Ball State University Athletics
Ball State University
Bowling Green Opener
Stewart Earns MAC Auto Mark To Lead T&F At Bowling Green Opener
January 10, 2016 | Track & Field
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - - Freshman sprinter Peyton Stewart (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence North) continued her stellar start to the indoor track & field season by recording a career-fast time of 7.61 in the 60m dash at Saturday's Bowling Green Opener to become the second Ball State student-athlete to post a Mid-American Conference Indoor Championship automatic qualifying mark this season.
In addition to her 60m dash time placing second at the meet and topping the MAC automatic qualifying standard, Stewart's effort of 7.61 is the fastest for a Ball State sprinter since Amber Williams won the 60m dash at the 2009 MAC Indoor Track & Field Championships with a time of 7.44.
Along with Stewart's mark in the 60m dash, classmate Jazmin Smith (Cincinnati, Ohio/North College Hill) won the 60m hurdles for the second consecutive meet with a career-best time of 8.82. Senior Danielle Dahl (Chelsea, Mich./Chelsea) also remained undefeated in the 600m run this year, taking home top billing with a career-best effort of 1:34.28.
Led by the three performances above, the Cardinals placed third at the five team meet which was won by Western Michigan with 149.50 points. Host Bowling Green took second with 130 points, followed by Ball State (101), Toledo (53.50) and Wright State (38).
“We are incredibly pleased with our effort today,” head coach Brian Etelman said. “The commitment of our team to put in the necessary work over the holidays was evident as we picked up right where we left off four weeks ago prior to the break. We were able to pick up quality wins in key events over MAC opponents today, which is a testament to the progress we have made in four short months. We have asked our athletes to be better than they have ever been week in and week out, and they continue to answer the call. We look forward to competing at Kentucky's facility and taking advantage of a great opportunity next weekend.”
Overall, Ball State collected a pair of event wins, 14 top-five finishes and 12 career-best performances in their second meet of the indoor season. Ball State opened the year with five head-to-head team victories at the Mastodon Opener (Dec. 5), which saw senior thrower Marie Lumpkin (Losantville, Ind./Union) post a school record in the weight throw (18.55m) to earn Ball State's first MAC automatic qualifying mark of the year. Lumpkin would finish second in the weight throw at the Bowling Green Opener with a toss of 17.36m.
Also scoring runner-up finishes on the day for Ball State were freshman Regan Lewis (Greenfield, Ind./Greenfield-Central) in the high jump (1.65m), sophomore Anna-Kay West (Manchester, Jamaica/Manchester) in the 60m hurdles (8.93 / career-best), senior Becca Kropf (Goshen, Ind./Fairfield) in the 800m run (2:28.07) and freshman Rachel Bales (West Lafayette, Ind./West Lafayette) in the 3000m run (10.47.04).
The Ball State indoor track & field team returns to action next Friday and Saturday, when it travels to Lexington, Ky., for the Kentucky Invitational.
Fans can get the most up-to-date news on Ball State track & field by following the team on Twitter: @BallStateSports, @BallStateTFXC and @CoachE_BSU.
Ball State Individual Results at Bowling Green Opener
Weight Throw
2nd - Marie Lumpkin - 17.36m
High Jump
2nd - Regan Lewis - 1.65m
Triple Jump
3rd - Zenée Gadson - 11.30m
7th - Gabrielle Perryman - 10.78m
Shot Put
3rd - Michaela Hull - 13.39m
9th - Adrienne Mayfield - 11.04m (Career Best)
Mile Run
9th - Ericka Rinehart - 5:26.60
14th - Jordan Timmons - 5:32.88
21st - Mary Momper - 6:08.77 (Career Best)
400m Dash
3rd - Amber McGee - 58.44 (Career Best)
4th - Gabby Sims - 59.49
8th - Ariel Hune - 1:01.45
10th - Kassidy Swenson - 1:02.40 (Career Best)
60m Hurdles
1st - Jazmin Smith - 8.82 (Career Best) (8.97 prelim)
2nd - Anna-Kay West - 8.93 (Career Best) (9.13 prelim)
7th - Olivia Ashba - 9.31 (9.26 prelim)
12th - Kassidy Swenson - 9.49
60m Dash
2nd - Peyton Stewart - 7.61 (Career Best & MAC Automatic Qualifying Standard) (7.72 prelim)
5th - Anna-Kay West - 7.87 (7.86 prelim / Career Best)
DNS - Makelle Skelton (7.90 prelim)
800m Run
2nd - Becca Kropf - 2:28.07
600m Run
1st - Danielle Dahl - 1:34.28 (Career Best)
3000m Run
2nd - Rachel Bales - 10:47.04 (Career Best)
6th - Jessica Bryzek - 10:54.29
11th - Rachel Billingsley - 11:36.75 (Career Best)
12th - Kitty Taylor - 11:37.30 (Career Best)
13th - Emma Manchess - 11:59.02
4x400m Relay
3rd - Olivia Ashba, Makelle Skelton, Amber McGee, Danielle Dahl - 3:59.86
