Ball State University Athletics
Ball State University
Polar Bear Invitational
Lumpkin Earns MAC Auto Mark at IWU Polar Bear Invitational
March 25, 2016 | Track & Field
MARION, Ind. - - Ball State track & field senior thrower Marie Lumpkin wasted little time locking up her spot in the 2016 Mid-American Conference Outdoor Championships, opening her outdoor campaign with a MAC automatic qualifying mark of 55.40m (181'-9”) in the hammer throw at the 25th Annual IWU Polar Bear Invitational hosted by Indiana Wesleyan University at the IWU Track & Field Outdoor Complex.
Lumpkin's career-best effort of 55.40m (181'-9”) won the hammer throw by 3.63m (11'-11”) Thursday, and is the second-best individual mark in program history, trailing only Sarah Martin's toss of 56.33m (184'-10) set in 2001. In addition, Lumpkin's throw is 2.72m (8'-11”) further than the second-best mark in the MAC so far this season set by Buffalo's Megan Patterson at 52.68m (172'-10”).
Lumpkin, who opened the 2015-16 indoor season with a school-record mark of 18.55m (60'-10.5) in the weight throw at the Mastodon Opener (Dec. 5), also placed eighth in the discus with a toss of 37.02m (121'-5”).
In the javelin, senior Michaela Hull launched her way to the top of the MAC rankings with a first-place effort of 38.01m (124'-8”) at the Polar Bear Invitational, just shy of her career-best mark of 38.07m (124'-11”) set her junior year. Freshman Regan Lewis followed close behind, taking third in the event with a distance of 32.22m (105'-8”).
Hull would close the day with another first-place showing, taking top billing in the discus with a career-best throw of 44.94m (147'-5”). The effort currently ranks second on the MAC Outdoor Performance List. Hull opened the day with a sixth-place mark of 44.32m (145'-5”) in the hammer and was also scheduled to compete in the shot put, but with changes in the schedule due to weather, she was unable to compete in the event.
On the track, junior Jordan Timmons placed fifth in the 800m run with a time of 2:23.29.
The Ball State outdoor track & field team returns to action Saturday, April 2, when it travels to Oxford, Ohio, for the Miami 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 IWU Polar Bear Invitational
Hammer Throw – MAC Automatic Qualifying Mark: 53.36m / 175'-8”
1st - Marie Lumpkin – 55.40m / 181'-9” (Career Best)
6th - Michaela Hull – 44.32m / 145'-5”
Javelin – MAC Automatic Qualifying Mark: 38.93m / 127'-8”
1st - Michaela Hull – 38.01m / 124'-8”
3rd - Regan Lewis – 32.22m / 105'-8”
Discus – MAC Automatic Qualifying Mark: 46.77m / 153'-5”
1st - Michaela Hull – 44.94m / 147'-5” (Career Best)
8th - Marie Lumpkin – 37.02m / 121'-5”
800m Run – MAC Automatic Qualifying Time: 2:11.94
5th - Jordan Timmons – 2:23.29
Players Mentioned
