Tomorrow the Ball State University women's cross country team competes at the Indiana Intercollegiate invitational in Terre Haute. Chances look good for the Cardinals, who have the possibility of returning some of their injured leaders.
The intercollegiate meet brings universities from across Indiana and bigger schools, such as Indiana University and the University of Notre Dame, who will compete with smaller schools like Earlham College and Depauw University.
Head coach Todd Lane expressed excitement, saying that this invitational is fun for the runners.
"This gives everybody the chance to really open the year with excitement," Lane said. "For the ladies it's fun to go out and run against people you ran with or against in high school that went to other colleges in Indiana."
However, Lane's excitement did not rest with the opportunity for some of the runners to rekindle the past. The site of tomorrow's race is the same for the NCAA cross country championships this year.
Plagued by injuries since the beginning of the season, the team looks to be a bit rebuilt for this weekend. Senior Rose Lehe looks to come back from a nagging injury she suffered last year. With Freshmen Ali Bishel and Sara Kehe, the three should make up a strong core.
Even more returns are expected for next weekend's George Dales Invitational in Kalamazoo, Mich.
Sophomore Vanessa Gilbert, Ball State's top runner at last year's MAC championships, should be in the lineup, thus giving the Cardinal runners a legitimate shot at the MAC team championship.
With the following weeks looking good for the Cardinals, Lane added that times are looking up, thanks mostly in part to the successful training the squad is putting in.
"It's my goal that we go to the starting line every week healthy," Lane said. "It's better in my mind to be a bit more rested than all the way trained and banged up, especially at this point of the season with what has been brought to our table in terms of injuries."
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