Friday, February 24
Ypsilanti, Mich.
TBA
Ball State University
vs
MAC Championship
Jazmin Smith Wins 60m Hurdles to lead Track & Field on Day 2 of MACs
February 25, 2017 | Track & Field
YPSILANTI, Mich. - - Led by a championship-winning performance by sophomore sprinter Jazmin Smith (Cincinnati, Ohio/North College Hill) in the 60m hurdles, the Ball State indoor track & field team scored 32 points on the final day of the 2017 Mid-American Conference Championships at Eastern Michigan's Bowan Field House.
Overall, the Cardinals tallied 37 points over the course of the two-day meet to finish two points shy of breaking into the top five. The total placed Ball State in a tie for ninth among the 12-team field. It is the program's best finish and highest point total at the MAC Indoor Championships since the 2009 squad placed third with 73 points.
"This weekend was a massive step forward for our program as we scored 23 more points than we did at last year's indoor championships," head coach Brian Etelman said. "This weekend was reflective of the championship-caliber performances we are capable of."
With a career-fast time of 8.43 in the finals of the 60m hurdles, Smith became Ball State's first individual champion at the league's premier indoor event since the 2009 season. However, she was not alone on the podium in the race as freshman Jasmine Harris (Moreland Hills, Ohio/Orange) earned the bronze medal by placing third with a career-fast time of her own at 8.51.
The Cardinals also saw a school record fall late in the day, as sophomore Regan Lewis (Greenfield, Ind./Greenfield-Central) placed second in the high jump by successfully clearing the bar at 1.81m on her second attempt. The program's previous indoor record was 1.77m held by both Ashley Gillies (2002) and Susan Setlack (2000). The effort also moves Lewis to 20th in the nation in the event as of Saturday night, just missing the top 16 which move on to the NCAA Championships.
"Jazmin Smith winning a championship and Jasmine Harris taking bronze was an exhilarating moment for us," Etelman said. "Regan Lewis also proves she is a gamer with her silver medal and school-record performance."
Freshman sprinter Bryeana Byrdsong (Indianapolis, Ind./Warren Central) also scored in a pair of events for the Cardinals, taking fourth in the 200m dash (24.93) and seventh in the 60m dash (7.71).
The Cardinals rounded out the competition with an eighth-place finish in the 4x400m relay. Freshman Amber Jones (Matteson, Ill./Rich South, senior Olivia Ashba (Ellettsville, Ind./Edgewood), Byrdsong and junior Gabby Sims (Columbus, Ind./Columbus North) combined for a time of 3:49.96 to earn Ball State' final point.
"Bryeana Byrdsong also showed she is mature beyond her years with a pair of point-scoring performances," Etelman added. "Overall, I feel good about where we are as a program right now. We were two points out of fifth and seven points out of a top four performance. I believe we have more in the tank for the outdoor championships. The bar has been set and we are prepared to step up and prove we are ready."
Overall, Akron won the meet with 145 points, followed by host Eastern Michigan in second at 139. Kent State finished third with 60 points, followed by Bowling Green (44), Buffalo (39), Northern Illinois (39), Western Michigan (38), Central Michigan (38), Ball State (37), Miami (37), Toledo (36) and Ohio (10).
Next up for the Ball State track & field program is the start of the indoor season, which beings March 18 at the Stan Lyons Invitational hosted by Butler.
For the most up-to-date news on Ball State cross country and track & field, follow @BallStateSports, @BallStateTFXC and @CoachE_BSU.
Ball State Results on Day 2 of the 2017 MAC Indoor Championships
60m Hurdles
1st - Jazmin Smith - 8.43* - Ball State's First MAC Indoor Champion since 2009
3rd - Jasmine Harris - 8.51*
High Jump
2nd - Regan Lewis - 1.81m* - Program Record
200m Dash
4th - Bryeana Byrdsong - 24.93
60m Dash
7th - Bryeana Byrdsong - 7.71
Mile Run
13th - Brooke Talhelm - 5:04.87
14th - Peyton Kneadler - 5:05.56
Weight Throw
17th - Adrienne Mayfield - 15.87m*
4x400m Relay
8th - Amber Jones, Olivia Ashba, Bryeana Byrdsong, Gabby Sims - 3:49.96
*Denotes career-best performance
- BallStateSports.com -
Overall, the Cardinals tallied 37 points over the course of the two-day meet to finish two points shy of breaking into the top five. The total placed Ball State in a tie for ninth among the 12-team field. It is the program's best finish and highest point total at the MAC Indoor Championships since the 2009 squad placed third with 73 points.
"This weekend was a massive step forward for our program as we scored 23 more points than we did at last year's indoor championships," head coach Brian Etelman said. "This weekend was reflective of the championship-caliber performances we are capable of."
With a career-fast time of 8.43 in the finals of the 60m hurdles, Smith became Ball State's first individual champion at the league's premier indoor event since the 2009 season. However, she was not alone on the podium in the race as freshman Jasmine Harris (Moreland Hills, Ohio/Orange) earned the bronze medal by placing third with a career-fast time of her own at 8.51.
The Cardinals also saw a school record fall late in the day, as sophomore Regan Lewis (Greenfield, Ind./Greenfield-Central) placed second in the high jump by successfully clearing the bar at 1.81m on her second attempt. The program's previous indoor record was 1.77m held by both Ashley Gillies (2002) and Susan Setlack (2000). The effort also moves Lewis to 20th in the nation in the event as of Saturday night, just missing the top 16 which move on to the NCAA Championships.
"Jazmin Smith winning a championship and Jasmine Harris taking bronze was an exhilarating moment for us," Etelman said. "Regan Lewis also proves she is a gamer with her silver medal and school-record performance."
Freshman sprinter Bryeana Byrdsong (Indianapolis, Ind./Warren Central) also scored in a pair of events for the Cardinals, taking fourth in the 200m dash (24.93) and seventh in the 60m dash (7.71).
The Cardinals rounded out the competition with an eighth-place finish in the 4x400m relay. Freshman Amber Jones (Matteson, Ill./Rich South, senior Olivia Ashba (Ellettsville, Ind./Edgewood), Byrdsong and junior Gabby Sims (Columbus, Ind./Columbus North) combined for a time of 3:49.96 to earn Ball State' final point.
"Bryeana Byrdsong also showed she is mature beyond her years with a pair of point-scoring performances," Etelman added. "Overall, I feel good about where we are as a program right now. We were two points out of fifth and seven points out of a top four performance. I believe we have more in the tank for the outdoor championships. The bar has been set and we are prepared to step up and prove we are ready."
Overall, Akron won the meet with 145 points, followed by host Eastern Michigan in second at 139. Kent State finished third with 60 points, followed by Bowling Green (44), Buffalo (39), Northern Illinois (39), Western Michigan (38), Central Michigan (38), Ball State (37), Miami (37), Toledo (36) and Ohio (10).
Next up for the Ball State track & field program is the start of the indoor season, which beings March 18 at the Stan Lyons Invitational hosted by Butler.
For the most up-to-date news on Ball State cross country and track & field, follow @BallStateSports, @BallStateTFXC and @CoachE_BSU.
Ball State Results on Day 2 of the 2017 MAC Indoor Championships
60m Hurdles
1st - Jazmin Smith - 8.43* - Ball State's First MAC Indoor Champion since 2009
3rd - Jasmine Harris - 8.51*
High Jump
2nd - Regan Lewis - 1.81m* - Program Record
200m Dash
4th - Bryeana Byrdsong - 24.93
60m Dash
7th - Bryeana Byrdsong - 7.71
Mile Run
13th - Brooke Talhelm - 5:04.87
14th - Peyton Kneadler - 5:05.56
Weight Throw
17th - Adrienne Mayfield - 15.87m*
4x400m Relay
8th - Amber Jones, Olivia Ashba, Bryeana Byrdsong, Gabby Sims - 3:49.96
*Denotes career-best performance
- BallStateSports.com -
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Sprints/Hurdles
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Distance
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Throws
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Distance
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