Ball State University Athletics
Ball State University
2009 MAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships
Track & Field Places Sixth At MAC Outdoor Championships
May 16, 2009 | Track & Field
OFFICIAL MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE SITE
AKRON'S OFFICIAL CHAMPIONSHIP SITE
AKRON, Ohio - Thanks in part to a pair of individual event championships from fifth-year senior Amber Williams (Fort Wayne, Ind./Concordia Lutheran H.S.), the Ball State women's outdoor track and field team climbed two spots to finish sixth (with 62.5 points) at the 2009 MAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships hosted by Akron.
The host Zips won the meet for the fourth straight year earning 147 total points, while Kent State placed second (106.50) and Western Michigan (103) was third.
In the final day of competition, Williams not only took home a pair of event titles, but added a track record to her accolades. The All-MAC First Team honoree turned in the fastest time in Akron's Lee Jackson Track & Field Complex history with a first-place clocking of 13.60 in the 100m hurdles. She also captured the title in the 100m dash with an effort of 11.66.
In addition to her individual efforts, Williams ran the final leg of the third-place 4x100m relay (46.28) where she was joined by Janae Taylor (Richmond, Ind./Richmond H.S.), Katie Johnson (Evansville, Ind./Harrison H.S.) and Christina Whitt (Fort Wayne, Ind./Concordia Lutheran). Overall, Williams helped account for 26 of BSU's 47 points on the day.
Johnson completed a one-two day for the Cardinals in the 100m hurdles, earning eight points with a second-place time of 13.68, while Taylor ran the 100m dash in 12.08 to place seventh and the 200m dash in 24.93 to place eighth, earning a total of three individual points.
In the distance runs, Ali Bishel (Chesterton, Ind./Chesterton H.S.) collected five more points (added to eight from the second day) with a fourth-place finish of 17:21.55 in the 5000m run, while Brittany Ade (Fort Wayne, Ind./Bishop Dwenger H.S.) ran the 800m run in 2:15.44 to pick up three points for a sixth-place finish.
In the 400m hurdles, Jenna Schmitmeyer (Celina, Ohio/Celina H.S.) rounded out BSU's individual scorers with a seventh-place time of 1:04.32 for two points.
In the 4x400m relay, Schmitmeyer, Brandi Robinson (Chicago, Ill./Morgan Park H.S.), Whitt and Thekla Lorenz (Hamburg, Germany) placed 11th with a time of 3:57.78.
In the final three field events of the meet, the Cardinals were unable to score any more points despite several strong efforts. In the high jump Jessica Genovese (Dyer, Ind./Lake Central H.S.) tied for 10th (1.61m), while Lauren McNichols (Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central) tied for 14th (1.56m).
In the triple jump, Megan Cherry (Hobart, Ind./Hobart H.S.) was BSU's top performer placing 17th (10.87m), while Jerrica Edmonds (Milwaukee, Wis./Franklin H.S.) earned 18th (10.72m) and Lanae Stovall (Lafayette, Ind./Lafayette Jefferson H.S.) captured 20th (10.57m).
Tyra Schantz (Bloomfield, Ind./White River Valley) also added an 18th-place toss of 39.18m in the discus.
Next up for the Cardinals are the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Regionals May 28-29, where Williams and Johnson have qualified for the 100m hurdles. Williams also qualified to run in the 100m dash.
Women's Final Team Rankings
1) Akron - 147
2) Kent State - 106.50
3) Western Michigan - 103
4) Miami - 95.50
5) Ohio - 73
6) Ball State - 62.50
7) Buffalo - 61
8) Eastern Michigan - 53
9) Bowling Green - 43
10) Central Michigan - 37.50
11) Toledo - 27
12) Northern Illinois - 10
DAY TWO RECAP
AKRON, Ohio - - After four more event finals, the Ball State women's outdoor track & field team finds itself in eighth place with 15.5 points after the second day of the 2009 Mid-American Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships hosted by Akron. The three-time defending champions and hosts Zips lead the field of 12 teams with 66 points.
Sophomore Thekla Lorenz (Hamburg, Germany) was BSU's top individual performer on the second day of competition, collecting three points for a sixth-place finish in the long jump (5.76m) and two points for completing the heptathlon with 4664 points for seventh place. Lorenz earned all five points for the Cardinals in day two, pushing the team total to 15.5
In her final three heptathlon events, Lorenz placed fourth in the javelin (31.31m/501 pts), seventh in the long jump (5.43m/680 pts) and 13th in the 800m run (2:39.79/575 pts).
In the two other event finals, BSU's three-sport junior Sarah Kehe (Westville, Ind./Chesterton H.S.) - who also competes in cross country and swimming and diving - placed 11th in the 3000m steeplechase with a time of 11:30.34. Ball State did not field a competitor in the shot put.
The Cardinals did however, poise themselves for big points in the third and final day of competition Saturday, with seven top-eight qualifying marks in five preliminary events.
In the 100m hurdles, the Cardinals took the first two qualifying spots, with junior Katie Johnson (Evansville, Ind./Harrison H.S.) and fifth-year senior Amber Williams (Fort Wayne, Ind./Concordia Lutheran H.S.) both posting NCAA regional qualifying marks. Johnson turned in a time of 13.75, while Williams posted a clocking of 13.84.
Williams also qualified for the 100m dash finals, posting the second-fastest mark in the prelims at 11.73. She will be joined in the finals by freshman Janae Taylor (Richmond, Ind./Richmond H.S.) who qualified fifth (11.88).
In the 200m dash, Taylor qualified third with an effort of 24.45. However, Williams (13th/24.89) and fellow fifth-year senior Christina Whitt (Fort Wayne, Ind./Concordia Lutheran) (23rd/25.92) failed to qualify for the finals.
Junior Jenna Schmitmeyer (Celina, Ohio/Celina H.S.) turned in a solid effort in the 400m hurdles, qualifying for the No. 6 slot in the finals at 1:02.18.
Junior Brittany Ade (Fort Wayne, Ind./Bishop Dwenger H.S.) was Ball State's final student-athlete to qualify for the finals, turning in a fourth-place time of 2:12.98 in the 800m run. Freshman Christine Talhelm (Indianapolis, Ind./Franklin Central H.S.) also ran the event, finishing 15th at 2:17.99.
In the 400m dash, Whitt fell just shy of a qualifying position, finishing 16th with a time of 59.71. The Cardinals did not run in the 1500m prelims.
The third and final day of competition in the 2009 MAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships begins at 12:05 p.m. with women's prelims and finals in the discus. The final event, the women's 4x400m relay is slated for 5:40 p.m., while the awards ceremony will follow at approximately 6 p.m.
Team Scores After Eight Events
1) Akron - 66
2) Ohio - 45
3) Kent State - 42.50
4) Buffalo - 39
5) Bowling Green - 31
6) Miami - 22
7) Toledo - 20
8) Ball State - 15.50
9) Western Michigan - 13
10) Central Michigan - 12
11) Northern Illinois - 3
Eastern Michigan - 3
DAY 1 RECAP
AKRON, Ohio - - The Ball State women's outdoor track and field team is currently sixth with 10.5 points after the first day of the 2009 Mid-American Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships hosted by Akron. The hosts and three-time defending champion Zips are in first with 40 points.
Junior Ali Bishel (Chesterton, Ind./Chesterton H.S.) led the charge for the Cardinals, earning eight points for her second-place time of 35:59.11 in the 10,000m run.
BSU's only other point scorer on the opening day was senior Lauren McNichols (Naperville, Ind./Naperville Central H.S.), who tied for sixth in the pole vault with a season-best and Ball State record height of 3.70m (12-feet and 1.5 inches). Her effort earned BSU 2.5 points.
In other event finals action, junior Tyra Schantz (Bloomington, Ind./White River Valley H.S.) and sophomore Jordan Puckett (Washington, Ind./Washington H.S.) placed 18th (45.28m) and 22nd (39.29m), respectively, in the hammer throw. BSU did not field a competitor in the javelin.
In the first half of the heptathlon, sophomore Thekla Lorenz (Hamburg, Germany) has collected 2908 points, with a second-place effort in the 100m hurdles (14.58), a third-place showing in the shot put (11.12m), a fourth-place finish in the 200m dash (25.75) and an 11th-place height of 1.47m in the high jump.
Day two of the MAC Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championships gets underway Friday at 12:15 p.m. with heptathlon finals in the long jump.
Women's Team Scores Through Four Events
1) Akron - 40
2) Ohio - 32
3) Kent State - 17.50
4) Buffalo - 14
Bowling Green - 14
6) Ball State - 10.50
7) Toledo - 9
8) Miami - 6
9) Western Michigan - 5
10) Northern Illinois - 3
Eastern Michigan - 3
12) Central Michigan - 2
MEET PREVIEW
MUNCIE, Ind. - - The Ball State women's outdoor track and field team travels to Akron, Ohio, this week for the 2009 Mid-American Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships, where it will be looking to capture the program's fifth title and first since the 2001 event. The three-day meet begins Thursday and runs through Saturday.
To earn the program's fifth title, however, the Cardinals will have to dethrone the event's host and three-time defending champion Akron. The Zips, who are also vying for their fifth overall title, and Cardinals will also have to watch out for Bowling Green (one championship), Buffalo, Central Michigan (one championship), Eastern Michigan (10 championships), Kent State (two championships), Miami (two championships), Northern Illinois, Ohio (three championships), Toledo and Western Michigan (one championship) who are also competing in the women's meet.
The event gets underway Thursday (May 14) at 10 a.m. with prelims and finals in the women's hammer throw. The final event of the competition is scheduled for Saturday (May 16) at 5:40 p.m. when the women's 4x400m relay will lead up to the awards ceremony. For a complete event schedule, CLICK HERE
Ball State looks to improve upon last season's ninth-place showing at the league's premier event, which saw Amanda Barnhart (Long Jump; 20-2 ?) and Katie Johnson (100m Hurdles; 13.69) win individual event titles. While BSU lost Barnhart to graduation, Johnson is one of the favorites to win the 100m hurdles title.
In addition to Johnson, fifth-year senior Amber Williams is set to dominate the sprint events after redshirting for last season's meet. Williams was named the Women's Most Valuable Performer at the MAC Indoor Championships after winning the 60m hurdles, the 60m dash and the 200m dash. At the 2007 outdoor championships, Williams captured the individual crown in both the 100m dash and the 100m hurdles.
Junior Ali Bishel will also look to lead the Cardinals back to the top of the championship standings after earning the Women's Most Outstanding Track Performer at the league's indoor event by winning both the 3,000m run and the 5,000m run. At last season's outdoor championships, Bishel placed fourth in the 10,000m (36:29.43) and eighth in the 5,000m (17:59.08) runs.
Entering the 2009 MAC outdoor championships, the Cardinals have seven student-athletes and two relay teams ranked in the top eight (scoring position) on the league's 2009 top performance list.
BSU STUDENT-ATHLETES RANKED IN THE TOP 8 ACCORDING TO MAC TOP PERFORMANCE LIST
100m Dash
1. Amber Williams (11.73) - NCAA regional qualifying mark
4. Janae Taylor (11.92)
200m Dash
4. Janae Taylor (24.52)
5,000m Run
7. Ali Bishel (17:18.15)
10,000m Run
2. Ali Bishel (35:51.83)
100m Hurdles
2. Amber Williams (13.84) - NCAA regional qualifying mark
4. Katie Johnson (13.93)
400m Hurdles
6. Katie Johnson (1:01.79)
4x100m Relay
1. Ball State (46.18)
4x400m Relay
6. Ball State (3:52.36)
Long Jump
3. Thekla Lorenz (5.99m)
Hammer Throw
7. Tyra Schantz (53.67m)
Pole Vault
7. Lauren McNichols (3.60m)
Players Mentioned
