PEORIA, ILL.— An incomplete Central College women's cross country team finished fourth in a stacked field at the Bradley "Pink" Classic Friday afternoon.
           
Central finished with 107 points in the White Race at Bradley. Grand Valley State University (Mich.) secured the team title with 41 points.
           
"I was really proud of how our women competed today," coach Joe Dunham said. "I saw some really good grit from a lot of them."
           
Dutch freshman Maddy Stevens (Grimes, Dallas Center-Grimes HS) was second overall in a time of 21 minutes, 55.47 seconds on the 6,000-meter course. Kyra Cordes (Marion) crossed the line in 22:21.89 in seventh to put a second Dutch runner in the top 10.
           
The other three scorers for Central were Teah Miller (junior, Iowa Falls, Iowa Falls-Alden HS) in 23rd (22:50.40), Emma McCoy (freshman, Adel, Van Meter HS) in 50th (23:31.51) and Addie Doughan (freshman, Clear Lake) in 56th (23:40.57)
           
Also in Central's varsity seven were Reeve Ristau (Denver) in 60th (23:49.17) and Breckyn Petersen (freshman, Glenwood) in 61st (23:50.38).
           
Central was without senior leader Peyton Steffen (Marion) for the third time this season.
           
"We still haven't been able to run a race at full strength," Dunham said. "Hopefully, we will have Peyton back for conference in two weeks."
           
The Dutch are headed to Dubuque for this year's American Rivers Conference Championships on Saturday, November 1.
           
"The next couple of weeks will be important as we prepare for the conference championships," Dunham said.