With one race under its belt, the Ball State University cross country team will now face the hills of southern Indiana in the Indiana Intercollegiate in Bloomington today.
The Cardinals are ready to show the rest of the state what they have been training for, coach Randy Heisler said.
"The girls had a hard summer of training," Heisler said.
Two weeks ago, the Cardinals competed at the Legends 5K run in West Lafayette, placing third as a team. Two Ball State runners placed in the top 10.
Senior Vanessa Gilbert finished sixth with a time of 19:13.37, followed by junior Lisa Arrowsmith in eighth place, clocking in at 19:19.17.
The Indiana Intercollegiate will play host to 22 collegiate level cross country teams.
Southern Indiana is very hilly so the course is different than courses a lot of other teams run.
"Hills are something we don't have in Muncie that's for sure, but just because we don't have hills doesn't mean that we aren't tough," Gilbert said. "I see it as everyone has to run the same course and, hills or no hills, whoever has the most guts and determination will do the best.
Although the competition will be tight, if the runners peak at the right time of day and put forth everything they have, the intercollegiate will play out well for the Cardinals, Heisler said.
"We want to do well but don't want to sacrifice anything for the end of the season," Heisler said.
This weekend will be Heisler's first appearance in Bloomington as the Ball State cross country coach.
Heisler was involved in the Indiana University cross country program from 1989-2007 as assistant coach, head coach and director of men's and women's track and field.
"We are ready to put the hurt on the Hoosiers," said Heisler in a joking yet serious manner.
The Indiana Intercollegiate is scheduled for 4 p.m. at the Indiana University Cross Country Course in Bloomington.
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