Ball State University Athletics
Cross Country Places Two On Academic All-MAC Squad
December 03, 2009 | Cross Country
MUNCIE, Ind. - - Ball State redshirt junior Ali Bishel (Chesterton, Ind./Chesterton H.S.) and senior Sarah Kehe (Westville, Ind./Chesterton H.S.) have been named to the 2009 Academic All-Mid-American Conference Cross Country team as announced by the league office.
A total of 15 student-athletes were named to the Academic All-MAC squad which was voted on by the faculty athletics representatives at each MAC institution.
"I am very proud of both Ali and Sarah for earning this honor," said Ball State head coach Randy Heisler. "They are high-character individuals who exemplify what it means to be a student-athlete."
Bishel, a landscape architecture major with a 3.67 grade-point average, was BSU's top runner throughout the season and ended the year with a 67th-place effort at the NCAA Cross Country Championships with a career-fast 6K time of 21:04.7. Prior to the NCAA race, Bishel was named First Team All-MAC after placing fourth at the 2009 MAC Cross Country Championships with a clocking of 22:33.0.
A six-time Academic All-MAC selection over her cross country and track & field career, Bishel was the Cardinals' top runner in the four meets she competed in with the team this season. Bishel started the year by winning the Indiana Intercollegiate with a season-fast 5K clocking of 17.28.
Kehe, an exercise science major with a 3.89 GPA, was BSU's second-best runner in four of five meets this season, while leading the Cardinals at the Ohio University Invitational. Kehe's fastest 5K time came at the Indiana Intercollegiates where she posted a time of 19:07 to place 25th. Her fastest 6K clocking came at the Sam Bell Invitational when she timed out at 23:24.42 to place 23rd.
A three-time Academic All-MAC selection over her cross country and track & field career, Kehe is also a member of the Ball State women's swimming & diving program.
To earn Academic All-MAC status, a student-athlete must excel in athletics and academics. To qualify, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.20 cumulative grade-point average and participate in at least 50 percent of the contests for their particular sport. First-year students and junior college transfers in their first year of residence are not eligible for the award.
