Friday, November 12
Evansville, IN
11:00 AM
Ball State University
vs
NCAA Regional Championships
Cardinals close out season at NCAA Great Lakes Regional
November 12, 2021 | Cross Country
Ball State posts multiple personal bests in final run of the season
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The Ball State cross country team wrapped up its 2021 campaign at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional Friday. The Cardinals placed 20th at the Angel Mounds Cross Country Course.
"It was a good opportunity for us to get to compete at the NCAA Regional," Ball State head coach Adrian Wheatley said. "I think one of the things that we were able to show today was that we can come back and perform. We had several kids who ran pretty close to what they ran at the MAC Championship. It really shows that, while we still have work to do, we're trending in the right direction."
The Cardinals had two runners set 6k personal bests by 14 seconds in Carly Spletzer and Jenna Schifferer, who finished with times of 22:18.4 and 22:43.9, respectively. Spletzer capped the race in second among the Ball State contingent, while Schifferer was fourth.
Elka Machan came within one second of her personal best with a time of 20:47.6. The sophomore paced the Cardinals and finished 38th overall.
Finishing between Spletzer and Schifferer, Kylee Mastin completed her run in 22:21.7, just five seconds off a personal best.
Schifferer was part of a strong pack run with Juliana Stogsdill and Vivian Van Eck as all three finished within 10 seconds of each other, a positive trend as all three return next season. Stogsdill crossed the line in 22:49.4, while Van Eck finished at the 22:53.2 mark.
Wrapping her career in the Cardinal and White, Maddie Aul finished at 23:47.3, which was within 25 seconds of personal best. The senior closed the final 1k of the race at a PR pace.
"Looking at what we did, we were 19th in our last NCAA Regional, and we finished 20th this year without having everyone run," Wheatley added. "We still were close to what we accomplished last time, and with the bulk of the team coming back, we can just continue to build on this. I was pleased with Carly Spletzer today. She came back and rebounded from the MAC Championship. Jenna had a lifetime PR. Overall, we're moving the needle. We're going to continue to build on that."
"It was a good opportunity for us to get to compete at the NCAA Regional," Ball State head coach Adrian Wheatley said. "I think one of the things that we were able to show today was that we can come back and perform. We had several kids who ran pretty close to what they ran at the MAC Championship. It really shows that, while we still have work to do, we're trending in the right direction."
The Cardinals had two runners set 6k personal bests by 14 seconds in Carly Spletzer and Jenna Schifferer, who finished with times of 22:18.4 and 22:43.9, respectively. Spletzer capped the race in second among the Ball State contingent, while Schifferer was fourth.
Elka Machan came within one second of her personal best with a time of 20:47.6. The sophomore paced the Cardinals and finished 38th overall.
Finishing between Spletzer and Schifferer, Kylee Mastin completed her run in 22:21.7, just five seconds off a personal best.
Schifferer was part of a strong pack run with Juliana Stogsdill and Vivian Van Eck as all three finished within 10 seconds of each other, a positive trend as all three return next season. Stogsdill crossed the line in 22:49.4, while Van Eck finished at the 22:53.2 mark.
Wrapping her career in the Cardinal and White, Maddie Aul finished at 23:47.3, which was within 25 seconds of personal best. The senior closed the final 1k of the race at a PR pace.
"Looking at what we did, we were 19th in our last NCAA Regional, and we finished 20th this year without having everyone run," Wheatley added. "We still were close to what we accomplished last time, and with the bulk of the team coming back, we can just continue to build on this. I was pleased with Carly Spletzer today. She came back and rebounded from the MAC Championship. Jenna had a lifetime PR. Overall, we're moving the needle. We're going to continue to build on that."
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