Ball State University Athletics
Cross Country Set For Notre Dame Invitational
September 29, 2010 | Cross Country
MUNCIE, Ind. - - The Ball State cross country team returns to action Friday, when it travels to Notre Dame, Ind., for the 55th running of the Notre Dame Invitational. A total of 43 teams are slated to compete in the two women's races, with Ball State running in the Women's Gold Race which is set for 2 p.m.
Joining the Cardinals in the Gold Race are three league opponents in Buffalo, Northern Illinois and Western Michigan. Other schools in the 18-team Women's Gold Race are Bethel College, Calvin College, Eastern Illinois, Fresno State, Hillsdale, Indiana State, IUPUI, Oakland, Texas San Antonio, Wisconsin-Green Bay, Wisconsin-Oshkosh, Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Valparaiso, West Virginia and Youngstown State.
At last season's Notre Dame Invitational, senior Ali Bishel paced the Cardinals and placed third overall with a time of 17:44. So far this season, Bishel has led the Ball State squad in the two races she has competed in, including a third-place finish and season-fast clocking of 17:42.10 at the 5K Indiana Intercollegiates (Sept. 17).
Senior Kelsey Nielsen led the Cardinals to a second-place finish at the Sycamore Pride 5K Race (Sept. 11) with a time of 19:28. Nielsen followed with a season-fast time of 19:11.60 at the Indiana Intercollegiates.
In addition to Bishel's and Nielsen's strong showings, all nine of BSU's active runners posted season-fast efforts at the Indiana Intercollegiates, with each of the top five runners dropping at least half a minute from their season-opening 5K run at the Great American Legends Race (Sept. 3) hosted by Purdue.
Redshirt sophomore Christine Talhelm is BSU's most improved runner so far this season, going from a time of 20:44.03 in the season-opening race to 19:36.10 at BSU's last meet.
