IRVINE, Calif. – Our latest Newport Rib Company Eagle of the Week has evolved into a difference-maker on the Concordia University Irvine women's cross country team.
 
CUI senior Bailey Wade recently placed third out of more than 140 runners at the Coyote Challenge to help the Green and Gold come in second place out of 12 schools. Her individual third place finish was her highest as a NCAA DII student-athlete and her time of 17 minutes and 58 seconds on the 5K course was also a personal record.
 
Wade's path to Concordia is a bit unorthodox. Amazingly, the recently named PacWest Runner of the Week did not run cross country at El Modena High School and she ran in just a handful of meets as a senior on the track and field team.
 
"I got recruited by Coach (Keegan Bloomfield) after running in just a few meets," said Wade. "I visited Concordia and I also had an opportunity to play volleyball for a school in Boston.  I just had a gut feeling that I needed to be close to home and my family, especially with my grandparents nearby and my younger brother being only four years younger than me."
 
Her brother plays high school water polo and the two siblings come from a very athletic family in nearby Orange, Calif.
 
"I'm very competitive," said Wade. "Really my entire family is very competitive. Even playing games like football or basketball at home and even board games. Two of my cousins have played basketball in the PacWest Conference and another cousin plays basketball at Cal Poly."

Wade is a kinesiology major who has had to work hard to improve both as a student and as a runner. She has made tremendous strides as a student-athlete – both in and out of the classroom.
 
"It took me awhile to adjust to college," admitted Wade, "But I like proving people wrong. Going to a four-year school, that was one of my goals."
 
Wade is now one of a handful of seniors on the women's squad who are setting the pace for the next group of Eagles.
 
"We've all gotten faster but we've broken big barriers," added Wade. "(The seniors) were part of a huge recruiting class and we are still hungry to do better."
 
Out of the top 12 female CUI finishers this past weekend at the Coyote Challenge, all were either seniors or freshmen and all of them placed in the top 45. In fact, CUI newcomer Jori Paradis was named PacWest Freshman of the Week on the women's side. CUI freshman Jose Munguia was also recognized on the men's side by the conference in the same way.
 
"I always say never be satisfied," continued Wade. "You can be happy but I still have so many other goals and we are all focused on what's ahead with conference and the regionals."
 
The Eagles will toe the line again this Saturday, Sept. 28 when they compete in the Capital Cross Challenge hosted by Sacramento State.

For the full CUI cross country schedule, click here.