Purdue Fort Wayne
NCAA Great Lakes Regional
Women's Cross Country Places 16th at Regional Meet
11/13/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Cross Country
Nov. 11, 2006
NCAA Great Lakes Regional Results
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Bowling Green, OH -The IPFW women's cross country team battled wet and windy conditions at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional Meet on Saturday afternoon to finish 16th in a field of 30 teams. This was the best finish for the women at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional Meet in IPFW history.
IPFW was led by freshman Mary Ballinger (Chesterton, IN/Chesterton) with a 32nd place finish. Ballinger's time of 22:15.38 was just 17 seconds and 7 places away from qualifying for the NCAA National Championships.
"Mary really stepped it up. She gave a big time performance in the biggest race of the year," stated Coach Fruchey. "I am so glad we have three more years to develop her potential."
Despite Ballinger's success, it was a bittersweet ending for the 'Dons, who, for the first time all year were not led by talented, senior Ashley Ritchey (Leo, IN/Leo). Ritchey, crippled by the a bad case of the flu, struggled to finish 152nd.
Also placing for IPFW were sophomores Crystal Martinez (Valparaiso, IN/Wheeler) at 93rd and Crystina Martinez (Valparaiso, IN/Wheeler) in 98th place. Junior Valerie Hardesty (Auburn, IN/DeKalb) finished at 112th, followed by Ritchey.
The 'Dons finished their best season ever with a win at the Dayton Flyer 5K Challenge as well as multiple second and third place finishes over the season. Despite the loss of Ritchey, the women expect to build upon this season's success while competing in the Mid-Con next season.
~Dons~
