Track & Field Completes Latest Recruiting Class

June 28, 2018 | Cross Country, Track & Field

MUNCIE, Ind. - - Ball State track & field head coach Brian Etelman completed his third recruiting class with the addition of six more student-athletes for the 2018-19 season, raising the total number of new additions to nine.

"This is the third recruiting class we have brought in since my arrival, and once again, our staff has worked tremendously hard to continue to bring talent to Ball State," Etelman said. "I believe we have proven we can develop talent and potential into MAC champions, program record holders, NCAA qualifiers and All-Americans. I envision the members of this signing class will continue that trend."

In November, Etelman announced the signings of mid-distance specialist Karleigh Connor (Maineville, Ohio/Kings), long sprints/mid-distance specialist Meghan Hedrick (Norwalk, Ohio/St. Paul)and multi-event specialist Karlie Zumbro (Zanesville, Ohio/John Glen).

Set to join the three early signees are sprints/hurdles specialist Kennedy Batts (Indianapolis, Ind./Warren Central), as well as five more distance specialist in Lauren Alsko (Dublin, Ohio/Hilliard Davidson), Maddie Aul (Yorktown, Ind./Yorktown), Emma Cunningham (West Chester, Ohio/Lakota West), Aubrey Norris (Parker City, Ind./Monroe Central) and Jamie Wells (Indianapolis, Ind./Warren Central).

"These young women are all tremendous competitors and quality human beings which we can be proud of when they put on our uniform. This class helps balance out the make-up of our team and addresses some immediate needs. I am looking forward to seeing how the 2018-19 season sorts out with the addition of our new freshmen."

Learn more about the nine-member 2018-19 freshman class below.

Lauren Alsko
Dublin, Ohio (Hilliard Davidson)
Cross Country / Distance

PRs: 1600m - 5:28.78 | 3200m - 11:49.23 | 5K (XC) - 19:13.20

CROSS COUNTRY CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Helped guide the Wildcats to a sixth-place finish at the 2017 OHSAA Division I Championships by turning in a time of 20:00.40 … ran a season-fast 19:13.57 at the Asics Hot Summer Bash as a senior, while turning in a career-fast 5K time of 19:13.20 to place second at the Asics Hot Summer Bash as a freshman.

TRACK & FIELD CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Clocked a career-fast 3200m time of 11:49.23 at the Rubber City Open and logged a career-fast 1600m time of 5:28.78 at the SPIRE Scholastic Showcase her senior season.

ETELMAN ON ALSKO: Lauren comes from a very successful cross country and track & field program in the state of Ohio. She knows what winning looks and feels like and will add important depth to our roster in both cross country and track and field.

Maddie Aul
Yorktown, Ind. (Yorktown)
Cross Country / Distance

PRs: 1600m - 5:32.92 | 3200m - 11:53.34 | 5K (XC) - 19:33.60

CROSS COUNTRY CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Three-time Delaware County Cross Country Champion … turned in a career-fast 5K time of 19:33.60 at the IHSAA Delta Regional her sophomore year, finishing seventh in the race … her fastest race as a senior came when she placed third at the Hoosier Heritage Conference Championships with a time of 19:38.78

TRACK & FIELD CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Four-time Delaware County Champion in the 1600m … owns a career-best 1600m time of 5:32.92 set during an eighth-place finish her junior year at the IHSAA Ben Davis Regional … two-time Delaware County Champion in the 3200m run … her career best 3200m time of 11:53.34 came during a first-place run at the IHSAA Delta Sectional her freshman campaign.

ETELMAN ON AUL: Maddie has been one of East Central Indiana's best distance runners throughout her high school career. She comes to us with a background as a multi-sport athlete, which I believe will translate well as she competes for us in cross country and track & field. Being from down the road, it's important to me that we keep local talent close to home and prove to the local community that we are committed to taking care of and developing their student-athletes.

Kennedy Batts
Indianapolis, Ind. (Warren Central)
Sprints / Hurdles

PRs: 60m Hurdles - 8.98 | 100m Hurdles - 14.35 | 300m Hurdles - 44.67

TRCAK & FIELD CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Three-time IHSAA state qualifier in the 100m hurdles, highlighted by an eighth-place finish as a sophomore (15.11) and a 10th-place effort as a junior (14.95) … turned in her career-fast 100m hurdles time of 14.35 to win the event at the Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference Championships her senior season … also placed second in the 100m hurdles with a time of 14.87 at the IHSAA Shelbyville Regionals as a senior … three-time IHSAA state qualifier in the 300m hurdles, including a fifth-place finish her junior season with a career-fast time of 44.67 … regional champion in the 300m hurdles as a sophomore (46.11) and junior (44.73), while placing second as a senior (45.77) … placed third in the 60m hurdles at the Hoosier State Relays with a career-fast tying time of 8.98 her senior campaign … set her career-best mark of 8.98 one week earlier at the DePaul Hoosier State Relays qualifier.

ETELMAN ON BATTS: Kennedy comes to us from track powerhouse Warren Central and will join high school teammates Bryeana Byrdsong, Dejah Johnson and Jamie Wells on our roster. Kennedy has proven to be one of Indiana's best hurdlers over the past four years and will fit in well to a very talented sprint/hurdle group.

Karleigh Conner
Maineville, Ohio (Kings)
Cross Country / Mid-Distance

PRs: 400m - 1:00.22 | 800m - 2:10.96 | 1600m - 5:17.78 | 5K (XC) - 19:40.51

CROSS COUNTRY CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Placed 60th at the OHSAA Division 1 Cross Country Regional as a senior … turned in a career-fast 5K time of 19:40.51 at the Eastern Cincinnati Conference Championship as a senior.

TRACK & FIELD CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Finished her high school career with a career-fast and fifth-place time of 2:10.98 in the 800m at the OHSAA Division I State Championships, while running anchor for the third-place 4x800m relay which crossed the line in 9:01.92 … was also the conference, district and regional champion in the 800m as a senior … ran anchor for the second-place 4x800m relay (9:09.74) at the OATCCC Indoor Championships as a senior, while placing 20th in the 800m (2:27.14) … ran the second leg for the third-place 4x800m relay (9:01.43) at the OHSAA State Meet as a junior … placed 10th in the 800m (2:23:75) at the OHSAA Regionals as a junior, while also running a leg for the sixth-place 4x400m relay (4:00.72) at the meet … helped guide her 4x400m relay to a ninth-place time of 3:56.64 at the OHSAA State Meet her sophomore season … placed 16th in the 800m at the OATCCC Indoor State Meet her sophomore season, while helping guide the 4x800m relay to a fifth-place finish and the 4x400m relay to a 12th-place showing.

ETELMAN ON CONNER: I believe we found a diamond in Karleigh. She is an incredibly intense and prideful competitor that had a phenomenal senior season during one of the state of Ohio's most competitive years in recent memory. I have a lot of faith that Karleigh will add talent, championship experience and reliability to our distance squad.

Emma Cunningham
West Chester, Ohio (Lakota West)
Cross Country / Distance

PRs: 1600m - 5:25.61 | 3200m - 11:54.47 | 5K (XC) - 19:40.45

CROSS COUNTRY CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Turned in a career-fast 5K time of 19:40.95 at the OHSAA District meet held at the Voice of America Park her junior season … placed 13th at the Greater Miami Conference Cross Country Championships her senior campaign with a season-fast time of 20:01.40.

TRACK & FIELD CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Recorded a fourth-place and career-best time of 5:25.61 in the 1600m at the OHSAA Division I District race to earn a regional berth her senior season … went on to place 13th at regionals with an effort of 5:43.11 … Placed sixth in the 3200m at the Wayne Invitational with a season-fast time of 12:11.45 her senior year … set her career-fast 3200m time at the Rod Russel Mason Invitational her sophomore season, crossing the finish line in 11:54.47.

ETELMAN ON CUNNINGHAM: Emma comes to us from the Cincinnati area and I anticipate her adding depth and quality to our distance area right away. Emma has solid range and will develop nicely over time and make a contribution in cross country and in the longer race distances in track. We look forward to getting her in a Ball State uniform soon.

Meghan Hedrick
Norwalk, Ohio (St. Paul)
Long Sprints / Mid-Distance

PRs: 200m - 26.22 | 400m - 1:00.15 | 800m - 2:17.44

TRACK & FIELD CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Relatively new to track, being a standout for the St. Paul volleyball program … placed 12th in the 800m (2:20.14) at the OHSAA Division 3 State Championships as a junior, while also competing for the seventh-place 4x100m (51.17) and 4x400m (4:02.72) relays at the meet … conference and district champion in the 800m as a junior … a three-time competitor at the OHSAA Division 3 State Championships as a sophomore, running for the sixth-place 4x200m relay (1:46.52), the 10th-place 4x400m relay (4:05.54) and the 12th-place (51.39) 4x100m relay.

ETELMAN ON HEDRICK: I am really excited about Meghan. An accomplished volleyball player in high school, Meghan has tremendous potential as a long sprinter/middle distance runner. She fits in really well with our long sprint group and I anticipate having many great things to say about Meghan during her time here.

Aubrey Norris
Parker City, Ind. (Monroe Central)
Cross Country / Distance

PRs: 1600m - 5:30.47 | 3200m - 12:08.43 | 5K (XC) - 19:42.80

CROSS COUNTRY CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Recorded a career-fast 5K time of 19:42.80 to place eighth at the IHSAA Delta Regional as a sophomore … turned in a season-fast time of 19:59.41 to place 33rd at the IHSAA New Haven Semi-State meet as a senior … won the Randolph County Championships as a sophomore with a time of 19:58.90.

TRACK & FIELD CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Finished her high school career with a career-fast 1600m time of 5:30.47 to place 13th at the IHSAA Ben Davis Regional as a senior … was the sectional runner-up in the 1600m as a sophomore (5:36.04) and senior (5:34.47) … captured the Randolph County Championship in the 1600m as a sophomore, crossing the line in 5:49.10 … also captured the Randolph Country Championship in the 3200m as a sophomore, clocking in at 13:13.50 … one week later, she captured the IHSAA Delta Sectional title in the 3200m with a winning time of 12:12.55 … her career-best 3200m time came in a 13th-place finish of 12:08.43 at the IHSAA Ben Davis Regional her junior season … as a senior, she placed second at sectionals with a season-fast time of 12:10.97 and followed with an 11th-place time of 12:13.05 at regionals.

ETELMAN ON NORRIS: Aubrey fits really well into our vision of developing local talent. Having watched Aubrey race numerous times over the recent years, she has been one of the area's best distance athletes and brings a sharp competitive edge to our team. I am looking forward to seeing how well she performs for us over the coming years as she develops at the collegiate level.

Jamie Wells
Indianapolis, Ind. (Warren Central)
Cross Country / Distance

PRs: 1600m - 5:08.23 | 3200m - 11:20.73 | 5K (XC) - 18:46.00

CROSS COUNTRY CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Placed fifth at the Marion County Meet her senior season with a career-fast 5K time of 18:46.00 … also placed second at the IHSAA New Palestine Sectional (20:02.01), fifth at the IHSAA Rushville Regional (20:01.00) and 37th in the IHSAA Shelbyville Semi-State Meet (19:07.80) … finished her highly successful sophomore season by winning the Nike Cross Nationals Midwest Regional with a time of 18:56.70 … placed 31st at the IHSAA State Championships as a sophomore, crossing the line in 18:54.00 … also won the Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference Championships (18:46.66), the IHSAA New Palestine Sectional (19:17.41) and the IHSAA Rushville Regional (18:48.90) as a sophomore, while placing 14th at the IHSAA Carmel Semi-State meet (19:00.50) … placed 57th at the IHSAA State Championships as a freshman, clocking in with a season-best time of 19:12.50.

TRACK & FIELD CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Placed 21st in the 3200m at the IHSAA State Championships as a junior, clocking in at 11:30.12 … advanced to the state meet by finishing second at the IHSAA Franklin Community Regionals with a career-fast time of 11:20.73 … was also the IHSAA Sectional Champion in the 3200m as a junior, winning the race in 11:46.39 … two-time state qualifier in the 1600m … placed 16th at the IHSAA State Championships as a sophomore with a career-fast time of 5:08.23, while clocking in at 5:15.81 to place 18th her senior season … sectional champion in the 1600m as a sophomore (5:15.24) and senior (5:17.99), while also capturing the regional title (5:12.83) her sophomore year.

ETELMAN ON WELLS: Jamie comes to us from Warren Central and will be the fourth student-athlete from the highly touted program on our roster. We know we are getting a championship caliber competitor in Jamie and someone who provides us with immediate depth both in cross country and track & field.

Karlie Zumbro
Zanesville, Ohio (John Glen)
Multi-Events

PRs: 60m Hurdles - 9.23 | 100m Hurdles - 14.74 | 300m Hurdles - 43.43 | 200m - 26.20 | 400m - 58.04 | Long Jump - 17'-9.25" | Triple Jump – 36'-6.25" | Heptathlon - 4,272

TRACK & FIELD CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Qualified for the OHSAA Division 2 State Championships in the 300m hurdles all four years, earning third-place finishes as a sophomore (44.32), junior (43.43 - career-fast) and senior (43.61), while placing fourth as a freshman (45.16) … district and regional champion in the 300m hurdles all four seasons, while winning the last three Muskingum Valley League Championships in the event … four-time state qualifier in the 100m hurdles, placing fifth as a senior (14.76), eighth as a junior (15.04), fifth as a sophomore (15.23) and 14th as a freshman (15.62) … two-time Muskingum Valley League Champion in the 100m hurdles, while also capturing two district titles and one regional title … her career-best 100m hurdles time of 14.74 was set in her regional victory her senior season … OATCCC Indoor State Champion in the triple jump as a sophomore and senior, while placing second as a junior … her career-best triple jump distance of 36'-6.25" came in her championship-winning performance as a senior … two-time OHSAA Division 2 State Championship qualifier in the long jump, placing sixth as a senior and seventh as a freshman … captured three Muskingum Valley League Championships in the long jump, while also winning regional titles as a freshman and senior … her career-best long jump of 17'-9.5" came in her regional victory as a senior … was also a three-time OATCCC Indoor State Championship competitor in the long jump, placing as high as ninth her sophomore season … three-time OATCCC Indoor State Championship competitor in the 60m hurdles, placing as high as fourth her junior season … turned in a career-best heptathlon score of 4,272 at the AAU Junior Olympic Games as a junior … two-time Muskingum Valley League Champion in the outdoor 400m, while competing in the OATCCC Indoor State Championships in the event twice … OATCCC Indoor State Champion in the 800m as a senior, clocking in at 2:17.16.

ETELMAN ON ZUMBRO: Karlie is one of the more accomplished student-athletes we have recruited in the past three years. She has incredible range both on the track and in the field. She is going to make an immediate impact in the MAC in the pentathlon and heptathlon, and I foresee her scoring major points both in the long hurdles and the 800m as well. I am really excited to work with someone as diverse and competitive as Karlie.