Ball State University Athletics
Cross Country Opens Season With The BSU Invitational
August 28, 2009 | Track & Field
When the Ball State women's cross country team takes to the course for its first meet of the 2009 season at the Muncie Elks Country Club, it will be doing something it has not done since the 1996 Mid-American Conference Championships; competing in Muncie, Indiana.
"Hosting a home meet for the first time since the 1996 MAC Championships is huge for our program," said third-year head coach Randy Heisler. "Being able to run at home gives us something we have not had in years, a presence in the Muncie community. Hopefully, we will be able to grow this across the whole program, cross country and track & field."
Running a home meet in Muncie is also something the team itself, which features five returning letterwinners from last year's squad that finished 11th at the MAC Championships, is highly looking forward to according to second-year distance coach Claudia Borlee.
"Our team is really excited for the opportunity to run in front of our fans in the Ball State and Muncie community," said Borlee. "Our girls are also thrilled to have a place where they can practice and call home."
Having the terrain of the Muncie Elks Country Club to train for the upcoming season will also be a benefit for the program as it looks to rebound from an injury-riddled 2008 season.
"The Elks Country Club gives us an environment that is conducive to cross country running," added Borlee. "We are very grateful to the Elks Country Club and its staff for allowing us access to such a wonderful practice facility."
Another key component in BSU's journey back to the top of the MAC rankings is the return of redshirt junior Ali Bishel who missed last season's cross country campaign due to an injury suffered during the previous track season. Bishel finished second at the 2007 MAC Cross Country Championships, while placing 53rd out of 253 competitors at the 2007 NCAA Championships.
"Having a runner like Ali back in the lineup changes the whole concept of your team and how your team can finish," said Heisler. "Ali is the ace in the hole, who can rally the team when some of our other runners are having a bad day."
"The difference of having a runner like Ali back in the lineup is going to be like going from night to day," added Borlee. "Ali's physical ability brings a boost to our team. Having her on the course brings out more confidence in her teammates and pushes them to try harder to move up and chase her."
In addition to Bishel missing the 2008 campaign, a small roster that was decimated by injuries limited what the Cardinals were able to accomplish last year, as BSU was only able to field four runners in some meets. This season, however, the Ball State roster is comprised of 15 runners all of which are vying for one of the top seven spots which will make up the travel squad.
"Having a larger roster this season is going to change everything," said Borlee. "The team knows only a limited number of runners will be traveling, so this is going to push them to do their best. There will be a lot more competition for spots this season. We have several new faces coming in who are not sitting back and letting the upperclassman take charge. They are coming in ready to race and earn a spot on the travel squad."
Two newcomers who look poised to make the travel squad are academic senior Megan Burkett, who is running on a cross country team for the first time, and freshman MaryKate Mellen who was a four-year letterwinner and two-time third team all-state selection in cross country at Michigan City High School.
"Megan and MaryKate really dedicated themselves this summer, which has already shown up in practice and made a big difference in the team," said Borlee. "Megan came in after having a phenomenal summer of training and could be right up there with Ali. MaryKate also put in a solid training summer and is looking to be right there in the top five."
Seniors Sarah Kehe and Lisa Arrowsmith also look strong heading in to the first meet of the season. Kehe, who is a three-sport athlete at Ball State (cross country, swimming and track & field), was BSU's second-fastest runner at the MAC Championships last season, while Arrowsmith was the team's third-fastest competitor.
"I look for Sarah and Lisa to be right there in the top five," said Borlee. "Both are very solid, strong girls whose bodies can take a lot because of their experiences. Sarah is pretty resilient, bouncing between three sports at Ball State, and has a new attitude coming in this fall knowing it is her last season of cross country. Lisa, who is coming off an injury from track & field season, has really built her base over the summer and is looking pretty strong."
Another returner looking to be in the mix is junior Amanda Hon, while seniors Brittany Ade and Kelsey Nielsen are recovering from injuries and will be redshirting this season. Three Ball State track & field student-athletes, Megan Bevans, Brandi Robinson and Christine Talhelm, will look to improve their long event training this fall by working with the cross country team, while sophomore Kayla Eiler and true freshmen Allison Blanck, Andrea Korzan and Emilee Zets are in their first season with the program.
"We have a lot of runners who can make an impact on the squad this season," said Borlee. "Everyone's goal will be to earn a spot on the travel squad. With everyone working hard, there will be a lot of healthy team competition, which will ultimately help us as the season progresses."
With the 2009 cross country season ready to begin, the Cardinals look to repeat the team's accomplishments from the 2003 season when the program won its only MAC Championship. After opening the season Aug. 31, the team will compete in a pair of regional meets before getting a look at the 2009 MAC Championship course when it competes in the Ohio University Invitational Sept. 26.
From there, the Cardinals will head to the Notre Dame Invitational (Oct. 2) where it will compete against some of the top programs from around the country. In its final tune-up to the league championships, Ball State will travel to Indiana State University for the NCAA Pre-Nationals which is run on the same course as the NCAA Championships (Nov. 23). Ball State's biggest meet of the season will be Oct. 31, when the 2009 MAC Cross Country Championships take place in Athens, Ohio.
"In cross country, every meet is preparing you for the conference championship," said Heisler. "Every weekend your team competes, you want to do as well as you can, but it is a progress to get the team as prepared as possible for the MAC Championships. Claudia has done a great job of keeping that in mind and preparing the team accordingly. I look for our team to be up to the challenge."
Players Mentioned
