The Ball State cross country team will open its season at the Winrow Valparaiso Open in Valparaiso, Indiana on Friday morning. The women's race is scheduled to start at 10 a.m. CT.
Ball State will meet eight other teams at their season opener, including UIC, Purdue, Notre Dame, Goshen, IU Indianapolis, Butler, Valparaiso and conference foe Western Michigan.
Following last season, the team is hoping to build success under new distance coach, Rachel Nichwitz. They are coming off a 23rd-place finish at the 2023 NCAA Great Lakes Regional in Madison, Wisconsin where Sarah Mahnensmith led the team.