By the Numbers: Cross Country at the Spartan Invitational

MUNCIE, Ind. - - The Ball State cross country program will venture out of state for the first time this season when it competes in the Auto Owners/Playmakers Spartan Invitational hosted by Michigan State on Friday.

Action in the women's 6K race is set to begin at 11 a.m. at the Forest Akers East Golf Course in East Lansing, Michigan.

Fans can follow the action with live results: http://crossroadstiming.com/results/2019/SpartanXC/index.html

Below is a breakdown of what to expect Friday by the numbers:
30 - - A total of 30 teams are slated to compete in Friday's 6K race. Expected to join the Cardinals and host Spartans are a pair of Mid-American Conference foes in Bowling Green and Western Michigan. In addition, the following programs are scheduled to compete in the meet: Ashland, Calvin College, Cleary University, Concordia University-Ann Arbor, Ferris State, Grace Christian University, Grand Valley State, Illinois-Springfield, Indiana University East, Kalamazoo College, Kellogg Community College, Kentucky Christian, Lake Superior State, Lansing Community College, Lewis, Michigan Tech, Mid Michigan College, Northern Michigan, Northwood, Oakland Community College, Oakland, Purdue Northwest, Saginaw Valley, Shawnee State, St. Clair Community College and Wisconsin Parkside.

12 - - The Cardinals will be in for another big challenge Friday, as the host Spartans enter the meet ranked 12th in the nation in the USTFCCCA NCAA Division I Women's Cross Country National Coaches' Poll. MSU also ranks fourth in the Great Lakes Region, while Bowling Green is 14th in the region. In addition, Grand Valley State enters the meet ranked second in the USTFCCCA NCAA Division II Women's Cross Country National Coaches' Poll, while Michigan Tech is 12th.

2 - - This will be the second consecutive season Ball State had competed in the Spartan Invitational. Last season, the Cardinals (163 points) placed fourth among the 21-team field trailing only Michigan State (22), Grand Valley State (50) and Central Michigan (160).

8 - - The Cardinals are sending eight runners to Friday's meet; Karleigh Conner, Hannah Cummings, Emma Cunningham, Cayla Eckenroth, Peyton Kneadler, Maritza Rodriguez, Juliana Stogsdill and Vivian Van Eck.

23:02.3 - - Cayla Eckenroth led the Cardinals to the finish line at last season's Spartan Invitational, clocking in with a time of 23:02.3 to place 34th overall and 23rd among scored runners. Also running in the event for the second straight season for Ball State are Maritza Rodriguez (23:09.7 - 37th/25th), Peyton Kneadler (23:40.4 - 53rd/37th) and Hannah Cummings (24:01.9 - 67th/43rd)

18:24.7 - - Freshman Vivian Van Eck led the Cardinals to the finish line at last Friday's IWU Twilight Classic with a career-fast 5K time of 18:24.7. The effort was over 30 seconds faster than her 5K time at the Butler Twilight (Aug. 30).

9 - - Ball State's runners have set nine career-best marks so far this season, with five coming at the season-opening Butler Twilight (Aug. 30) and four coming at the IWU Twilight Classic (Sept. 6).

68 - - The expected weather for tomorrow's run is 68 degrees with a 35 percent chance of storms at race time. It's also expected to be breezy with winds between 10-20 miles per hour.

By the Numbers: Cross Country at the Spartan Invitational

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Players Mentioned

Karleigh Conner

Hannah Cummings

Emma Cunningham

Cayla Eckenroth

Peyton Kneadler

Maritza Rodriguez

Juliana Stogsdill

Vivian Van Eck