Meliza Rodriguez Leads Cross Country at MAC Championships

TOLEDO, Ohio -- Junior Meliza Rodriguez turned in the most impressive race of her collegiate career Saturday morning, running a career-fast 6K of 22:45.6 to lead the Ball State cross country team to the finish line at the 2018 Mid-American Conference Championships at the Ottawa Park Golf Course in Toledo, Ohio.

Meliza Rodriguez's time of 22:45.6 placed her 56th among the 84 scored runners in the field and was 1:44 faster than her previous career-best 6K time of 24:49.6 set at the MSU Spartan Invitational earlier this season.

Sophomore Emmalyne Tarsa was not far behind, earning a career-fast 6K time of her own by crossing the finish line in 22:49.4. The time was over 45 seconds faster than her previous career-best of 23:34.8 also set at MSU.

Rounding out Ball State's five scored runners were junior Hannah Cummings (60th / 22.51.1), junior Maritza Rodriguez (62nd / 22:54.3) and sophomore Cayla Eckenroth (69th / 23:05.0).

Overall, Ball State's five scored runners combined for an average time of 22:54 and finished just 19.4 seconds apart to score 305 points to place 11th out of the 12 teams at the meet.

Eastern Michigan claimed its fourth consecutive MAC Women's Cross Country Championship with 76 points, while Toledo (80), Miami (97), Northern Illinois (127) and Western Michigan (136) rounded out the top five teams.

Also competing for Ball State were junior Lauren Whitehouse (70th / 23:05.6), freshman Karleigh Conner (74th / 23:12.0), freshman Maddie Aul (DNS / 23:27.4) and junior Peyton Kneadler (DNS / 23:30.2)

Members of the Ball State cross country team will return to action Nov. 9 at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional hosted by Indiana State.

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

Ball State Individual Results at the MAC Championships
56th/60th - Meliza Rodriguez - 22:45.6*
58th/62th - Emmalyne Tarsa - 22:49.4*
60th/64th - Hannah Cummings - 22:51.1
62nd/66th - Maritza Rodriguez - 22:54.3
69th/75th - Cayla Eckenroth - 23:05.0
70th/76th - Lauren Whitehouse - 23:05.6
74th/80th - Karleigh Conner - 23:12.0*
DNS/86th - Maddie Aul - 23:27.4*
DNS/87th - Peyton Kneadler - 23:30.2
*=denotes career-fast 6K time

Meliza Rodriguez Leads Cross Country at MAC Championships

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Players Mentioned

Maddie Aul

Karleigh Conner

Hannah Cummings

Cayla Eckenroth

Peyton Kneadler

Maritza Rodriguez

Meliza Rodriguez

Emmalyne Tarsa

Lauren Whitehouse