Ball State University Athletics
Ball State University
Notre Dame Invitational
Cross Country Performs Well At Notre Dame
October 03, 2008 | Cross Country
NOTRE DAME, Ind. - - With just four runners in the lineup, the Ball State cross country team turned in a solid showing at the Notre Dame Invitational Friday afternoon, as all four Cardinals finished in the top 80 among the field of 198 runners.
Senior Vanessa Gilbert (Kettering, Ohio/Fairmont H.S.) continued her solid 2008 campaign, posting a season-best time of 18.31 to finish 37th overall.
Junior Lisa Arrowsmith (Lavonia, Mich./Stevenson H.S.) was BSU's second-fastest runners, finishing eleven seconds behind Gilbert and clocking in with her own season-fast time of 18:42 to place 53rd.
The Notre Dame Invitational features a gold and blue division for both men and women. The Cardinals, who did not earn a team score with only four runners in the field, competed in the gold division, which was won by Michigan State who finished with 76 points. Grand Valley State (93), Northwestern (136), Calvin College (155), and Illinois State (165) finished the top five.
Junior Ayla Mitchell finished first overall claiming a time of 17:28 while representing 11th-place Wisconsin-Oshkosh.
Also running for the Cardinals were juniors Sarah Kehe (Westville, Ind. /Chesterton H.S.) who placed 75th with a time of 18:58 and Brittany Ade (Fort Wayne, Ind. /Bishop Dwenger H.S.) who clocked in at 19:01 to finish 80th. Both times were season-best for the juniors.
The Ball State cross country team will continue its season on Oct. 18 when they participate in the Pre-Nationals in Terre Haute, Ind.
MEET PREVIEW
MUNCIE, Ind. - - The Ball State cross country team will continue its 2008 campaign Friday, when it travels to Notre Dame, Ind. for the Notre Dame Invitational. BSU is one of 24 teams slated to compete in the Women's Gold Division 5K Run which begins at 2 p.m.
Alongside the Cardinals, Anderson, Butler, Calvin, Central Michigan, Eastern Illinois, Grand Valley State, Hillsdale, Illinois-Chicago, Illinois State, Indiana State, IPFW, IUPUI, Michigan State, Northwestern, Oakland, Ohio, Wisconsin-Green Bay, Wisconsin-Oshkosh, Valparaiso, Western Michigan, Xavier and Youngstown State will compete in the Women's Gold Division 5K Run.
Last season, the Cardinals finished fifth among the 27 teams in the Women's Gold Division race. Senior Vanessa Gilbert (Kettering, Ohio/Fairmont H.S.) is BSU's top active returner from last year's event, as she looks to improve upon her 19th-place finish and time of 18:26 in this year's race.
Sarah Kehe (Westville, Ind. /Chesterton H.S.), Kelsey Nielsen (Bremen, Ind. /Bremen H.S. ) and Brittany Ade (Fort Wayne, Ind. /Bishop Dwenger H.S.) also scored for the Cardinals in last year's Notre Dame Invitational, finishing 49th (18:49), 50th (18:49) and 51st (18:51), respectively.
Gilbert has been BSU's top finisher in each of the first two meets this season, posting times of 19:13.37 (Great American Legends 5K) and 18:44 (Indiana Intercollegiates Women's 5K) to help lead the Cardinals to second and third-place team finishes, respectively.
Lisa Arrowsmith (Lavonia, Mich./Stevenson H.S.) has been BSU's second-best runner in the first two meets of 2008, clocking in at 19:19.17 (8th) and 19:07 (15th), respectively. Arrowsmith clocked in at 18:55 at last season's Notre Dame Invitational, finishing just behind of BSU's top five runners.
