Indiana State University Athletics

NOTRE DAME, Ind. -- The Sycamores were put to the test in their annual mid-term exam on a beautiful Friday afternoon at the Burke Golf Course on the campus of Notre Dame for the annual Joe Piane Notre Dame Invitational. Indiana State's men's team posted a fourth place finish in the field of 20 teams while the women were 11th in a field of 25 teams as they took part in the Gold Races for both genders.

"Our men's team really stepped up to the challenge today, got out to a really strong start and we saw a couple of breakthrough performances against some top-ranked teams in regions across the country," head cross country coach Kyle Walsh said. "The women didn't get out off the starting line as strong but showed some fight as they worked their way back after the slow start."

The Indiana State men placed fourth in the Gold Division with 153 points as Temple was the victor (76). Saint Louis and St. Mary's were second and third with the Sycamores just five points behind the Gaels. ISU edged Loyola (155) and Idaho State (167) at the top of the leaderboard. It proved to be a successful day for ISU as they topped UC Riverside, Bowling Green, Northern Kentucky, Northern Iowa, Illinois-Chicago, Tulane, DePaul, Marshall, Southern Illinois, Texas-San Antonio, UTEP, Valparaiso, UNC Greensboro and Green Bay.

Leading the way for the Sycamores was Seth Cousins who traversed the 5 mile (8k) course in a time of 24:55.6 which was eighth in the field. It proved to a career best time for the sophomore as he earned the Top 10 finish. Akis Medrano was 24th with a time of 25:26.0 which is his top mark of the season at the 8K distance. Ryan Cash's time of 25:28.8 put him in 27th place also a season low for him. Blake Kramer was 31st in the field with a time of 25:31.2 which also is the best of his career.

Corey Alfredson posted a time of 26:22.9 which was 83rd in the field -- the best time of the season for him at 8K. Kyle Collins crossed the finish line in a time of 26:52.1 which was 107th, easily his best time of the season. Making his debut for the Sycamores in the lineup this season was Logan Hambrock whose time of 26:56.0 was good enough for 111th place. 

"Seth continues to really come on strong for us here as the season progresses," Walsh commented. "The others were not far behind as Akis and Ryan Cash each were inside the Top 30 and Blake Kramer has been running well as season. We have four strong runners who impressed against tough competition and now we will continue to work and train to get a fifth scorer who will help us make a run at the conference meet in one month."

Taylor Austin, a native of nearby Griffith, Ind., returned to her native region as she finished in sixth place with a time of 17:25.8 over the 5K course. The only time she has ever covered a 5K course faster came in 2015 at this same meet when her time was about five seconds faster. She led the way for the Sycamores against a stacked field. Indiana State posted an 11th place finish with 259 points as MVC rival Northern Iowa won the Gold Division race with 86 points. The Sycamores topped former MVC competition Wichita State by 32 points as well as SEC member South Carolina en route to the strong showing. In the 25-team field, the Sycamores defeated IUPUI, Butler, Southern Illinois, Illinois-Chicago, UNC-Greensboro, Northern Kentucky, St. Mary's. DePaul, Texas San Antonio, Marshall, Valparaiso and Green Bay.

"The women didn't get out to a strong start through the first 800 meters," Walsh said. "But they battled back and I though Taylor really showed a lot of determination in her final run her at Notre Dame. We will get back to training and get ready for Pre-Nationals in two weeks and then turn our eyes towards the MVC meet in late October."

Alli Workman tallied a 50th place finish with a time of 18:17.9 while Megan Doty was 60th with a time of 18:26.1. Michaela Ward was 75th in a time of 18:41.3 while Colleen Madden was on her heels in 77th place in a time of 18:42.2. Jessi Conley posted a time of 18:46.5 for a 86th place finish Abigail Grider was 94th with a time of 18:50.8. Brittany Neeley posted a time of 19:07.5 and a 118th place finish while Emma Hayward's time of 19:55.1 finished in 164th place. 

The Sycamores did pick up a fifth place finish in the women's 5K open race with a win over Western Michigan. Aleksey Green's time of 19:26.5 was 25th to lead the way for ISU. Freshman Gabby Brown covered the course in a time of 19:36.1 for a 28th place finish. Cami Hansen's time of 19:40.9 was good enough for 32nd place and Danielle Muse posted a time of 20:07.2 to finish 39th. Lexus Brittingham rounded out the Sycamores' efforts in the race with a time of 20:59.1 and a 50th place showing.

Indiana State now turns their attention to Pre-Nationals, hosted by Louisville on Saturday, October 14 beginning at 10 a.m. The MVC meet is on October 28 and ISU will host the NCAA Great Lakes Regional on Friday, November 10 beginning at 11:15 a.m. at the LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course.