Ball State cross country will travel to Miami this weekend to compete in the Redhawk Rumble as its full roster will make return to action.
Distance coach Raynee DeGrio is confident with the girls running this week that did not compete last week.
“For the athletes that did not race this past weekend, I think they are excited to race this week,” DeGrio said.
One of the athletes that did not run last week was freshman Emmalyne Tarsa. She said that she is confident, yet nervous going into the race after she posted a personal record at the Illinois State Invite.
“I feel a little nervous because I want to keep lowering my times," Tarsa said. "It was good to have that season PR and drop my time from my first race because that’s what I’m hoping to do for the rest of the season. It definitely puts more pressure on this week because I want to keep dropping those times.”
DeGrio said that the main reason they are competing in the Redhawk Rumble this week is to become familiar with the course, as the Cardinals will compete on it in October at the Mid-American Conference meet.
“It will be a good opportunity to see the course that the conference meet will be on," DeGrio said. “Miami and Kent State will be there, along with a couple other MAC schools, but we're not really worried about the competition this weekend."
Tarsa feels the team will finish strong this week and looks forward to the advantage it will give them as they progress into the season.
“I think we’re going to be good and it will be nice to have everyone back running again, and I think we will have a strong top nine or ten,” Tarsa said. “This race should prepare us for the MAC meet because there will be good competition."
As Ball State heads into the weekend, DeGrio anticipates who will improve and strive in this race.
“Who our top runners are will be is pretty interchangeable," DeGrio said. "I am kind of expecting Cayla and Hannah to bounce back seeing how they had a rough race at Illinois State. Maritza and Stephanie have been looking great, so we are anticipating on them to be solid contributors."
Ball State will compete in the Redhawk Rumble at Miami of Ohio on Saturday at 11 a.m.
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