MUNCIE, Ind. - - The Ball State cross country team returns to action Saturday, when it travels up I-69 for the IPFW Invitational which will be run at 1 p.m. at Hefner Fields in Fort Wayne, Ind.

   Joining the Cardinals for the 5K race will be host IPFW, IUPUI and Oakland.

   Ball State opened the 2012 season with a fourth-place showing at the Mel Brodt Invitational hosted by Bowling Green. In a hotly contested race, the second, third and fourth-place teams were separated by just three points.

   As a team, the Cardinals' top five runners posted the second-best average time at 19:38.52 but finished fourth overall based on total finishing position.

   Heading into the second meet of the season, senior MaryKate Mellen (Michigan City, Ind./Michigan City)is BSU's top runner, having pace the Cardinals in the last seven meets dating back to last season. She opened the with a ninth-place clocking of 19:05.60 at the Mel Brodt Invitational last weekend.

   Freshman Katelyn DeVries (Valparaiso, Ind./Valparaiso) opened her collegiate career with a strong showing last weekend, turning in BSU's second-best time in her collegiate debut with a 12th-place effort of 19:18.50.

   Overall, BSU's tip five runners last weekend were separated by just over one minute, 1:00.40.