DEKALB, Ill. - The Ball State University cross country team achieved what it expected to do in the Mid-American Conference championships, finishing third as a team.
"It wasn't exactly what we wanted, but I think we gave it a good effort," coach Sue Parks said.
Parks was pleased with freshman Vanessa Gilbert's 10th-place finish individually, but couldn't explain what happened with junior Rose Lehe's dropping back by the end and finishing 17th.
Lehe hyperventilated towards the end and struggled to the finish line, crossing at 18:22.
"I don't know what it is," Lehe said. "It's something physical; I just can't finish."
She experienced the same fatigue two weeks ago at the Pre-NCAA Meet.
Parks said Lehe had tests done but the results weren't reviewed in time for the championships.
"We really want to get to the bottom of it," Parks said. "We were hoping it wouldn't happen two times in a row, but it did."
Despite knowing her top runner had struggled in the previous meet, Parks said she thought Lehe could finish in the top five and earn All-MAC honors.
"She's capable of running with the front runners in this race, but you've got to be able to run the whole race," Parks said.
The team entered the race hoping Gilbert would finish in the top 10.
"To do it as a freshman is a really great thing," Parks said. "We're excited for what she did and what kind of future she has for us. She definitely was the highlight of the day."
Nicole Hartford, Helen Kibby and Amanda Ponsot all finished in the top 35 for the Cardinals, and Katie Koehler and Lindsay Moldstad also competed for Ball State.
Akron ran away with the team and individual championships. Three Zips runners finished in the top ten individually and a fourth finished 11th. Akron runner Beata Rudzinska won the MAC individual championship and teammate Morgan Sulzener finished fifth.
"They were just better than everybody today," Parks said. "I don't think on our best day we could've beaten them."
Toledo finished a distant second, and Ohio finished only five points behind the Cardinals for fourth place.
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