Track & Field Places 4th in DMR, Sends Three to Saturday Finals

YPSILANTI, Mich. - - The Ball State indoor track & field team closed the opening day of the 2017 Mid-American Conference Championships with a bang, placing fourth in the distance medley relay at Eastern Michigan's Bowan Field House.

In the day's final race, Peyton Kneadler (Monticello, Ind./Twin Lakes), Gabby Sims (Columbus, Ind./Columbus North), Hannah Cummings (Ann Arbor, Mich./Saline) and Brooke Talhelm (Indianapolis, Ind./Franklin Central) combined for a time of 11:51.32 to earn five points for the Cardinals. It was Ball State's first top-eight finish in the event since 2012 and the team's best finish in the event since winning the race in 2008.

Another big winner for the Cardinals on the opening day of the meet was freshman sprinter Bryeana Byrdsong (Indianapolis, Ind./Warren Central) who qualified for the finals in both the 60m dash and the 200m dash. Byrdsong earned the second seed in the 200m dash, winning the third heat with a career-fast time of 24.52.

Byrdsong started the day by taking the sixth seed in the 60m dash, earning the second automatic qualifying slot from the third heat with a career-fast effort of 7.64.

The Cardinals also guaranteed themselves two scorers in the 60m hurdles, as sophomore Jazmin Smith (Cincinnati, Ohio/North College Hill) and freshman Jasmine Harris (Moreland Hills, Ohio/Orange) earned the two automatic qualifying spots from the second heat. Smith tied her career-fast time at 8.53 to earn the third seed in the finals, while Harris earned the sixth seed with a time of 8.57.

Overall, the Cardinals closed the opening day of the 2017 MAC Indoor Championships with five points and are in 10th place among the 12-team field. Akron leads the event with 62 points, while host Eastern Michigan is second at 43.

The Ball State indoor track & field team opens the second day of the MAC Championships at 11:45 a.m. Saturday with action in the women's weight throw.

For more information on the 2017 MAC Indoor Track & Field Championships, including a complete schedule, live results and final results, fans can visit MAC Championship Central at http://www.mac-sports.com/tournaments/?id=62.

For the most up-to-date news on Ball State cross country and track & field, follow @BallStateSports, @BallStateTFXC and @CoachE_BSU.

Ball State Results on Day 1 of the 2017 MAC Indoor Championships

Shot Put
19th - Kelsey Walters - 11.62m / 38-1.25

60m Hurdles Prelims
3rd - Jazmin Smith - 8.53* - Advances to Finals
6th - Jasmine Harris - 8.57 - Advances to Finals
16th - Anna-Kay West - 8.90

60m Dash
6th - Bryeana Byrdsong - 7.64* - Advances to Finals
11th - Peyton Stewart - 7.65
12th - Jasmine Harris - 7.65

800m Run
11th - Emily Tromp - 2:13.63*

200m Dash
2nd - Bryeana Byrdsong - 24.52* - Advances to Finals
9th - Jasmine Harris - 25.03
20th - Amber Jones - 25.50

Distance Medley Relay
4th - Peyton Kneadler, Gabby Sims, Hannah Cummings, Brooke Talhelm - 11:51.32

Ball State's Schedule on Day 2 of the MAC Championships

Weight Throw - Saturday, Feb. 25 - 11:45 a.m.
19 - Adrienne Mayfield - 15.78m

Mile Run - Saturday, Feb. 25 - 1:30 p.m.
17 - Brooke Talhelm - 5:02.89
18 - Peyton Kneadler - 5:03.72

High Jump - Saturday, Feb. 25 - 1:30 p.m.
3 - Regan Lewis - 1.76m

60m Hurdles - Saturday, Feb. 25 - 2:00 p.m.
3 - Jazmin Smith - 8.53*
6 - Jasmine Harris - 8.57

60m Dash - Saturday, Feb. 25 - 2:50 p.m.
6 - Bryeana Byrdsong - 7.64*

200m Dash - Saturday, Feb. 25 - 3:30 p.m.
2 - Bryeana Byrdsong - 24.52*

4x400m Relay - Saturday, Feb. 25 - 4:30 p.m.
8 - Amber Jones, Olivia Ashba, Peyton Kneadler, Gabby Sims - 3:49.74

- BallStateSports.com -

Track & Field Places 4th in DMR, Sends Three to Saturday Finals

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Players Mentioned

Olivia Ashba

Bryeana Byrdsong

Hannah Cummings

Jasmine Harris

Amber Jones

Peyton Kneadler

Regan Lewis

Adrienne Mayfield

Gabby Sims

Jazmin Smith

Peyton Stewart

Brooke Talhelm

Emily Tromp

Kelsey Walters

Anna-Kay West

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