The Ball State University women kick off the cross country season on Saturday at the Butler Open.
Along with it, comes some major changes.
This includes the departure of 12-year head coach Sue Parks. Her successor, Todd Lane, has moved in as interim head coach. Along with Lane, his wife Turena will take on some of the coaching as well. Turena is a distance running expert, who was a member of the United States national team in the marathon.
Looking forward to this weekend's Butler Open, Lane said getting a starting point for the season is the main focus and so far the change seems to be going well.
"Right now we really just want to get a meet under our belts and get out there and run," Lane said. "I really wasn't with them last year at this point, but I would say that up to this point the practices are going well."
This weekend at Butler will be the starting point of the year for all of the teams participating in the meet. Although the open will not be scored, teams from Wright State University, IUPUI, Ball State and host Butler will all compete. This will also mark the first time many runners will experience a collegiate race.
With only three returning letter-winners and six first year runners, creating team chemistry and camaraderie is the goal with the women's cross country team. Lane said that he is expecting the runners to get to know and run with each other.
"Goals I set for the team this week were mainly for them to just try and group it up," Lane said. "We're going to have just five or six running this weekend and I told them to try and run together."
On Sept. 15, the team will be competing at the Indiana Intercollegiate where they will square off with all Indiana has to offer. On Oct. 28, Ball State will travel to Buffalo, NY for the Mid-American Conference championships, and on Nov. 20 they will be in action in Terre Haute, Ind. for the NCAA championships.
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