Cross Country Wins #JennaStrong Fall Classic

Friday, October 12

Wilmington, OH

4:30 p.m.

Ball State University

Jenna Strong Invitational

October 12, 2018 | Cross Country

#JennaStrong Fall Classic Complete Results

WILMINGTON, Ohio-- Ball State cross country entered the #JennaStrong Fall Classic with one goal, to build confidence for the upcoming Mid-American Conference Championships.

The Cardinals accomplished that and more Friday afternoon at the Wilmington Cross Country Course, as seven of the team's nine runners tallied career-best 5K times to lead Ball State to a first-place finish in its final tune-up before the Oct. 27 MAC Championships hosted by Toledo.

"Today's meet was exactly what we needed for our overall confidence heading into the MAC Championships," distance coach Rachel McFarlane said. "We managed the course really well and worked great as a group."

In a field which featured 35 teams and 308 total runners, sophomore Emmalyne Tarsa crossed the finish line in with a career-fast 5K time of 18:37.3 to place seventh among scored runner and lead the Cardinals to their first race victory since the Ball State Cardinal Duals on Sept. 23, 2016.

"Emmalyne did a great job of following her race plan and making moves late in the race," McFarlane said. "Our entire group really showcased how well they can work together throughout a race and that helped lead to a successful showing for everyone."

Overall, Ball State's five scored runners combined for 48 total points, 13-points better second-place Northern Kentucky (61). Rounding out the top five teams Friday were Cleveland State (135), Miami (Ohio) (164) and Ohio Northern (206).

In addition to Tarsa, two other Cardinals earned top 10 finishes on the day, as junior Hannah Cummings placed eighth (18:38.1) and junior Lauren Whitehouse took 10th (18:44.5).

Rounding out Ball State's top five runners were junior Peyton Kneadler in 11th (18:45.1) and freshman Karleigh Conner in 12th (18:45.8). Both runners finished the race in career-fast fashion.

Also running and collecting career-fast times for the Cardinals were freshmen Maddie Aul in 19th (18:57.7), Jamie Wells in 24th (19:02.3), Lauren Alsko (19:53.7) and Emma Cunningham (20:12.5). While Alsko and Cunningham did not place for scoring purposes, both finished among the top quarter of Friday's field.

"Overall, we are happy with what we accomplished today," McFarlane concluded. "Now, we need to begin looking forward and getting back to work for the conference meet."

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

Ball State Individual Results at the #JennaStrong Fall Classic
7th (scored) / 9th (overall) - Emmalyne Tarsa - 18.37.3*
8th / 11th - Hannah Cummings - 18:38.1
10th / 13th - Lauren Whitehouse - 18:44.5
11th / 14th - Peyton Kneadler - 18:45.1*
12th / 15th - Karleigh Conner - 18:45.8*
19th / 23rd - Maddie Aul - 18:57.7*
24th / 28th - Jamie Wells - 19:02.3*
DNP / 68th - Lauren Alsko - 19:53.7*
DNP / 78th - Emma Cunningham - 20:12.5*
*=denotes career-fast 5K time