Track & Field Turns In Big Performances on Final Day of Akron Invite

AKRON, Ohio - - Competing against some of the top contenders from the Mid-American Conference, the Ball State indoor track & field team made a statement Saturday afternoon by winning a pair of events and earning 12 top five finishes on the second day of the Akron Invitational at Stile Field House.

"It was a great meet for us today," Ball State head coach Brian Etelman said. "By far our best meet of the year. We are in a great spot three weeks out from the conference championships. We talked extensively about how important it was that we performed well this weekend and everyone delivered."

In addition to the Cardinals and host Zips, the 25-team Akron Invitational field also featured some of the top MAC student-athletes from Bowling Green, Buffalo, Eastern Michigan, Kent State and Ohio.

"I was really impressed with how well we competed head-to-head against MAC opponents," Etelman added. "Today looked like a min-MAC Championship and we competed with confidence. We gained respect this weekend. Now we have to work to continue to earn it."

Ball State's most impressive performance came in the 60m hurdles, with sophomore Jazmin Smith (Cincinnati, Ohio/North College Hill) winning the event with a career-fast time of 8.53, while freshman Jasmine Harris (Moreland Hills, Ohio/Orange) followed right behind in second at 8.56.

Smith, who also placed 10th in the 60m dash with a personal-best time of 7.81, and Harris come out of the meet ranked third in the MAC in the 60m hurdles at 8.53.

"Jazmin Smith had our strongest performance today, running two PRs en route to winning the 60 hurdles." Etelman said. "Smith and Jasmine Harris look to be big-time threats at the MAC meet."

The Cardinals also saw two more big performances in the 60m dash, as sophomore Peyton Stewart (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence North) tied her career-best time at 7.56 to place second and Harris clocked in with a PR of 7.67 to finish fifth. With her effort, Stewart became the fourth Ball State student-athlete to secure a MAC Indoor Championship automatic qualifying mark this season.

Ball State's second event victory of the day came from freshman Amber Jones (Matteson, Ill./Rich South) who cross the finish line in the 200m dash blue race with a career-fast time of 25.27. Freshman sprinter Bryeana Byrdsong (Indianapolis, Ind./Warren Central) also shined in the 200m dash gold race, placing third with a PR of 24.94.

The Cardinals freshman distance runners also turned in strong performances against some of its toughest competition to date, led by Brooke Talhelm (Indianapolis, Ind./Franklin Central) who finished eighth in the hotly contested 800m gold race with a career-fast effort of 5:02.89. Emily Tromp (Hibbing, Minn./Hibbing) placed second in the mile run blue race with a PR of 5:07.81, while Peyton Kneadler (Monticello, Ind./Twin Lakes) placed fourth in the 800m run blue race with a career-fast time of 2:16.51.

"Peyton Stewart showed why she scored as a freshman and is now back toward the top of the 60m rankings," Etelman added. "I also thought Brooke Talhelm, Emily Tromp and Peyton Kneadler asserted themselves in the distance races, with all running PRs."

Overall, Ball State's student-athletes finished the two-day competition with 20 career-best performances.

The Ball State indoor track & field team looks to carry over the momentum gained this weekend when it returns to action next Friday and Saturday at the Chipotle Marshall Invitational.

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 AKRON INVITATIONAL
60m Dash:
   MAC Qualifying Standard: 7.62 • School Record: 7.33 (c) by LaTasha Jenkins in 1998
2nd - Peyton Stewart – 7.56* finals / 7.64 prelim, won prelim heat
5th - Jasmine Harris – 7.67* finals / 7.67* prelim, won prelim heat
10th - Jazmin Smith - 7.81*

60m Hurdles:
   MAC Qualifying Standard: 8.73 • School Record: 8.19 by Amber Williams in 2007
1st - Jazmin Smith – 8.53* Finals / 8.63 prelim, won prelim heat
2nd - Jasmine Harris – 8.56 finals / 8.76 prelim
10th - Anna-Kay West - 9:02
12th - Kassidy Swenson - 9:07

200m Dash (Gold Race):
   MAC Qualifying Standard: 24.52 • School Record: 23.25 by LaTasha Jenkins in 1999
3rd - Bryeana Byrdsong – 24.94*

200m Dash (Blue Race):
   MAC Qualifying Standard: 24.52 • School Record: 23.25 by LaTasha Jenkins in 1999
1st - Amber Jones – 25.27*
15th - Anna-Kay West – 26.27*
18th - Olivia Ashba – 26.41*

400m Dash (Gold Race):
   MAC Qualifying Standard: 55.70 • School Record: 55.11 by Linise Gordon in 2000
4th - Gabby Sims - 57.04*

400m Dash (Blue Race):
   MAC Qualifying Standard: 55.70 • School Record: 55.11 by Linise Gordon in 2000
8th - Olivia Ashba - 59.38
12th - Kassidy Swenson - 1:00.25*

800m Run (Blue Race):
   MAC Qualifying Standard: 2:12.02 • School Record: 2:07.30 by Natasha Lothery in 2002
4th - Peyton Kneadler - 2:16.51*

Mile Run (Gold Race):
   MAC Qualifying Standard: 4:53.21 • School Record: 4:50.10 by MaryKate Mellen in 2013
8th - Brooke Talhelm – 5:02.89*

Mile Run (Blue Race):
   MAC Qualifying Standard: 4:53.21 • School Record: 4:50.10 by MaryKate Mellen in 2013
2nd - Emily Tromp - 5:07.81*
14th - Hannah Cummings - 5:19.98*

3000m Run (Blue Race):
   MAC Qualifying Standard: 9:47.13 • School Record: 9:31.43 by Jill Scully in 2006
3rd - Jordan Timmons - 10:36.22*
7th - Ericka Rinehart - 10:54.62
10th - Meliza Rodriguez      - 11:26.30*

4x400m Relay:
   School Record: 3:39.94 (c) by Jada Phelps, Angka Morris, Patricia Soman and Linise Gordon in 2001
3rd - Amber Jones, Bryeana Byrdsong, Jasmine Harris, Gabby Sims – 3:53.00

High Jump (Gold Division):
   MAC Qualifying Standard: 1.69m / 5-6.5 • School Record: 1.77m / 5-9.75 by Ashley Gillies in 2002 & Susan Setlack in 2000
T-3 - Regan Lewis – 1.71m (5-7.25)

Shot Put (Blue Division):
   MAC Qualifying Standard: 14.82m / 48-7.5 • School Record: 14.77m / 48-5.75 by Gena Rusch in 1990
FOUL - Kelsey Walters

Weight Throw (Blue Division):
   MAC Qualifying Standard: 17.88m / 58-8 • School Record:18.55m / 60-10 by Marie Lumpkin in 2015
12th - Adrienne Mayfield - 15.58m (51-1.25)

* Denotes Career Best Mark

- BallStateSports.com -

Track & Field Turns In Big Performances on Final Day of Akron Invite

Related News

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Olivia Ashba

Bryeana Byrdsong

Hannah Cummings

Jasmine Harris

Amber Jones

Peyton Kneadler

Regan Lewis

Marie Lumpkin

Adrienne Mayfield

Ericka Rinehart

Meliza Rodriguez

Gabby Sims

Jazmin Smith

Peyton Stewart

Kassidy Swenson

Brooke Talhelm

Jordan Timmons

Emily Tromp

Kelsey Walters

Anna-Kay West