Track & Field Takes Second at Oliver Nikoloff Open

CINCINNATI, Ohio - - Led by a pair of event victories from sophomore sprinter Bryeana Byrdsong, the Ball State track & field team placed second among 16 scored teams at the two-day Oliver Nikoloff Open hosted by the University of Cincinnati.

The Cardinals finished the two-day meet with a team score of 119 points, falling shy to only the host Bearcats who earned 170 points. Ball State finished ahead of three other MAC schools at the event; Kent State in third (96.50), Miami in fifth (62) and Ohio in 16th (2).

Byrdsong accounted for 28 of the points, winning both the 100m (12.00) and the 200m (24.25) dashes, while running the second leg for the second-place 4x100m relay (46.20). Byrdsong's time of 24.25 in the 200m dash is a MAC Outdoor Championship automatic qualifying mark and is currently the third-fastest time on the league's outdoor performance list.

Junior Regan Lewis also turned in a MAC Outdoor Championship automatic qualifying mark, placing second in the high jump after clearing 1.75m. The effort currently leads the MAC.

Overall, the Cardinals finished the two-day meet with two event victories, two MAC Outdoor Championship automatic qualifying marks, 15 top five finishes and 15 career-best performances.

With winter weather hampering the first two meets of the season, the Ball State track & field team returns to action Saturday, when it travels to Athens, Ohio, for the Ohio Cherry Blossom Invitational.

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

Ball State Individual Results at the Oliver Nikoloff Open
100m Dash | MAC Qualifying Standard: 11.86 | School Record: 11.08 (c) by LaTasha Jenkins in 1999
1st - Bryeana Byrdsong - 12.00
2nd - Peyton Stewart - 12.02
7th - Paris Carver - 12.49*

200m Dash | MAC Qualifying Standard: 24.29 | School Record: 22.29 by LaTasha Jenkins in 1999
1st - Bryeana Byrdsong - 24.25* - MAC Auto Mark
7th - Paris Carver - 25.41*
8th - Ivy McKee - 25.50*
10th - Anna-Kay West - 25.52

400m Dash | MAC Qualifying Standard: 55.36 | School Record: 53.68 by Yvonne Ferguson in 2006
2nd - Dejah Johnson - 57.36*
4th - MaQuila Norman - 57.45*
6th - Amber Jones - 58.09
9th - Gabby Sims - 58.75

800m Run | MAC Qualifying Standard: 2:11.25 | School Record: 2:06.40 by Angie Stewart in 1997
13th - Kaylor Hoover - 2:24.24

1500m Run | MAC Qualifying Standard: 4:30.18 | School Record: 4:25.67 by Katie Nowak in 2002
27th - Kitty Taylor - 5:10.69

5000m Run | MAC Qualifying Standard: 16:56.24 | School Record: 16:15.29 by Katie Nowak in 2003
17th - Meliza Rodriguez - 18:33.19*
18th - Lauren Whitehouse - 18:35.68*
26th - Jessica Bryzek - 18:47.68
34th - Stephanie McElhaney - 18:59.47

100m Hurdles | MAC Qualifying Standard: 14.10 | School Record: 13.18 by Amber Williams in 2007
2nd - Jasmine Harris - 14.32*
3rd - Jazmin Smith - 14.46
11th - Anna-Kay West - 15.22

3000m Steeplechase | MAC Qualifying Standard: 10:56.96 | School Record: 10:34.05 by Katie Nowak in 2002
5th - Emmalyne Tarsa - 11:52.97*

400m Relay | School Record: 45.42 by Jada Pehlps, Korinth Patterson, Tambra Stewart and Jennifer Dennie in 2001
2nd - Jazmin Smith, Bryeana Byrdsong, Jasmine Harris, Peyton Stewart - 46.20
4th - Anna-Kay West, Amber Jones, Ivy McKee, Paris Carver - 47.85

1600m Relay | School Record: 3:38.05 by Jada Phelps, Angka Morris, Patricia Soman and Linise Gordon in 2001
2nd - MaQuila Norman, Dejah Johnson, Jazmin Smith, Amber Jones - 3:52.51

High Jump | MAC Qualifying Standard: 1.69m / 5'-6.5" | School Record: 1.84m / 6-0.5 by Bonita Harrington in 1984
2nd - Regan Lewis - 1.75m - MAC Auto Mark
3rd - Hailley Peters - 1.67m*

Shot Put | MAC Qualifying Standard: 14.74m / 48'-4.5" | School Record: 14.68m / 48-2 by Gena Rusch in 1991
5th - Kelsey Walters - 13.35m
FOUL - Jada Caldwell

Discus | MAC Qualifying Standard: 47.40m / 155'-6" | School Record: 47.82m / 156-11 by Christy Richart in 1995
6th - Princess Carter - 41.58m*
12th - Adrienne Mayfield - 37.82m

Javelin | MAC Qaulifying Standard: 40.40m / 132'-6" | School Record: 42.78 / 140-4.5 by Kim Woodhouse in 1982
2nd - Abby Denham - 36.31m

Hammer Throw (FRIDAY) ? MAC Qualifying Standard: 54.27m / 178'-0" ? School Record: 56.33m / 184-10 by Sarah Martin in 2001
7th - Princess Carter - 39.84m (130-8)*
10th - Kelsey Walters - 38.79m (127-3)*
11th - Megan Graves - 35.88m (117-8)*

* = Denotes Career-Best Performance

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Players Mentioned

Jessica Bryzek

Bryeana Byrdsong

Jada Caldwell

Princess Carter

Paris Carver

Abby Denham

Megan Graves

Jasmine Harris

Kaylor Hoover

Dejah Johnson

Amber Jones

Regan Lewis

Adrienne Mayfield

Stephanie McElhaney

Ivy McKee

MaQuila Norman

Hailley Peters

Meliza Rodriguez

Gabby Sims

Jazmin Smith

Peyton Stewart

Emmalyne Tarsa

Kitty Taylor

Kelsey Walters

Anna-Kay West

Lauren Whitehouse