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Championship Tuneup This Weekend For BSU Cross Country
November 05, 2020 | General
After setting a baseline in its season opener last week, the Ball State cross country team quickly needs to set its sights on preparing for the upcoming MAC Championship. The Cardinals will have a look at the league meet course this Saturday when the compete at the Falcon Invitational.
"Competing on the league championship course make sense. It allows us to prepare for the championship, gain confidence and become familiar with the course," distance coach Sarah Pease said.Â
Last week, Ball State hosted a three-team race that was the first athletics event for anyone in the conference. It gave the team a chance to see where they are right now, and where they need to go before the league meet Saturday, Nov. 21. BSU finished third in the race, highlighted by freshman Elka Machan placing third in the 25-runner field. Pease notes that three of BSU's top five finishers last week (Machan, Kylee Mastin, Grace Dean) were competing in a 6K race for the first time in their lives.Â
"In high school, they run 5K and it's a little different having so many running 6K for the first time," Pease said. "Everyone adjusted and learned from it and I think we all know that we can improve and keep building for the league meet."
Ball State entered eight runners last week and plans on entering 10 at Bowling Green. Nine MAC schools are expected to attend, including Miami and Ohio, who the Cards competed against last week. Now that the lid has been lifted off the season, and there's a sense of competition normalcy back, Ball State can work to improve its position.
Women's 6K race at 2 p.m. |  Men's 8K race
Women's Field: Ball State, Bowling Green, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Miami, Northern Illinois, Ohio, Toledo, Western Michigan
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"Competing on the league championship course make sense. It allows us to prepare for the championship, gain confidence and become familiar with the course," distance coach Sarah Pease said.Â
Last week, Ball State hosted a three-team race that was the first athletics event for anyone in the conference. It gave the team a chance to see where they are right now, and where they need to go before the league meet Saturday, Nov. 21. BSU finished third in the race, highlighted by freshman Elka Machan placing third in the 25-runner field. Pease notes that three of BSU's top five finishers last week (Machan, Kylee Mastin, Grace Dean) were competing in a 6K race for the first time in their lives.Â
"In high school, they run 5K and it's a little different having so many running 6K for the first time," Pease said. "Everyone adjusted and learned from it and I think we all know that we can improve and keep building for the league meet."
Ball State entered eight runners last week and plans on entering 10 at Bowling Green. Nine MAC schools are expected to attend, including Miami and Ohio, who the Cards competed against last week. Now that the lid has been lifted off the season, and there's a sense of competition normalcy back, Ball State can work to improve its position.
2020 Falcon Invitational
Hosted by Bowling Green - 1610 Stadium Dr. Bowling Green, OH (MAP HERE)Women's 6K race at 2 p.m. |  Men's 8K race
Women's Field: Ball State, Bowling Green, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Miami, Northern Illinois, Ohio, Toledo, Western Michigan
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