PEORIA, Ill. - The Missouri Baptist University men's and women's cross country teams competed in the 22nd annual Bradley Pink Classic at Newman Golf Course, facing a competitive field of runners in chilly conditions.

The Spartans put together strong performances, with the men finishing eighth overall and the women claiming 11th place against fields featuring several nationally ranked programs.

The Missouri Baptist men kicked off the action, tackling the 8K course in a field of 263 runners.

Senior Grant Patten led the way for the Spartans, crossing the finish line in 25:28.4 to secure 33rd place overall. Freshman Wade Patten followed closely behind, finishing 36th with a time of 25:33.6. Wade continued his impressive freshman campaign, shaving more than 20 seconds off his previous 8K time from the Spartans' last meet.

Junior Brandon Etheridge also delivered a strong performance, finishing 52nd overall with a time of 25:53.1. Fellow junior Clayton Schneider rounded out the notable Spartan finishers, crossing in 26:07.3 to claim 65th place.

The men ultimately secured eighth place out of 25 eligible teams, an encouraging result against a deep and competitive field as the postseason approaches.

The Missouri Baptist women followed shortly after, competing in the 6K race featuring 218 runners.

Junior Julia Whorton continued her impressive season, leading the Spartans with a 29th-place finish in 22:34.4. Freshman Kailey Lawrence made a strong debut in her first collegiate 6K, crossing the finish line in 23:13.7 to secure 51st place overall.

Sophomore Alyssa Collins also contributed a solid performance, finishing 81st with a time of 23:41.3. Fellow sophomore Isabella Aimonette cracked the top 100, placing 98th overall to help round out the Spartans' notable performances.

The women finished 11th out of 21 teams in a competitive field that featured multiple nationally ranked opponents, gaining valuable experience heading into the final stretch of the season.

The Spartans return to action next Saturday for their final regular-season meet at the NAIA Great Lakes Challenge, looking to build on their performances before postseason competition begins.