The Ball State University women's cross country team participated in the Pre-NCAA's on Saturday finishing in 23rd place. Concluding the regular season at this race in Terre Haute, the women had a strong showing.
The Cardinals scored 588 points on the day in a competition in which their division had 34 teams and 232 runners.
The women's 'white race' featured ranked schools from all over the nation. Those schools included Arizona State and William and Mary.
Freshman Vanessa Gilbert got the best finish for the Cardinals with a 56th place finish (21:41.2). Rose Lehe finished second for Ball State with a 74th place (21:50.9). Helen Kibby finished in 109th (22:13.8). Finishing fourth and fifth for the Cardinals were Amanda Ponsot (22:53.9), and Nicole Hartford (23:18.2), respectively.
"Ball State, Toledo and Akron are possibly the top three teams in the Mid-American Conference," coach Sue Parks said.
Ball State will be able to take a week off before heading to DeKalb, Ill. for the MAC Championships held on Oct. 29.
"The Mid American Conference will be better because if we have all our girls in the top 25 to 30 runners we can win," Parks said. "The key is running to potential; the top five has to have best score on same day."
Saturday's race was played on the same course that will play host on Nov. 21 to the 2005 NCAA Championships.
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