Ball State University Athletics
Ball State University
Ohio University Invitational
Cross Country Takes 4th At Weather-Shortened Ohio Invitational
September 26, 2009 | Cross Country
ATHENS, Ohio - Behind an 11th-place finish from senior Sarah Kehe (Westville, Ind./Chesterton H.S.), the Ball State cross country team took fourth place in Saturday's weather-shortened Ohio Invitational at the Ohio University Golf Course. Competitors were slated to run a 6K course, but lightning and heavy rain in the area limited the race to 3K.
Kehe finished the 3K course in 11:10.16, which was less than a second shy of placing her in the top 10. Redshirt freshman Christine Talhelm (Indianapolis, Ind./Franklin Central H.S.) was BSU's second-best runner on the day, clocking in at 11:35.22 to place 29th overall.
The University of Dayton captured the overall title with a five runners finishing in the top eight, including the meet's winner, Maura Bulgrin. Dayton total 25 points on the day, followed by Kent State who had the other five top 10 runners and scored 30 points.
Host Ohio was third with 81 points, followed by Ball State (135), West Virginia Wesleyan (143), Robert Morris (160) and Cleveland State (172).
Freshman MaryKate Mellen (Michigan City, Ind./Michigan City H.S.) finished a spot behind Talhelm, with a time of 11:36.10, while BSU's fourth runner came in 32nd as freshman Allison Blanck (Indianapolis, Ind./Franklin Central) turned in a 11:39.84. Freshman Andrea Korzan (Mishawaka, Ind./Penn H.S.) rounded out Ball State's scorers with a 44th-place time of 12:03.12.
Also running in the event for the Cardinals were freshman Emilee Zets (Berlin Center, Ohio/West Branch H.S.) and junior Megan Burkett (Crawfordsville, Ind./Southmont H.S.) who posted times of 12:16.50 (50th) and 13:14.24 (64th), respectively.
BSU's top runner, Ali Bishel, did not attend the race due to academic obligations back in Muncie.
The Ball State cross country team returns to action next Friday, with it travels to Notre Dame, Ind., for the Notre Dame Invitational.
MEET PREVIEW
MUNCIE, Ind. -- The Ball State cross country team will continue its 2009 season Saturday when it travels to Athens, Ohio for the Ohio University Invitational. The Cardinals' first 6K race of the season will begin at 10:30am at the Ohio University Golf Course.
Not only will the Cardinals get to compete on their first 6K course of the season but they will get the opportunity to compete on the same course as the site of the 2009 Mid-American Conference Championships.
In Saturday's meet, the Cardinals will compete against six other schools including two MAC rivals. Among the BSU opposition are: Cleveland State, Kent State, Dayton, Ohio, Robert Morris and West Virginia Wesleyan.
At last Friday's Indiana Intercollegiates, BSU junior Ali Bishel (Chesterton, Ind./Chesterton H.S.) came away victorious in her first meet since the 2007 NCAA Championships, posting a career-best time of 17:28.
Senior Sarah Kehe (Westville, Ind./Chesterton H.S.) found herself in a familiar spot as BSU's second-best runner of the day, placing 25th (19:07). Kehe was BSU's second-best athlete three times in 2008.
