Ball State University Athletics
Athlete Awards
Payton Kelly
- Award:
- Student-Athlete of the Week
- Week:
- 3/2/2026
- Sport:
- Women's Swimming and Diving
- Bio:
- View Full Bio
For her performance at the MAC Women’s Swimming & Diving Championships, senior Payton Kelly has been named the Pridemark Construction Student-Athlete of the Week.
Kelly was named the league’s Most Outstanding Senior after helping lead the Cardinals to a third-place team finish at the meet.
Individually, she placed first in the 50 freestyle (21.88), first in the 100 backstroke (52.07) and second in the 100 freestyle (48.58), with all three times being program records. In addition, her 50 free and 100 back times were NCAA Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships qualifying marks.
Kelly also swam anchor for the 200 medley relay (2nd / 1:37.58), 400 medley relay (3rd / 3:37.07), 200 freestyle relay (3rd / 1:30.42) and 400 freestyle relay (4th / 3:19.59), all four of which also set program records.
Kelly was named the league’s Most Outstanding Senior after helping lead the Cardinals to a third-place team finish at the meet.
Individually, she placed first in the 50 freestyle (21.88), first in the 100 backstroke (52.07) and second in the 100 freestyle (48.58), with all three times being program records. In addition, her 50 free and 100 back times were NCAA Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships qualifying marks.
Kelly also swam anchor for the 200 medley relay (2nd / 1:37.58), 400 medley relay (3rd / 3:37.07), 200 freestyle relay (3rd / 1:30.42) and 400 freestyle relay (4th / 3:19.59), all four of which also set program records.
Date | Athlete | Sport |
|---|---|---|
| 3/2/2026 | Payton Kelly | Women's Swimming and Diving |
| 2/20/2026 | Lucas Machado | Men's Volleyball |
| 2/11/2026 | Malina Miller | Track & Field |
| 2/3/2026 | Tessa Towers | Women's Basketball |
| 1/26/2026 | Carley Stalder | Gymnastics |
| 1/19/2026 | Armoni Zeigler | Men's Basketball |
| 1/12/2026 | Zoe Middleton | Gymnastics |
| 1/5/2026 | Tessa Towers | Women's Basketball |
Sports Link: National Girls and Women in Sports Day
Wednesday, February 25
Celebrating National Girls and Women in Sports Day // Produced by Ball State Sports Link
Wednesday, February 04
Sports Link: Zach Shaddy (Diving)
Tuesday, January 13
Sports Link: Hungry To Win (Malcolm Slater)
Thursday, January 08
