SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- The Ball State cross country team had an outstanding performance at Notre Dame's Joe Piane Invite, Friday afternoon.
Out of their 23-team competition, the Cardinals finished fifth overall with a collective score of 208. The Cardinals were the highest placing MAC team to compete in the Gold Race, finishing 33 points ahead of the eighth place Western Michigan Broncos.
Leading the way was Carly Spletzer, who finished 22nd overall. Spletzer crossed the finish line with a time of 17:48.8, nearly a minute faster than her previous 5k time at the season opener in Valparaiso.