Cross Country Takes Two of Top Three Spots at Butler Twilight

Friday, September 1

CARMEL, IND. (NORTHVIEW CHRISTIAN CHURCH)

7 p.m.

Ball State University

Butler Twilight

Photo by: Kyle Crawford

Cross Country Takes Two of Top Three Spots at Butler Twilight

September 01, 2017 | Cross Country

2017 Butler Twilight Complete Results (PDF)Photo Gallery

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - - The Ball State cross country team opened the 2017 season by taking two of the top three spots Friday night at the 5K Butler Twilight ran at Northview Christian Church in Carmel, Indiana.

For the second straight season, it was a freshman who led the Cardinals to the finish line in the season-opening meet, as Cayla Eckenroth crossed the finish line in 18:27.3 to take second place among the 41 runners in her collegiate debut.

Not far behind was last year's top finisher at the meet for the Cardinals, sophomore Hannah Cummings who clocked in at 18:29.7 to finish third. The effort was a career best for Cummings, bettering her time of 18:49.9 set at the Joe Piane Invitational last season.

Overall, Ball State's five scored runners combined for 55 total points to place third among the four teams entered in the meet. The host Bulldogs won the competition with 40 points, followed by IUPUI with 51. Indianapolis was fourth at 86.

Sophomore Maritza Rodriguez was Ball State's third-fastest runner, taking 11th with a time of 19:03.1. Rounding out the Cardinals' scored runners were freshman Emmalyne Tarsa in 18th (19:28.6) and senior Jordan Timmons in 21st (19:28.7).

Next up for the Ball State cross country team will be the Illinois State Invite which is slated to start at 6 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. CT at the Weibring Golf Club in Normal, Illinois.

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

Ball State's Individual Results at the Butler Twilight

Place (Scored)	Runner	Time (5K)
2 (2)	Cayla Eckenroth	18:27.3*
3 (3)	Hannah Cummings	18:29.7*
11 (11)	Maritza Rodriguez	19:03.1
18 (18)	Emmalyne Tarsa	19:28.6*
21 (21)	Jordan Timmons	19:28.7
24 (23)	Peyton Kneadler	19:45.9
28 (25)	Lauren Whitehouse	20:02.2
31 (DNS)	Meliza Rodriguez	20:13.2
34 (DNS)	Kitty Taylor	20:24.7
38 (DNS)	Kaylor Hoover	20:58.3*