Ball State University
Butler Open
Youth Leads Cross Country at Butler Open
September 03, 2016 | Cross Country
CARMEL, Ind. - - Ball State cross country's newcomers did not disappoint Friday, as four of the team's five scored runners were making their Cardinals debut at the Butler Open held at Northview Church in Carmel.
In her first collegiate race, freshman Hannah Cummings (Ann Arbor, Mich./Saline) led the Ball State squad to the finish line and placed fourth overall with a time of 19:06.3. It was the fastest 5K in a season opener for the Cardinals since the 2012 season.
Classmate Emily Tromp (Hibbing, Minn./Hibbing) was not far being, placing seventh overall at 19:12.2. Also running strong in their first Ball State meet were redshirt freshman Stephanie McElhaney (Huntington, Ind./Huntington North) and freshman Lauren Whitehouse (Mahomet, Ill/Mahomet-Seymour) who placed 13th (19:33.7) and 15th (19:42.4), respectively.
Leading Ball State's core of returning runners was junior Jessica Bryzek (Brownsburg, Ind./Indiana Academy) who finished between McElhaney and Whitehouse in 14th-place at 19:36.9. The effort was just six seconds slower than her career-best 5K time of 19:30.6 set her freshman year.
Rounding out Ball State's top seven runners were senior Ericka Rinehart (Angola, Ind./Angola) and freshman Maritza Rodriguez (Indianapolis, Ind./Ben Davis). Rinehart placed 16th in 19:46.9, while Rodriguez took 20th at 20:04.9.
Overall, host Butler won the four-team meet with a score of 23. IUPUI took second with 52 points, just one ahead of the Cardinals whose five scored runners tallied 53 points. Marian (Ind.) finished fourth with a score of 115.
The Ball State cross country team resumes training for the next two weeks, before returning to action Friday, Sept. 16 at the Indiana Intercollegiate hosted by Indiana.
For the most up-to-date news on Ball State cross country, follow @BallStateSports, @BallStateTFXC and @CoachE_BSU.
Ball State Results at Butler Open
Place  Name                 Time        Pace
4     Hannah Cummings        19:06.3           6:10
7     Emily Tromp             19:12.2           6:12
13      Stephanie McElhaney          19:33.7           6:19
14      Jessica Bryzek           19:36.9           6:20
15      Lauren Whitehouse        19:42.4           6:22
16      Ericka Rinehart           19:46.9           6:23
20      Maritza Rodriguez         20:04.9           6:29
24      Kitty Taylor              20:18.4      6:34
26      Peyton Kneadler                   20:25.8      6:36
28      Meliza Rodriguez                  20:36.0      6:39
29      Emma Manchess          20:42.0      6:41
31      Danielle Dahl             20:58.8      6:47
36      Emma Maddelein                  21:20.9      6:54
- BallStateSports.com -
Players Mentioned
