Ball State University Athletics
Swenson Advances to 400m Hurdles Final on Day 2 of MAC Outdoor Championships
May 13, 2016 | Track & Field
TOLEDO, Ohio - - Led by a strong showing from junior Kassidy Swenson in the 400m hurdles, the Ball State track & field team closed the second day of competition at the Mid-American Conference Outdoor Championships with five top 15 performances Friday. The three-day event concludes Saturday at Toledo's Outdoor Track & Field Facility.
In her second career appearance in the 400m hurdles race at the MAC Outdoor Championships, Swenson led a trio of Cardinals to the finish line with an eighth-place clocking of 1:01.85. With the time, Swenson became the first Ball State student-athlete to advance to the final of the 400m hurdles since the 2010 season. She will enter Saturday's 3:20 p.m. final race as the eighth seed and is assured of scoring at least one point for the Cardinals.
Following closely behind Swenson in the 400m hurdles were senior Becca Kropf and junior Olivia Ashba who placed 10th (1:02.69) and 11th (1:03.53), respectively. Kropf's previous best finish in the 400m hurdles at the league meet was 12th in 2014, while Ashba placed 16th in the event in each of the previous two seasons.
In the 100m hurdles, freshman Jazmin Smith placed 14th in her first run at the MAC Outdoor Championships. The second day concluded with junior Ericka Rinehart earning 15th in the 3000m steeplechase, two spots better than her finish at the 2015 MAC Outdoor Championships.
After two days of action, Akron holds the lead over the 12-team field with 55 points, while Central Michigan and Kent State are tied for second at 44. Ball State is currently tied with Western Michigan for 11th at one point.
The third and final day of the 2016 MAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships gets underway at 10 a.m. Saturday, with freshman Regan Lewis entered in the high jump and senior Michaela Hull competing in the discus.
For the most up-to-date news on Ball State track & field, follow the team on Twitter: @BallStateSports, @BallStateTFXC and @CoachE_BSU.
Friday's Ball State Results at MAC Outdoor Championships
10000m Run
DNF - Jessica Bryzek
100m Hurdles
14th - Jazmin Smith - 14.66
400m Dash
18th - Gabby Sims - 58.23
100m Dash
17th - Anna-Kay West - 12.47
20th - Peyton Stewart - 14.81
400m Hurdles
8th - Kassidy Swenson - 1:01.85 (Advanced to Final; Saturday at 3:20 p.m.)
10th - Becca Kropf - 1:02.69
11th - Olivia Ashba - 1:03.53
3000m Steeplechase
15th - Ericka Rinehart - 11:35.74
Saturday's Ball State Entries (MAC Ranking / Seed Time/Mark)
High Jump (Saturday at 10 a.m.)
11th - Regan Lewis (1.68m)
Discus (Saturday at 10 a.m.)
12th - Michaela Hull (45.05m)
4x100m Relay (Saturday at 1 p.m.)
9th - Ball State (46.71)
400m Hurdles (Saturday at 3:20 p.m.)
8th - Kassidy Swenson (1:01.85)
4x400m Relay (Saturday at 4:50 p.m.)
9th - Ball State (3:49.92)
- BallStateSports.com -
