Ball State University Athletics
Track & Field Adds Five High School Standouts To Program
April 30, 2008 | Track & Field
MUNCIE, Ind. ? Rachel Deloney (Bloomington, Ind./Bloomington North H.S.), Nikki Smith (Muncie, Ind./Muncie Central H.S.), Christine Talhelm (Indianapolis, Ind./Franklin Central H.S.), Janae Taylor (Richmond, Ind./Richmond H.S.) and Kelsey Stephens (Fort Wayne, Ind./Northrop H.S.) have each signed National Letters of Intent to attend Ball State University and compete for the women's track and field team, according to BSU head coach Randy Heisler.
“We have two main goals for our track and field program,” Heisler said. “We want to be in a position to vie for Mid-American Conference Championships, and we want to advance as many individuals as possible to the NCAA Championships. I believe that this group of young ladies will help us reach our team goals. This group will help us across the board from sprints, to distance, to throws. I feel that all five of these young ladies have an opportunity to have an impact at the conference level immediately.”
Deloney is a two-time state champion in the discus and a two-time state runner-up in the shot put. Her personal best distance in the shot is 47-10, and her best discus distance is 155-1. “I believe that Rachel will be a tremendous addition to the BSU track and field program,” Heisler said. “Obviously, she has had a very good high school career by anyone's standards. She has multiple state titles and top notch performances that make her one of the top returning throwers in the country before her senior season.”
Talhelm placed fifth in the 800-meter run at the state meet and was the conference champion. Her personal-best time in the 800 is 2:15. “I'm excited to join an excellent program with an experienced coaching staff,” Talhelm said. “Christine brings range as an 800-meter runner,” Heisler said. “She is athletic as well as goal oriented, and our staff feels that she will add both depth and quality to our middle distance area.”
Smith holds the sectional meet record in the 400-meter dash with a time of 56.48. At the state meet, she was the runner-up in the 100 and 200, and placed fourth in the 400. Her personal bests are: 100, 11.98 - 200, 24.56 - 400, 56.48. “Ball State has a great track program, and the coaches provide a positive atmosphere,” Smith said. “We feel that Nikki is a student-athlete who can find herself in the same type of situation as Amber Williams (NCAA All-American),” Heisler said. “She has great high school credentials and will be a force in the MAC. Nikki will add a new dimension to our sprinters because of her range to run from 60 - 400 meters.”
Taylor finished eighth in the 100-meter dash at the state meet. She was also a state qualifier in the 200. “We believe that Janae may be a sleeper in the sprints this season,” Heisler said. “As she gets the opportunity to train with our other sprinters, I think that she will develop into a solid competitor for us at the MAC level. Under the direction of coach Sunder Nix (Olympic Gold Medalist 1984), Janae will have the opportunity to run faster and surprise a lot of people.”
Stephens was named the Indiana USA Track & Field Female Athlete of the Year in 2006. She was a three-time conference champion (200, 400, 4x400) and a three-time sectional and regional champion. Her personal bests are: 100, 12.3 - 200, 25.23 - 400, 56.66. “Kelsey will not only bring a great deal of talent to our program, but she also brings the mindset of a winner,” Heisler said. “The students that come out of Northrop High School expect to win. Kelsey will really help us as a long sprinter and probably both relays. Coach Sunder Nix is very excited to have the opportunity to work with Kelsey next season.
“As the program continues to develop, we are very excited that five of the best track and field student-athletes from the state of Indiana have chosen Ball State University to continue their careers,” Heisler said. “As a group, they will have the chance to add to our team for next season in a variety of event areas.”
