Ball State University Athletics
Ball State University
Indiana Intercollegiates - LaVern Gibson Course
Bales' Strong Run Paces Cross Country at Indiana Intercollegiate
September 19, 2015 | Cross Country
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - - In her second collegiate meet, freshman Rachel Bales (West Lafayette, Ind./West Lafayette) proved she could compete with some of the best distance runners in the state by leading the Ball State cross country team to the line and placing 21st among the 180-runner field at the 2015 Indiana Intercollegiate Championships.
Overall, the Cardinals placed fourth among the teams scored as Big State Teams in the Women's 5K Championship Race held at Indiana State's LaVern Gibson Course. Bales' time of 19:16.3 placed 16th against runners from Indiana, Indiana State and IUPUI, all of which are ranked in the top nine in the latest Great Lakes Region Poll released by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.
“I was pleased with the progress we showed today,” first-year Ball State head coach Brian Etelman said. “September is a very important month for us to continue to build our foundation competitively, and it was good to see us turn in a much better team performance this time out. Rachel Bales looked sharp as our No. 1, while Jordan Timmons and Kitty Taylor finished in our top five in their season debuts, adding some depth to our roster. We look forward to Louisville in two weeks as we move into the championship portion of our season.”
Junior Ericka Rinehart (Angola, Ind./Angola) came in second among Ball State's scored runners, placing 24th among Big State competitors with a time of 20:06.1. Sophomore Jessica Bryzek (Brownsburg, Ind./Indiana Academy), who led the Cardinals to the line at the Butler Open two weeks ago, was third among Cardinals runners with a time of 20:37.4.
Rounding out Ball State's scored runners were a pair of Cardinals making their 2015 season debuts in junior Jordan Timmons (Bargersville, Ind./Center Grove) and sophomore transfer Kitty Taylor (Newburgh, Ind./Castle/St. Mary-of-the-Woods College). Timmons clocked in at 20:54.4 to place 29th, while Taylor was right being in 30th at 20:59.5.
Also competing in the meet for Ball State were; sophomore Rachel Billingsley (Batesville, Ind./Oldenburg Academy) in 31st (21:16.7), freshman Hannah Privette (New Knoxville, Ohio/New Knoxville) in 32nd (21:56.8), junior Emma Manchess (Pendleton, Ind./Pendleton Heights/IPFW) in 33rd (22:00.1) and redshirt junior Jordan Jenkins (Fort Wayne, Ind./Concordia Lutheran) in 34th (22:48.0).
The Ball State cross country team will resume its training for the next 14 days, before returning to action at the Greater Louisville Classic held Oct. 3 at E.P. 'Tom' Sawyer State Park in Louisville, Ky.
For the most up-to-date news on Ball State cross country, follow @BallStateSports, @BallStateTFXC and @CoachE_BSU.
Ball State Individual Results at Indiana Intercollegiate
16th - Rachel Bales - 19:16.3* (21st Overall)
24th - Ericka Rinehart - 20:06.1 (46th Overall)
28th - Jessica Bryzek - 20:37.4 (67th Overall)
29th - Jordan Timmons - 20:54.4 (78th Overall)
30th - Kitty Taylor - 20:59.5 (80th Overall)
31st - Rachel Billingsley - 21:16.7 (88th Overall)
32nd - Hannah Privette - 21:56.8* (106th Overall)
33rd - Emma Manchess - 22:00.1 (107th Overall)
34th - Jordan Jenkins - 22:48.0 (132nd Overall)
* denotes career-fast time
- BallStateSports.com -
Players Mentioned
