TOLEDO, Ohio -- The number two showed up a lot for Ball Statethis weekend at the Mid-American Conference Championships. The teamfinished second and was led by senior Jill Scully, who finishedsecond individually. They fell to Kent State by two points,84-86.
"It's tough to lose by two points, especially when we'redefending champions," coach Sue Parks. "It was a tough loss."
The Cardinals were picked in preseason to finish third, despitewinning the championship last year and losing only Crystal Meeksfrom that team. Ball State defeated the two teams expected to trumpthem, but couldn't outrun Kent State.
"We had come out here with the hopes of taking the title again,"Scully said. "Just defending our title, and I had the hopes ofpossibly winning (individually). So I'm a little disappointed."
While Kent State did not place any runners in the top nine, fourrunners in positions 10 to 18 gave the Golden Flashes the edge overthe Cards.
"At this race last year we kind of did what they did," Scullysaid. "We did really well, and we pulled one out and kind ofsurprised everybody. They did a really good job today"
Scully ran the 5,000-meter course in 17:58.05, less than sevenseconds behind Jenny Koeppel of Buffalo. She was followed by seniorSarah Huddleston in 11th (18:36.45), sophomore Rose Lehe in 16th(18:52.8), junior Nicole Hartford in 26th (19:03.3) and juniorHelen Kibby in 31st (19:10.6).
"I didn't feel like myself out there today," Scully said. "Ididn't feel that great, and a lot of the other girls said the samething. We're just going to work really hard and focus onregionals."
Akron placed three runners in the top eight, but its final twoplacers finished 44th and 45th, and the Zips were third. Koepell'steammates were unable to keep up, and the Bulls finishedfourth.
Preseason favorite Toledo finished fifth on its home course --Ottawa Hills Country Club. Miami, Bowling Green, Western Michigan,Northern Illinois and Ohio rounded out the top ten. EasternMichigan, Central Michigan and Marshall finished out the field, allthree placing no runners in the top 30.
The Cardinals will have a week off before heading to the NCAAGreat Lakes Regional on Nov. 13 in Ypsilanti, Mich.
"Last year, we had a really 'on day' when we won it, and wedidn't have that 'on day' today," Parks said. "Hopefully we'll beeven more motivated after this. You know, second's not toobad."
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