook (24:14.7).
Breanna Burak was 35th as the Bulldogs' top finisher in the women's red race. Burak ran her race in 21:01.9.
Anika Mohrhauser was 62nd in the red race at 21:27.5. Other Bulldog finishers in that race included
Sophia Agan (21:35.9) and
Kayci Martensen (21:47.8).
Drake's next action will take place in Des Moines as the Bulldogs are set to host the 2026 Missouri Valley Conference Championships on Friday, Oct. 30 at Bright Grandview Golf Course.
