Third place is not good enough for the Ball State University cross country team.
It has placed third in each of the last two competitions, the five-team Great American Legends 5k in West Lafayette and the 21-team Indiana Intercollegiate in Bloomington.
Twelve nationally ranked teams will compete this afternoon in the Cardinals' next event in South Bend. Ball State is looking to build upon the momentum it gained in the first two races of the 2008 season.
"Racing 12 ranked teams makes this meet one of the most fun," junior Kelsey Nielsen said. "We can compare our times to some of the best runners in the country and see how we rank. I know in a few weeks at Pre-Nationals we will be even more ready to compete among even more ranked teams. I think it does have an effect though, the adrenaline really kicks in."
The Notre Dame Invitational is the Cardinals' last competition until Pre-Nationals in Terre Haute.
Competing against Ball State will be Anderson University, Butler University, Calvin College, Central Michigan University, Eastern Illinois University, Grand Valley State University, Hillsdale College, the University of Illinois-Chicago, Illinois State University, Indiana State University, IPFW, IUPUI, Michigan State University, Northwestern University, Oakland University, Ohio University, the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, Valparaiso University, Western Michigan University, Xavier University and Youngstown State University.
"It's the way you do the sport," coach Randy Heisler said, "I wish we were at full strength, and I wish we are all healthy. We are only as good as the fifth runner. They train very well; we just don't have the numbers to overcome an injury or illness."
This week the Cardinals will be led by their second-best runner of 2008, junior Lisa Arrowsmith (19:07).
Senior Vanessa Gilbert and sophomore Erin Filak have not practiced this week due to prior academic engagements.
The Notre Dame Invitational is the most competitive race the cross country team will compete in during the first half of its season.
The Cardinals said they are not taking this race lightly. They are viewing it as a stepping stone to the MAC Championship Nov. 1.
"I really think that everyone put in their long hours of running this summer, and it's definitely paying off for us this season," Nielsen said. "Finishing third at intercollegiates was awesome but the end of the season is what matters most so hopefully we can beat those teams that beat us earlier."
The Notre Dame Invitational is scheduled for 2 p.m. on the Notre Dame golf course in South Bend.
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