The women's track and field season started off strong Friday evening as the Cardinals took home high honors in eight events at the Ball State Open.
Running against stiff competition in nearly all 13 events against schools that included Dayton, IPFW, Middlebury and Cadet Track Clubs, the Cardinals were happy to start their season on a high note.
"It was a nice season opener," junior Rose Lehe said. "It was really nice to see my legs getting up and moving again."
Lehe placed first in the mile (5.09.30) and was joined by fellow event winners Amanda Ponsot in the 800 (2:19.60) as well as Christina Whitt (600, 1:38.10), Jeanne Roberts (60, 7.40), Cara Reedstrom (pole vault, 8-06), Jennifer McCoy (60 meter hurdles, 8.40) and Terri Abraham, who won the triple jump (38-10 -+) and also had a long jump personal record (20' 3") and NCAA provisional qualifying mark.
The meet Friday was strictly for individual competition and therefore no team scoring was taken. Team competition will soon be a reality, though, as the Cardinals travel to Bowling Green, Ohio, for the Bowling Green Triangular on Friday, Jan. 20. -áThe Triangular will kick off the rest of the indoor season which includes six more meets before the NCAA indoor championships March 10-11.
With a smaller number of events, some of the Cardinals settled for running odd events and some ran races that they had never run before.-áMost did quite well in the different events, which came as a relief of some.
"We run 600's at practice but I've never run it at a meet," Voni Ferguson said. "I wasn't sure about the pace but ended up doing pretty good anyway."
The Open on Friday was an important starting point for the Cardinals with tougher competition on the horizon. With goals set at the Mid-American Conference Championships and NCAA's, the Cardinals needed a good strong opening meet to get their season going They got it with all the success that was reaped on Friday evening.
"We were really nervous coming in and weren't sure what to expect," Ferguson said. -á"We expect to run good every time and I was happy with what happened."
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
