Saluki Men's Cross Country Wins Bradley Open

Friday, September 12

Peoria, Ill.

5:30 PM

Southern Illinois University

Bradley Open

09/12/2003 | 12:00:00 | Cross Country

Sept. 12, 2003

By Josh Magill
www.SIUSalukis.com

PEORIA, Ill. - The Southern Illinois University men's cross country team served notice Friday that it plans to be a competitor this season as the Salukis took the title at the 18th annual Bradley Open. More than 350 runners participated in the event that featured 15 NCAA Division I programs.

"It's a pretty good opener for us," said SIU head coach Matt McClelland. "We have a good idea now of where we are."

Junior Eli Baker, a Marion, Ill. native, led the Saluki assault on the Detweiller Park course placing second (24:49.80) overall, followed in third place (24:54.16) by Northern Irish sophomore Joe Byrne. Baker's time was a career best and helped SIU gain its first title since winning the Saluki Fast Start Open during the 2001 season.

Lone senior Doron Giat finished eighth, freshman Diarmuid Grant placed 21st and junior Tony LaChiana grabbed 23rd to help SIU (57) edge Northern Iowa (60) by three points. Ironically, Northern Iowa's Velibot Redojevic claimed the top individual honor of the 8-kilometer run.

"We are pleased with the start, but not satisfied yet," says McClelland. "(There's) still a long season until the championship, but we're looking forward to it."

The Salukis will return to action Sept. 19 when they travel to the Alabama Invite in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Results can be found on the teams official website at www.SIUSalukis.com.

Mens Cross Country              Detweiller Park  Peoria, IL  September 12, 2003
  1. SIU - Carbondale            2    3    8   21   23  (48) (62) =    57  2. Univ of Northern Iowa            1   10   15   16   18  (25) (42) =    60  3. Eastern Illinois Univ            6    7   14   20   22  (40) (64) =    69  4. Marquette University            4    9   11   29   33  (61) (66) =    86  5. Illinois State Univ           12   24   28   32   34  (43) (59) =   130  6. Indiana State           17   27   36   37   44  (52) (53) =   161  7. University of Missouri           13   30   39   50   51            =   183  8. Evansville            5   26   46   69   75  (79) (85) =   221  9. IUPUI           35   47   55   56   67  (68) (72) =   260 10. Univ of Illinois-Chicago           38   45   63   65   71  (80) (86) =   282 11. Wisconsin-Green Bay           31   58   60   70   73  (74) (76) =   292 12. Saint Louis Univ           19   41   77   81   82  (87) (88) =   300 13. Bradley University           49   54   57   78   83  (84) (89) =   321

BRADLEY UNIVERSITY                       Mens - Cross Country Detweiller Park  Peoria, IL   Individual Results   September 12, 2003PLACE NAME                            SCHOOL                    MEN===== =============================== ========================= ========    1 Velibor Radojevic         Univ of Northern Iowa   24:47.99    2 Eli Baker                       SIU - Carbondale              24:49.80    3 Joe Byrne                     SIU - Carbondale            24:54.16    4 Jeremy Williams           Marquette University        25:03.75    5 Nick Waninger             Evansville                  25:06.91    6 Jeff Jonaitis             Eastern Illinois Univ       25:13.68    7 Dave Carlson              Eastern Illinois Univ       25:14.85    8 Doron Giat                       SIU - Carbondale            25:17.64    9 David Henderson           Marquette University        25:23.27   21 Diarmuid Grant       SIU - Carbondale            25:48.61   25 Tony LaChiana                SIU - Carbondale             25:53.51   48 Hunter Sheldon       SIU - Carbondale            26:35.06   62 Kyle Monroe                     SIU - Carbondale            27:01.25