After an 18-day break, the Ball State University cross country team will run against 24 teams from across the state in the Indiana Intercollegiates Friday when it travels to Terre Haute.
After dropping out of their meet in Bloomington last Saturday, the Cardinals are looking to shake off the rust as they battle the likes of Indiana and Purdue this Friday.
"The team has looked very good in practice this week and we are very excited for the Intercollegiates to see how we stack up against other teams in the state," coach Randy Heisler said.
The meet will be scored in two different sections. First every team will compete against each other, then Division I teams will match up to determine a separate winner.
Coach Heisler said the team will be trying out some of their less experienced talent Friday, with four of the seven harriers running in their first meet.
"It will be important for the younger girls to not get caught up in the hype of their first big meet," Heisler said. "We have some girls who run the 800 meters running the 5K, so it will be important our girls don't burn themselves out in the beginning of the race."
Leading the Cardinals in the meet are redshirt junior Ali Bishel along with seniors Lisa Arrowsmith and Sarah Kehe who finished first, second and third in the Cardinals' first meet of the season.
When asked what he is looking for from his team in the Intercollegiates, Heisler put a lot of faith in his younger runners.
"I know Ali, Lisa and Sarah will do well come Friday, but the outcome of the match will be determined by the other girls," Heisler said. "If our bottom four runners can finish the race close to the leaders, we will put ourselves in a great position to win."
The Indiana Intercollegiates will be the first opportunity for the Cardinals to compete in an official meet.
"This will be another great opportunity for our team to build and get better each week as we continue to prepare for the Mid-American Championships in October," Heisler said.
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