Split up in California, Bradley track and field kept their winning ways on the West Coast, requiring yet another update to the school record books. Seniors Charlie Parrish and George Watson delivered performances that surpassed records along with freshman Leah Thames who also continued Bradley’s terrific season.
Watson’s school record came in the 10000 meters with a time of 28:49.43 and he was the first Bradley Brave to finish under 29 minutes in this event – an event which is not his specialty.
“I was elated; when I finished I was genuinely in shock and genuinely emotional,” Watson said. “I haven’t felt that way after a race in probably years, it was a real surprise. I knew I could do it but I kind of wasn’t all that confident I would do it.”
Looking back on last year’s race, the senior noticed the difference between the two seasons.
“Last year I ran a 10k at about the same time in the year at NC State and it was rubbish,” Watson added. “It was awful, I had to drop out and it just showed that something was wrong at the time and it’s great that we’ve been able to take a step back, learn from our wrongs and then a year later basically do the same thing but it be awesome rather than appalling.”
The performances in California imitated the standard that the Braves have set during the outdoor track season as, even split up, at three meets showcased similar results.
Parrish was the first to break a school record as he broke his own record in the 3000 meter steeplechase with a time of 8:47.27.
“That puts him with some of the best steeplers in the country,” head coach Darren Gauson said.
Junior Tiana LoStracco and freshman Peyton Schieppe also put up dominant performances as LoStracco ran a 2:06.02 in the 800 meters and Schieppe ran a 16:10.05 in the 5000 meters. LoStracco’s time was her best in the event at Bradley and Schippe’s time was the fastest by a true freshman in history.
“I got out hard and just tried to stay with the pack as long as I could,” junior Tiana LoStracco said.
“[She ran a] really good 800; [It’ll] rank her in the top 20 in the country,” Gauson added.
Thames broke the second school record over the weekend with her 24.25 time in the 200 meters, continuing an impressive freshman season.
Now back in Peoria, the Braves won’t travel as far as they head to Champaign, Illinois, and Bloomington, Indiana for their next meets.
