Kansas City Heads To Illinois For The Bradley Pink Classic

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Kansas City Men's and Women's Cross Country returns to action on Friday, Oct. 16, traveling to Peoria, Ill., for the Bradley Pink Classic at Newman Golf Course. The meet provides the Roos with another opportunity to compete against a competitive field as the teams prepare for the upcoming Summit League Championships.

Hosted by Bradley University, the annual meet features programs from across multiple collegiate divisions. The event includes separate men's and women's races, with Division I competitors participating in the Red Invitational races.

The men's 8K Red Race is scheduled for 1:30 p.m., followed by the women's 6K Red Race at 2:15 p.m.

Roos to Watch

Kansas City will look to build on its recent performances as the regular season approaches its conclusion.

On the men's side, junior M.J. Foster enters Friday's competition following a strong performance at the Arkansas Hot Chile Festival on Oct. 3. The Liberal, Kan., native led Kansas City with a 25th-place finish in the men's 8K, clocking a time of 24:57.0. Foster's performance marked a significant improvement over his previous season-best 8K time of 25:53.4, recorded at the 2025 Summit League Championships.

Sophomore Blake Theel also delivered a strong performance in Arkansas, finishing 45th overall with a time of 25:29.8, giving Kansas City two runners inside the top 50.

For the women's team, senior Harper Barlow provides experience and leadership. Barlow recorded a time of 18:55.3 at the Arkansas Hot Chile Festival and will look to carry that momentum into Friday's competition.

About the Bradley Pink Classic

The Bradley Pink Classic is an annual cross country event hosted by Bradley University at Newman Golf Course in Peoria.

The 2026 edition features five races, including men's 8K and women's 6K competitions. The Red Invitational races bring together Division I programs, providing Kansas City with an opportunity to measure itself against regional competition.

With the Summit League Championships approaching, Friday's meet offers the Roos another opportunity to evaluate their progress, build race experience and work toward strong team performances.

Looking Ahead

Following the Bradley Pink Classic, Kansas City will turn its attention to the Summit League Cross Country Championships on Oct. 31.

The conference meet will mark the next major test for the Roos as they look to finish the season with strong individual and team performances.