Cross Country Runs to Third-Place Finish in Spartan Invitational

EAST LANSING, Mich. - - Led by a strong run from senior Maritza Rodriguez, the Ball State cross country team was the fastest in the Mid-American Conference Friday morning in East Lansing, Michigan, as it placed third among 25 teams at the Auto Owners/Playmakers Spartan Invitational hosted by Michigan State.

"We are walking away very happy from the Spartan Invite," distance coach Rachel McFarlane said. "We executed out race plan and accomplished exactly what we wanted to as a team today."

Host and 12th-ranked Michigan State won the 6K race at the Forest Akers East Golf Course with 15 points. The only other program to finish ahead of Ball State (130) was Grand Valley State (58), winners of six of the past nine NCAA Division II Cross Country Championship titles. Looking at league competition, the Cardinals finished ahead of both Bowling Green (4th / 182) and Western Michigan (7th / 230).

"Today was a huge team effort," McFarlane continued. "We came out of the race as the top MAC program which shows the amount of progress we are making as a team. While we still have work to do, this is definitely going to boost our confidence leading into the rest of the season."

Individually, Rodriguez led the Cardinals to the line and placed 17th out of the 291 runners in the field with a career-fast 6K time of 22:09.7. The effort shaved nearly 10 seconds off her previous career-best 6K clocking of 22:19.1 set at the 2017 MAC Championships.

"Maritza was ready for a breakout race," McFarlane said about her top runner Friday. "She stuck her nose in the race and was solid throughout. I believe her performance today is just the start of what's going to be a great senior season for her."

Junior Cayla Eckenroth was second on the day for the Cardinals, also turning in a personal-fast 6K time of 22:35.3. It was over 14 seconds faster than her previous career-best performance and almost half a minute faster than her time of 23:02.3 which led Ball State at last season's Spartan Invitational.

Rounding out Ball State's top five scorers on the day were sophomore Karleigh Conner (22:43.8 / 31st), freshman Vivian Van Eck (23:02.1 / 45th) and senior Peyton Kneadler (23:18.9 / 55th). Both Conner and Van Eck finished the meet with career-fast times.

Also competing for Ball State were senior Hannah Cummings (23:27.9 / 62nd), freshman Juliana Stogsdill (23:33.0 / 69th) and sophomore Emma Cunningham (24:15.1 / 97th), with both Stogsdill and Cunningham crossing the finish line with career-best times.

Overall, all eight Ball State runners finished in the top third of the 291-runner field, with six of the eight recording career-best times.

The Ball State cross country program will have the next few weeks to focus on training before returning to action Saturday, Oct. 5 at the Greater Louisville Classic.

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

Ball State Individual Results at Spartan Invitational
Overall / Scored        Runner                              Time
17th / 15th               Maritza Rodriguez             22:09.7*
25th / 22nd              Cayla Eckenroth                 22:35.3*
31st / 28th               Karleigh Conner                 22:43.8*
45th / 36th               Vivian Van Eck                   23:02.1*
55th / 43rd               Peyton Kneadler                23:18.9
62nd / 48th              Hannah Cummings            23:27.9
69th / 54th               Juliana Stogsdill                 23:33.0*
97th / DNS               Emma Cunningham           24:15.1*

MSU Spartan Invitational Team Results (4th of 26 Teams)
1. Michigan State - 15
2. Grand Valley State - 58
3. Ball State - 130
4. Bowling Green - 182
5. Northern Michigan - 210
6. Saginaw Valley - 226
7. Western Michigan - 230

Cross Country Runs to Third-Place Finish in 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