MATTHEW VANTRYON | STAFF REPORTER

The Butler cross country team competed in the Indiana Intercollegiate Meet last Friday.

The first team sat, giving the second squad a chance to showcase its abilities.

The team placed seventh out of eight teams with a score of 161.

Junior Erica Carlson led Butler to the finish line, finishing the 5-kilometer race in 19:26 and placing 25th overall.

The race was Carlson’s first of the season after suffering two stress fractures during track season in the spring.

“I just followed the plan that coach (Matt Roe) gave me, and I thought it went pretty well.” Carlson said.

Host Indiana University finished first with a score of 21.

The team will be back in action Saturday as it faces its biggest test of the season yet.

Butler will compete in the Roy Griak Invitational, which will provide the veterans a chance to face a high level of competition.

This will be the first race of the season for All-American  senior Katie Clark.

Roe said he is optimistic about his team’s chances.

“If we make good decisions in the race and we’re positive, we are going to perform at a very high level,” Roe said. “The key will be to make sure that everybody does their job and doesn’t try to reach outside themselves because it is the first meet [for the first squad].”