ANDERSON, Ind. – The Ball State Runners’ Association competed in and hosted the MC5 Race at Mounds State Park on Saturday, Sept. 24. The course featured grassy areas, shaded trails, rolling hills and gravel throughout the park.
The MC5 was the first race sanctioned by the National Intercollegiate Running Club Association. NIRCA is the governing body of all college running clubs in the United States. As one of the original founders of NIRCA, Ball State has hosted the race every year since it began in 2005.
Seven regions in the country each have a set of races hosted by participating running clubs at universities. Each region also has its own regionals race and one national race for those who qualify. Participants who completed the women’s 6K at 10 a.m. and the men’s 8K at 11 a.m. qualified for the national race in Hershey, Pennsylvania in November.
Over 295 runners competed at the MC5 Race at Mounds State Park and came travelled from all over the Midwest. Runners came from Indiana University, Purdue University, Ohio State University, University of Michigan, University of Cincinnati, Miami University of Ohio, Washington University, Central Michigan University and Ball State University.
After the race, runners cooled down, enjoyed a free Dilly Bar from Dairy Queen, claimed their MC5 participant T-shirt and cheered their teammates to victory. With the women’s and men’s races being held at different times, the atmosphere was enthusiastic and full of cheer from students and parents.
When not running, participants were busy stretching, cooling down and visiting with friends and teammates from their universities and high schools from their hometown. With slight overcast and 70 degree temperatures, the runners were able to enjoy the entire competition.
Repeat competitors Sarah Garner and Kendra Storz enjoyed returning for this year’s race.
“The weather was good. It was a little humid, but it was a pretty nice day for a race, really,” Garner said. “It’s a hilly course, so it’s a good workout, to say the least,” Storz agreed.
New Ball State Runners’ Association member, Jacob Powell, was excited to compete in his first 8K race, as it was “a new milestone coming from high school to college." Powell was excited to compete against old friends and rivals from his high school years who now attend Purdue University.
Although the hills were difficult and took their toll on Powell, he felt good after it was over and plans to participate next year.
“It’s such a good feeling. I don’t know how to describe it. It’s like getting an A or doing something perfect. At the end of it, you just feel so good,” he said.
No one was more relieved to see the race run smoothly than Ball State Runners’ Association President, Davon Geiger. Since May, Geiger was responsible for reserving the park, obtaining insurance for the race, making sure the course was ready to go, and of course, making an order of Dilly Bars.
“All of the hard work really paid off and I think my officers and my team would agree we had a really good event today,” Geiger said.
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