The Ball State University track and field team earned three first-place finishes - all in the distance events - at the Indiana Invitational in Bloomington this weekend.
Head coach Randy Heisler said the team continued to improve against more than 70 teams.
"I'm pleased with the progression overall," Heisler said. "The kids are doing better as the competition is getting better."
Sophomore Ali Bishel won the 3000-meter run invitational. She finished in 9:43.59, nearly 10 seconds ahead of the second place. Bishel was also a member of the winning distance medley relay, along with Brittany Ade, Jenna Schmitmeyer and Megan Bevans.
In the 3,000-meter run open, senior Laura Bandy won with a time of 10:18.30. This time would have earned her a 12th-place finish in the invitational race.
"I wish Laura could run more years than just this year," Heisler said.
The 3,200-meter relay team of Bishel, Ade, Bevans and Lisa Arrowsmith finished fifth with a time of 9:18.10. Arrowsmith's time of 5:09.11 in the 1-mile run open was good enough for sixth place.
Heisler said the challenge with the relays is finding the combinations that will help the Cardinals score the most points while not overworking any athletes.
"They ran really well," Heisler said. "Now we've got to figure out how to maximize points with these ladies, and at the same time, let them individually do as well as they can."
Heisler also said the efforts of freshman RaJae Marable, who ran a season-best time of 8.82 seconds in the 60-meter hurdles for a ninth-place finish.
Several athletes finished near the top in the field events for Ball State. Lauren McNichols took second place in the pole vault by clearing a height of 3.55 meters. Cara Collins in the weight throw and Amanda Barnhart in the long jump both finished in sixth with distances of 17.49 and 5.52 meters.
The Cardinals travel next to South Bend on Feb. 8 for the Meyo Invitational.
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