Track & Field Scores Big on Final Day of MAC Championships

BUFFALO, N.Y.- - Junior Regan Lewis capture her third straight Mid-American Conference high jump title, while two Ball State track & field runners placed in the top four of the 100m dash to lead the program to its highest point total at the MAC Outdoor Championships in nearly a decade.

Over three days of competition at Buffalo's Stadium Track, Ball State's student athletes scored in seven of the 16 events they competed in to rack up 49.5 points. It's the most points at the outdoor conference meet since 2009 and helped the Cardinals claim their first top 10 finish in the meet since 2012.

"I am really proud of how our team competed this weekend," third-year head coach Brian Etelman said. "We scored higher than projected coming into the meet and remained competitive as a team throughout. The MAC is a phenomenal conference and we have continued to build and make big progress throughout the rebuild of our program."

One example of that progress is Lewis, who continued to dominate the high jump by winning her third consecutive gold medal in the high jump. Lewis, who also claimed the 2017 outdoor and 2018 indoor MAC titles, was the only competitor to clear 1.74m Saturday in Buffalo.

She would go on to tie her season-best clearance at 1.79m and take three attempts at 1.82m which would have tied her career-best effort set while winning the 2017 MAC outdoor title. No other competitor cleared higher than 1.64m Saturday.

"Regan has continued to build one of the most impressive resumes in the MAC, as she has now won three straight conference high jump titles," Etelman said. "Of the three, today's was her most impressive. A 15cm margin of victory in cold and windy conditions was quite the sight to see."

Lewis was not the only Ball State student-athlete to score in the high jump, however, as freshman Hailley Peters tied for eighth after clearing 1.64m on her third attempt.

Aside from Lewis, sophomore sprinter Bryeana Byrdsong had the best weekend for Ball State, helping account for 23 points by placing fourth in both the 100m (11.71) and 200m (23.87) finals. She was also a member of the second-place 4x100m relay and the fourth-place 4x400m relay.

"Bryeana was a warrior this weekend," Etelman said. "She ran six total races and scored in every event in which she competed."

In addition to Byrdsong's top four finish in the 100m dash, junior Peyton Stewart earned her second consecutive medal in the race, placing second overall with a time of 11.66. Stewart, who was the 100m champion last season, also ran anchor for the second-place 4x100m relay.

"Peyton Stewart and our 4x100m relay really powered us this weekend with their medal-winning performances," Etelman said.

Rounding out Ball State's individual scorers Saturday were junior Jazmin Smith and redshirt freshman Jasmine Harris in the 100m hurdles. Smith, who was the third member of the 4x100m relay, placed fifth in the 100m hurdles with a career-best time of 13.70, while Harris took seventh in a career-fast 13.76.

Sophomore sprinter Amber Jones was the fourth member of the 4x100m relay which clocked in with a combined time of 45.57. Jones also lead off the 4x400m relay which finished in 3:42.24. Byrdsong and Jones were joined on the 4x400m relay by freshman Dejah Johnson and MaQuila Norman.

Overall, 10 different Cardinals helped account for Ball State's 49.5 points over the course of the meet, which is more points scored at the MAC Outdoor Championships than over the previous four seasons combined (49). The best part, all 10 student-athletes who scored this weekend will be back next season.

"We scored more points this weekend than our previous four outdoor championships combined, so I'm super happy with our progress," Etelman concluded. "However, we have a lot more work to do and I'm looking forward to the big move we make next year as we return all of our point scorers and champions."

Next up for the Ball State track & field program will be the 2018 NCAA East Preliminary Championships (May 24-26) which will see Lewis compete in the high jump.

For the most up-to-date news on Ball State track & field, follow @BallStateSports and @BallStateTFXC.

Ball State's Saturday Results at the MAC Outdoor Championships

Discus
16th - Adrienne Mayfield - 40.48m
20th - Princess Carter - 35.09m

High Jump
1st - Regan Lewis - 1.79m (10 points)
T-8th - Hailley Peters - 1.64m (0.5 points)

4x100 Relay
2nd - Jazmin Smith, Bryeana Byrdsong, Amber Jones. Peyton Stewart - 45.57 (8 points)

100m Hurdles Finals
5th - Jazmin Smith - 13.70* (4 points)
7th - Jasmine Harris - 13.76* (2 points)

100m Finals
2nd - Peyton Stewart - 11.66 (8 points)
4th - Bryeana Byrdsong - 11.71 (5 points)

200m Finals
4th - Bryeana Byrdsong - 23.87 (5 points)

5000m
17th - Maritza Rodriguez - 17:26.88

4x400m Relay
4th - Amber Jones, Dejah Johnson, Bryeana Byrdsong, MaQuila Norman - 3:42.24 (5 points)

Ball State's Friday Results at the MAC Outdoor Championships

Shot Put
7th - Kelsey Walters - 14.22m (2 points)
FOUL - Jada Caldwell

100m Hurdles Prelims
5th - Jazmin Smith - 13.89* - Qualified for Finals
7th - Jasmine Harris - 14.02* - Qualified for Finals
20th - Anna-Kay West - 15.17

400m Prelims
14th - Dejah Johnson - 57.08*
15th - Amber Jones - 57.27
19th - MaQuila Norman - 58.30

100m Prelims
6th - Peyton Stewart - 11.81 - Qualified for Finals
7th - Bryeana Byrdsong - 11.84 - Qualified for Finals
19th - Paris Carver - 12.13

800m Prelims
20th - Peyton Kneadler - 2:20.69

3000m Steeplechase
13th - Emmalyne Tarsa - 11:34.24*

Ball State's Thursday Results at the MAC Outdoor Championships

Hammer
19th - Megan Graves - 42.32m

Javelin
10th - Abby Denham - 39.68m*

1500m Prelims
19th - Peyton Kneadler - 4:53.15

200m Prelims
5th - Bryeana Byrdsong - 24.02 - Qualified for Finals
17th - Jazmin Smith - 24.45
20th - Amber Jones - 24.76

10,000m
19th - Maritza Rodriguez - 37:47.74

Track & Field Scores Big on Final Day of MAC Championships

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Players Mentioned

Bryeana Byrdsong

Jada Caldwell

Princess Carter

Paris Carver

Abby Denham

Megan Graves

Jasmine Harris

Dejah Johnson

Amber Jones

Peyton Kneadler

Regan Lewis

Adrienne Mayfield

MaQuila Norman

Hailley Peters

Maritza Rodriguez

Jazmin Smith

Peyton Stewart

Emmalyne Tarsa

Kelsey Walters

Anna-Kay West