Women Win Team Title, Malebana Crowned Men’s Champion at Bradley Pink Classic

Dais Malebana covered the 8K course in 23:41.1 to capture the individual title in the men’s red race while the Husker women were crowned team champions of the red race at the Bradley Pink Classic on Friday afternoon at Newman Golf Course in Peoria, Ill.
 
The Nebraska women totaled 122 points to win the team title, edging runner-up Iowa’s score of 136 points. The Husker men finished fifth in the team standings out of 31 teams with 160 points. Friday’s race was the fifth overall appearance for the Husker program at the Bradley Pink Classic.
 
Malebana’s performance is the fastest by a Husker at the Bradley Pink Classic on the men’s side, besting Jacob Olson’s time of 24:28.4 in 2015. Erika Freyhof ran a 20:41.6 to place third and surpass the previous best of 21:18.9 for the Husker women set by Bonnie Smith in 2017.
 
Grace Pagone and Hannah Godwin also finished in the top-20 for the Big Red, with Pagone placing 12th (21:18.7) and Godwin clocking a 21:30.0 to finish 18th. Brynna McQuillen was the next Husker to cross the finish line with a time of 21:55.3 to place 41st. Jacquelyn Abanses rounded out the scoring for Nebraska with a 48th-place finish and time of 21:58.9.
 
“The women ran really well today,” said head coach Matt Wackerly. “We beat three teams that are ranked ahead of us in the region rankings, and I was so proud of their effort this afternoon.”
 
Jade Hallgrimson led a group of 11 Huskers in the women’s white race with a 10th-place finish and time of 23:10.7. Abby Volkmer ran a 23:31.2 to place 18th, narrowly edging Audrey Freyhof in 19th-place with a time of 23:31.6.
 
Following Malebana in the men’s race, Ryan Martins finished 13th, covering the 8K course in 24:25.9. Mark Freyhof clocked a 24:47.8 and finished 27th. Bailey Timmons posted a time of 25:01.2 to place 51st while Ryan Eastman capped the scoring for the Big Red with a time of 25:14.5 and a 71st-place finish.
 
“The men had their best race of the season,” added Wackerly. “We aren’t where we want to be yet, but we continue to improve as the season progresses. Dais ran a special race today, and he won against a high-quality field of runners.”
 
Sadio Fenner posted the fastest time for the Huskers in the men’s white race with a time of 26:11.0 to place 20th.
 
Nebraska is off next weekend and returns to action at the Big Ten Championships on Friday, Oct. 29 in State College, Pa.
 
Men’s Lineup (8K)
Red Race
1. Dais Malebana – 23:41.1
13. Ryan Martins – 24:25.9
27. Mark Freyhof – 24:47.8
51. Bailey Timmons – 25:01.2
71. Ryan Eastman – 25:14.5
88. Jerry Jorgenson – 25:18.9
117. Jack Ehlert – 25:31.8
145. Adam Christopher – 25:40.6
196. Zach Van Brocklin – 26:20.8
 
White Race
20. Sadio Fenner – 26:11.0
32. Jack Slagle – 26:26.7
98. Trevor Acton – 27:52.1
104. Erik Snell – 28:01.9
 
Women’s Lineup (6K)
Red Race
3. Erika Freyhof – 20:41.6
12. Grace Pagone – 21:18.7
18. Hannah Godwin – 21:30.0
41. Brynna McQuillen – 21:55.3
48. Jacquelyn Abanses – 21:58.9
66. Taya Skelton – 22:15.1
138. Cami Merickel – 22:52.2
139. Lindsey Blehm – 22:52.3
180. Elizabeth Robertson – 23:13.2
 
White Race
10. Jade Hallgrimson – 23:10.7
18. Abby Volkmer – 23:31.2
19. Audrey Freyhof – 23:31.6
26. Maddie Portwine – 23:43.2
39. Emma Ralston – 23:57.5
46. Maret Elgren – 24:02.5
51. McKenna Lovehaug – 24:07.1
71. Margaret Pollard – 24:28.3
72. Kaitlynn Johnson – 24:30.1
74. Katherine Berube – 24:31.8
81. Marissa Kraus – 24:40.4