Ball State University Athletics
2007 Season Preview
January 11, 2007 | Track & Field
2007 Season Preview
Head coach Randy Heisler begins his first season at Ball State University in 2007, with the goal to provide consistency and direction for the Cardinals.
"My goal for this year and for years to come is to put Ball State's track team in a position to win Mid-American Conference Championships. We want to give our athletes an opportunity to succeed at the highest level."
Distance
With the loss of Jill Scully Ball State will look for senior Rose Lehe and sophomore Vanessa Gilbert to be their top competitors for the 2007 season. Ball State will also get help from its large freshmen class. Brittany Ade, Lisa Arrowsmith, Ali Bishel, Sarah Kehe, and Kelsey Nielsen all ran cross country for Ball State this fall and look to contribute immediately. Sarah Kehe led the Cardinals in the first five cross country meets of the season.
Lehe has experience in track and cross country at Ball State. She posted the teams' best time in the 3,000 steeplechase last season finishing in 11:13.53. She also recorded the best time in the 3,000 with a time of 10:41.46.
During the 2006 indoor track season, Vanessa Gilbert had the second-best time on the team in both the 3,000 (10:09.22) and the 5,000 (17:48.43). In the outdoor season she had the second-best time on the team in the 800 (2:24.37) and in the 3,000 steeplechase (11:49.79). She also competed in the 5,000 and the 10,000.
Middle Distance
Seniors Amanda Ponsot and Amanda Brewer will lead the way for the Cardinals. Ponsot recorded the team's best time in the 800 (2:11.93) and the second-best time in the mile (5:00.58) during the indoor track season. Brewer recorded the fastest 600 (1:37.88) time on the team during the indoor season, she also had the best 400 hurdles (1:02.74) time on the team in the outdoor season.
Sprints
The top prospects for the sprinters include Amber Williams, Voni Ferguson and Christina Whitt. These three runners led Ball State in the 200 meter race in both the indoor and outdoor season a year ago. Williams recorded the fastest time of the season for Ball State in the 60 with a time of 7.47, in the 200 with a time of 24.25 and in the 60-meter hurdles (8.26) during the indoor season. Williams' 60-meter hurdles time of 8.26 set a new school record.
Ferguson set the school record in the 400 with a time of 53.58 during last year's outdoor season. She also had the best season time in the 200 finishing in 24.13. Ferguson also competed in the 200, 400 and 600 during the indoor track season.
Whitt competed in the 200, 400 and 600 during the indoor season. She had the fastest season time for Ball State in the 400 finishing in 55.38. Christina Poulson will also contribute as she recorded the third-best time on the team in the 60 clocking in at 7.69, and in the 100 finishing in 12.37.
Hurdles
Top hurdlers this season will include Amber Williams Lanae Stovall and Amanda Brewer. Williams looks to add to her successful sophomore year and be the top hurdler in the 60 during the indoor season and the 100 during the outdoor.
Stovall competes in the pentathlon and the heptathlon. She had the third-best time on the team last season in the 100 meter hurdles and in the 60 meter hurdles. Sophomore Lauren McNichols also competes in the pentathlon and heptathlon, and will look to make an impact in 2007.
Long Jump
Off the track the Cardinals will look for senior Amanda Barnhart to succeed in the long jump. Barnhart recorded a jump of 20-1 ? last year which was a NCAA Regional qualifying mark. Terri Abraham recorded the longest jump during the indoor season. Abraham's mark of 20-05 was the best for Ball State last season.
In the triple jump, senior Tamelca Lewis will lead the way. Last season, Lewis recorded the best jump for the Cardinals jumping 41-10 ? during the outdoor season and 40-6 ? indoors.
High Jump
Sophomores Jessica Genovese and Lauren McNicols will be the top performers in the high jump this season. McNichols and Genovese both recorded a height of 5-5 during the indoor season. Genovese had the best height during the outdoor season, reaching 5-2 ?.
Pole Vault
Throws
Sophomore Candice Jackson will also look to make an impact. A year ago, Jackson competed in the weight throw (35-10 ?), and the discus (108-1).
The Cardinals host the Ball State Open this Friday at the Field Sports Building in Muncie. Field events will start at 4:00 p.m. and the running events start at 5:30 p.m.
Players Mentioned
