Saturday was the end of assistant coach Turena Lane's time at Ball State University as the Cardinals' cross country team finished in 13th place at the regional meet.
Now planning to move to Miami to join husband and former Ball State track and cross country coach Todd Lane, Turena Lane said she was pleased with the team's final effort of the season.
"It was just a good solid effort as a team and a good way to end the season," Turena Lane said. "With the team finishing 12th last year and 13th this year, we were right in the same ball park with a whole different, younger team."
The Great Lakes Regional was held Saturday at the Forrest Creason Golf Course near Bowling Green State University and featured more than 30 teams and 200 participants.
Ball State had eight runners competing and finished in fourth place among the other 10 Mid-American Conference teams at this event.
A week earlier Ball State finished in fifth place at the MAC championships.
"At larger meets like this, there are always races within the race and there [was one Saturday] with all the other MAC teams there," Turena Lane said. "I was really pleased with the effort and with us ending up in fourth and really close to a few other teams."
The Cardinals were one point from the 12th place team and fellow MAC school Toledo University.
Michigan State University was the team champion, while Spartan sophomore Nicole Edwards was the overall winner in a time of 20:50.91.
Freshman Sarah Kehe was the top finisher for Ball State in 63rd place with a time of 22:49.60.
The Cardinals were without freshman Kelsey Nielsen, who was running in the middle of the pack for the Cardinals this season. Nielsen has been suffering from tendonitis for the past two weeks.
With the cross country season now over, the focus transitions to track, where most of the team members will be continuing their training.
Seniors Rose Lehe and Amanda Ponsot will move from competing in cross country and are likely to run in the 1600-meter and 3200-meter for the track team, as they did last year.
Turena Lane said that with the hard practice the team has put in, the change of sports will be effortless.
"After having a rough MAC race the team really rebounded and finished well at the regional," Turena Lane said. "This sets up for a great track season and now all the work they have put in six months works for the track season."
Ball State's indoor track season will start Dec. 9 with the Ball State pentathlon.
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