Ball State University Athletics
Bishel & Williams Earn MAC Honors
March 03, 2009 | Track & Field
MUNCIE, Ind. - - Ball State indoor track and field fifth-year senior Amber Williams has been named the Women's Most Valuable Performer, while junior Ali Bishel earned the Women's Most Outstanding Track Performer for their efforts at the 2009 Mid-American Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships last weekend.
Williams scored 30 of the Cardinals' 73 points, leading BSU to a tie for third place out of 12 teams. The 2007 NCAA All-American registered victories in the 60-meter hurdles (8.24), the 60-meter dash (7.44) and the 200-meter dash (24.27).
Already a two-time MAC Track Athlete of the Week this season, Williams' times in the 60-meter hurdles and the 60-meter dash were Kent State Fieldhouse records and NCAA provisional qualifying marks. All three clockings were individual and conference season bests.
The award signals the third time Williams has been honored as a Most Valuable Performer at the MAC Championships, winning the award at both at the 2007 indoor and outdoor meets.
Bishel added 20 of the Cardinals 73 points in the two-day event, capturing event victories on each day. On Friday, Bishel turned in a dominating performance in the 3000-meter run, clocking in with a time of 9:43.23, over five second ahead of the second place runner.
Saturday, Bishel posted an NCAA provisional qualifying mark in the 5000-meter run, with a time of 16:39.80. The time was over 21 seconds faster than the second-place effort of Ohio's Kari Summers, who completed the event in 16:51.05.
In addition to the honors above, both Bishel and Williams were named to the All-MAC First Team.
Bishel is slated to compete this weekend at the Alex Wilson Invitational which is a last-chance qualifier for the NCAA Championships. Williams, who is ranked in the top 11 nationally in the 60-meter hurdles after the MAC Championships, is slated to miss the event to prepare for the NCAA Championships which will be run March 12-15.
