Maritza Rodriguez & 4x100m Relay Lead Track & Field Thursday

Photo by: Kyle Crawford

Maritza Rodriguez & 4x100m Relay Lead Track & Field Thursday

April 26, 2018 | Track & Field

PENN RELAYS LINKS: Live Results/Schedule of Events
HILLSDALE "GINA" RELAYS LINKS: Performance List (PDF) | Schedule of Events (PDF) | Live Results | Video

HILLSDALE, Mich. -- With a second place time of 17:15.53, sophomore distance runner Maritza Rodriguez continued to impress in the 5,000m run by placing second among a field of 104 runners at the Hillsdale "GINA" Relays Thursday evening.

In addition to being a career-best effort, Rodriguez's time is the best for a Ball State student-athlete in the 5,000m run since Ali Bishel clocked the second-fastest time in program history of 16:23.39 at the Stan Lyons Invitational held April 26, 2008.

The Cardinals also received a fourth-place effort in the 3000m steeplechase from freshman Emmalyne Tarsa who crossed the line in 11:45.53.

Ball State also had a pair of relays compete at the Penn Relays, with last weekend's record-setting 4x100m relay advancing to the finals at the prestigious meet with a preliminary round time of 46.05 which was the 16th-fastest on the day.

The Cardinals continue competition in both meets Friday, with action at the "GINA" Relays starting with the shots put (1 p.m.). Overall, Ball State will compete in nine events on the day at Hillsdale's Ken Herrick Track.

Ball State will also compete in the 4x100m relay (1 p.m.) and 100m hurdles (3:55 p.m.) Friday at the Penn Relays.

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Ball State Results at Penn Relays

4x100m Relay
School Record: 45.28 by Jazmin Smith, Bryeana Byrdsong, Jasmine Harris and Peyton Stewart on April 21, 2018
16th - Jazmin Smith, Bryeana Byrdsong, Jasmine Harris, Peyton Stewart - 46.05 (Advanced to Friday's Finals - 1 p.m.)

4x400m Relay
School Record: 3:38.05 by Jada Phelps, Angka Morris, Patricia Soman and Linise Gordon in 2001
25th - MaQuila Norman, Jazmin Smith, Bryeana Byrdsong, Amber Jones - 3:49.37

Ball State Results at Hillsdale "GINA" Relays

3000m Steeplechase
MAC Qualifying Standard: 10:56.96 - School Record: 10:34.05 by Katie Nowak in 2002
4th - Emmalyne Tarsa - 11:45.53

5000m Run
MAC Qualifying Standard: 16:56.24 - School Record: 16:15.29 by Katie Nowak in 2003
2nd - Maritza Rodriguez - 17:15.53*
25th - Cayla Eckenroth - 17:56.50*
32nd - Lauren Whitehouse - 18:05.48*
46th - Meliza Rodriguez - 18:14.35*
65th - Jessica Bryzek - 18:50.31
66th - Kitty Taylor - 18:53.05