Indoor Track Places Three On Academic All-MAC Team

Outdoor Track Places Three On Academic All-MAC Team

March 26, 2008 | Track & Field

By: Ball State Athletics

MUNCIE, Ind. ? Amanda Barnhart (Lafayette, Ind./Jefferson), Cara Collins (Greenfield, Ind./Greenfield) and Ali Bishel (Chesterton, Ind./Chesterton) have all been named to the 2008 Women's Indoor Track and Field Academic All Mid-American Conference Team.

The 22-member team was voted on by the league's Faculty Athletic Representatives. The team is composed of student-athletes that have excelled in athletics and academics.

Barnhart is majoring in elementary education and holds a GPA of 3.69. Barnhart placed second in the long jump at the MAC Championships with a leap of 19-5 ?. Her best jump of the season came at the Ball State Triangular (19-9 ?). Other highlights include a third place finish at the Bowling Green Quadrangular with a distance of 17-11 ?, and another third place finish at the Gladstein Invitational with a jump of 19-0 ?.

Collins is majoring in public relations and holds a 3.77 GPA. Collins recorded her best shot put and weight throw distances at the Ball State Triangular. She threw 45-9 ? in the shot and tied the Ball State school record in the weight throw with a distance of 60-7 ?. The distance of 45-9 ? in the shot put moves her to third all-time in BSU history. Other highlights include a second place finish in the weight throw at the Gladstein Invitational with a toss of 59-6.

Bishel is a landscape architecture major with a GPA of 3.68. Bishel won two races at the MAC Championships. She ran a 4:53.72 mile, and then ran the 3000-meter race in 9:40.59 to earn 20 points for the Cardinals. Her time of 9:40.59 is the fastest 3,000-meter time on the team. She also recorded the fastest 800-meter time at the Bowling Green Quadrangular finishing in 2:17.63. Bishel was part of the distance medley relay team that finished first at the MAC Championships. She finished the indoor season by breaking the Ball State school record in the 5000-meter run at the Alex Wilson Invitational. Bishel crossed the finish line at 16:21.66 to finish third in the meet, and also to qualify for the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships in Fayetteville Ark.