Cross Country Heads to Notre Dame for Joe Piane Invitational

Cross Country Heads to Notre Dame for Joe Piane Invitational

September 29, 2016 | Cross Country

Championship Race Results Open Race Results

MUNCIE, Ind. - - After winning last Friday's Cardinal Duals, the Ball State cross country team looks to carry over the momentum into this Friday's 4:15 p.m. 5K Gold Race at the Joe Piane Invitational hosted by Notre Dame.

The Cardinals will be one of 29 teams competing in the Gold Race which also features runners from No. 16 Notre Dame, Mid-American Conference rival Western Michigan and several teams from the state of Indiana.

"After last week, the team has shown they are ready to run fast," distance coach Raynee DeGrio said. "We think Friday's meet will be a good opportunity for us to get into a highly-competitive race. We want to keep moving forward and taking steps to improve as we approach the conference championships."

Improving is exactly what the Cardinals did last Friday at the Muncie Elks Country Club, as all 11 of Ball State's runners posted season-best times. In fact, eight of the times were career-best performances.

Freshman Emily Tromp (Hibbing, Minn./Hibbing) led all runners to the finish line, winning the race in 18:30.7 for her first collegiate victory. For her performance, Tromp was named the MAC Runner of the Week, marking the first time a Ball State runner has collected the honor since 2007.

Overall, Ball State's newcomers turned in a dominating performance at the Cardinal Duals 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).

"This race will give our young squad a good feel of what it's like to be in a championship atmosphere," DeGrio said. "It's a high-level meet with a lot of teams from our region. It's a good opportunity for us to go out and compete. It will also help us understand what it's like to run around people and run in a larger pack."

For the most up-to-date news on Ball State cross country, follow @BallStateSports, @BallStateTFXC and @CoachE_BSU.

Runner	Top 5K Time	Top 6K Time
Emily Tromp – Fr.	18:30.7 (9/23/16)	N/A
Brooke Talhelm – Fr.	18:34.6 (9/23/16)	N/A
Lauren Whitehouse – Fr.	18:39.6 (9/23/16)	N/A
Maritza Rodriguez – Fr.	18:44.1 (9/23/16)	N/A
Danielle Dahl – Sr.	18:56.20 (10/3/14)	23:57 (11/15/13)
Jordan Timmons – R-Jr.	18:58.35 (9/13/13)	22:56.9 (10/17/15)
Hannah Cummings – Fr.	19:06.3 (9/2/16)	N/A
Ericka Rinehart – Sr.	19:09.68 (9/13/13)	23:26 (11/1/14)
Kitty Taylor – Jr.	19:13.6 (9/23/16)	23:23.1 (10/31/15)
Peyton Kneadler – Fr.	19:28.9 (9/23/16)	N/A
Jessica Bryzek – Jr.	19:30.60 (10/3/14)	24:33.12 (9/5/14)
Stephanie McElhaney – RFr.	19:33.7 (9/2/16)	N/A
Emma Manchess – Sr.	19:36.83 (9/13/14)	23:49 (11/1/14)
Meliza Rodriguez – Fr.	19:41.6 (9/23/16)	N/A
Emma Maddelein – Fr.	20:29.6 (9/23/16)	N/A
Mary Momper – So.	N/A	N/A