Ball State University
Ball State Cardinal Duals
Cross Country Runs Away with Cardinal Duals Title
September 23, 2016 | Cross Country
MUNCIE, Ind. - - The Ball State cross country team took advantage of a fast course at the Muncie Elks Country Club Friday afternoon, earning the top four spots to defeat IUPUI by a score of 16-to-46 in the Ball State Cardinal Duals.
"We were really happy with today's race," distance coach Raynee DeGrio said. "The girls got off the line hard and carried that momentum throughout the race. It was good to see our team execute the game plan well and compete with each other at the end of the race. When you have four girls contending for a win on one team, that's always a good sign. Today's race was a good confidence builder and will give us momentum going into the rest of the season."
In just the fourth 5K race run at the Muncie Elks, the Cardinals also turned in eight career-best performances in its lone home meet of the season.
Freshman Emily Tromp (Hibbing, Minn./Hibbing) led Ball State to the finish line and picked up her first collegiate victory by setting a blistering 5K pace of 18:30.7. The effort is the fifth-fastest 5K time run on the Muncie Elks course, and just a minute shy of the meet record of 17:30 set in 2009. Tromp entered the Cardinal Duals with a career-fast 5K time of 19:12.2 set at the Butler Open (Sept. 2).
"We have been waiting for this breakthrough race from Emily since the day she stepped on campus," DeGrio said when asked about the race winner's performance. "We knew she had this type of performance in her, it just took her awhile to believe it herself. Emily is really talented and a tough competitor. We are excited to see what she can do the rest of the season."
Overall, Ball State's newcomers turned in a dominating performance by taking the top four spots all in career-best times. Brooke Talhelm (Indianapolis, Ind./Franklin Central) finished second (18:34.6) in the race, while Lauren Whitehouse (Mahomet, Ill./Mahomet-Seymour) placed third (18:39.6) and Maritza Rodriguez (Indianapolis, Ind./Ben Davis) earned fourth (18.44.1).
Rounding out Ball State's scored runners was redshirt junior Jordan Timmons (Bargersville, Ind./Center Grove) who placed sixth overall with a time of 19:01.8.
The Ball State cross country team returns to action next Friday (Sept. 30), when it travels to Notre Dame for the Joe Piane Invitational. The event features three women's races; the 2 p.m. Blue Race, the 3:30 p.m. Open Race and the 4:15 Gold Race.
For the most up-to-date news on Ball State cross country, follow @BallStateSports, @BallStateTFXC and @CoachE_BSU.
Ball State Times at the Cardinal Duals
1st          Emily Tromp             18:30.7*
2nd        Brooke Talhelm                   18:34.6*
3rd         Lauren Whitehouse       18:39.6*
4th         Maritza Rodriguez        18:44.1*
6th         Jordan Timmons         19:01.8
7th         Kitty Taylor               19:13.6*
9th         Peyton Kneadler                 19:28.9*
11th       Danielle Dahl                       19:34.5
13th       Meliza Rodriguez        19:41.6*
15th       Emma Manchess         20:09.5
17th       Emma Maddelein        20:29.6*
* Denotes Career-Best 5K TimeÂ
- BallStateSports.com -
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