Track & Field Returns To Action Friday At Jim Green Invite

Live Results Link | Watch Live | Complete Schedule

MUNCIE, Ind.- - While it's been over a month since the December season opener, the Ball State indoor track & field team looks to carry over its momentum from a strong start to the season at this weekend's Jim Green Invitational hosted by Kentucky.

The two-day competition, which begins Friday (Jan. 11) and concludes Saturday (Jan. 12), will be held inside UK's Nutter Field House and feature 20 different collegiate programs.

The Cardinals will see a lot of familiar foes over the course of the competition, including Mid-American Conference rivals Akron and Miami, as well as in-state opponents Butler, Indiana, IUPUI and Southern Indiana.

The meet also features a pair of teams ranked in the Top 20 in the latest NCAA Division I Women's Indoor Track & Field National Rating Index, released by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA); No. 10 Kentucky and No. 19 Ohio State.

This Weekend's Ball State Schedule:
Friday, Jan. 11
High Jump (4:15 p.m.): Hailley Peters
Weight Throw (TBD, after men's weight throw at 3 p.m.): Princess Carter, Kelsey Walters, Megan Graves
DMR (7:15 p.m.): Squad A: Emmalyne Tarsa, Karleigh Conner, Bryeana Byrdsong, Peyton Kneadler

Saturday, Jan. 12
Long Jump (11 a.m.): Michelle Lehmann, Karlie Zumbro
Shot Put (TBD, after men's shot put at 11 a.m.): Kelsey Walters, Jada Caldwell
60m Hurdle (Prelims at 12:12 p.m. / Finals at 1:20 p.m.): Jazmin Smith, Jasmine Harris, Anasja Troutman, Karlie Zumbro
60m (Prelims at 12:50 p.m. / Finals at 1:30 p.m.): Peyton Stewart, Michelle Lehmann, Paris Carver, Ivy McKee
Mile (1:55 p.m.): Peyton Kneadler, Maddie Aul, Aubrey Norris, Jamie Wells
400m (2:35 p.m.): Amber Jones, Dejah Johnson, MaQuila Norman, Wambui Watene
800m (3:30 p.m.): Karleigh Conner, Meghan Hedrick
200m (4:25 p.m.): Jazmin Smith, Peyton Stewart, Jasmine Harris, Paris Carver, Ivy McKee, Anasja Troutman
3000m (5:30 p.m.): Maritza Rodriguez, Meliza Rodriguez, Emmalyne Tarsa
4x400m Relay (6:10 p.m.):
Squad A: Amber Jones, Dejah Johnson, Jazmin Smith, Wambui Watene
Squad B: MaQuila Norman, Bryeana Byrdsong, Karlie Zumbro, Meghan Hedrick

Three Things to Know Entering Jim Green Invite:
No. 1: Ball State's student-athletes lead the Mid-American Conference in the 60m (Peyton Stewart), 200m (Jazmin Smith) and High Jump (Regan Lewis).

In addition, the Cardinals have three student-athletes ranked in the Top 20 of the NCAA Rankings; 60m (Peyton Stewart, 14th), 400m (Amber Jones, 19th) and High Jump (Regan Lewis, 8th).

Heading into the weekend, @BallStateTFXC leads @MACSports in
60m: Peyton Stewart
200m: Jazmin Smith
HJ: Regan Lewis

... and we have 3? athletes in top 20 in @NCAATrackField
60m: Stewart (14th)
400m: Amber Jones (19th)
HJ: Lewis (8th)#ChirpChirp | #WeFly | #MACtion | #ncaatf pic.twitter.com/L0K8n2wGcO
— BallStateTrack&XC (@BallStateTFXC) January 9, 2019

No. 2: Peyton Stewart opened the year by being named the MAC Track Athlete of the Week for the first time in her career after winning the 60m at the Bowling Green Opener (Dec. 1).

Not only was her time of 7.52 her fastest in the 60m to open a season, it also ties as the third-fastest 60m run of her four-year career. Her only faster runs came in the prelims (7.50) and the finals (7.48) of last season's MAC Indoor Championships.

Stewart was the only MAC student-athlete to post a league automatic qualifying time on the track opening weekend. In addition, her effort ranks first in the league and fifth among all NCAA Division I runners.

Only one @MACSports student-athlete turned in a league automatic qualifying mark on the track opening weekend ... Our very own Peyton Stewart!!!

Congrats Peyton on being named the MAC Track Athlete of the Week ??????#ChirpChirp | #WeFly

Read More: https://t.co/BWLyxfvaTO pic.twitter.com/Ab5Y2bDu7v
— BallStateTrack&XC (@BallStateTFXC) December 4, 2018

No. 3: The Cardinals opened the 2018-19 indoor season with a bang, winning seven events and posting a pair of MAC Indoor Championship automatic qualifying marks at the Bowling Green Opener.

Senior Jazmin Smith was the big individual winner on the day, taking home top honors in both the 60m hurdles (8.66) and the 200m dash (25.15). Other event winners were Peyton Stewart (60m - MAC Auto), Regan Lewis (High Jump - MAC Auto), Meghan Hedrick (800m), Amber Jones (400m) and Maritza Rodriguez (3000m).

In addition, Ball State's student-athletes earned 19 career-best performances at the meet.

Quotables
Brian Etelman on this weekend's competition:
"If you're serious about being good in the MAC, you've got to be able to compete with all the power five schools in this area. At the end of the day, the goal is to beat as many people as you can, so I know that we have some individuals that are capable of coming away from this weekend looking really, really good."

"If you're serious about being good in the MAC, you've got to be able to compete with all the power five schools in this area ..." - Head Coach Brian Etelman on the tough competition the team will face this weekend.#ChirpChirp | #WeFly | #ncaaTF pic.twitter.com/xsddJlcirf
— BallStateTrack&XC (@BallStateTFXC) January 10, 2019

Brian Etelman on being back in action this weekend:
"For me, I'm just excited to see what we are going to do this weekend. I know we get really excited about performing at Kentucky. We always seem to do well there every year."

"For me, I'm just excited to see what we are going to do this weekend..." - Head Coach Brian Etelman on this weekend's Jim Green Invite.#ChirpChirp | #WeFly | #ncaaTF pic.twitter.com/JbaMr48c5l
— BallStateTrack&XC (@BallStateTFXC) January 10, 2019

Freshman Meghan Hedrick on her goals for the weekend
"Definitely a goal is to PR every meet, just do as best as I can and walk away from every race knowing I gave it my all."

"... just do as best as I can and walk away from every race knowing I gave it my all." - @Meghan_Hedrick9 on her goals for this weekend and the rest of the year.#ChirpChirp | #WeFly | #ncaaTF pic.twitter.com/LwbCUXfTKG
— BallStateTrack&XC (@BallStateTFXC) January 8, 2019

Last Time In Lexington - 2018 Kentucky Invitational
Last year, the Cardinals faced off against some of the nation's top programs at the University of Kentucky Invitational (Jan. 12-13, 2018). The team logged 14 career-best performances and four top 10 finishes. Regan Lewis tied for sixth place in the high jump to claim Ball State's best individual finish for the weekend. Complete Recap

Last Time Out - Ball State Award Winners for Bowling Green Opener
@BallStateTFXC Field Athlete of the Week

?? @BallStateTFXC Field Athlete of the Week ??

Regan Lewis opened her senior season by winning the high jump at the BG Opener, clearing 1.75m on her 1?st attempt.

In fact, she was the only competitor to clear above 1.59m, w/her 1?st jump coming at 1.64m.#ChirpChirp | #WeFly pic.twitter.com/cTY6q6frpk
— BallStateTrack&XC (@BallStateTFXC) December 3, 2018

@BallStateTFXC Track Athlete of the Week

?? @BallStateTFXC Track Athlete of the Week ??

Peyton Stewart's 2018-19 indoor debut was an impressive one, as she won the 60m at the BG Opener w/a MAC auto mark of 7.52

It ties as the 3?rd-fastest 60m of her 4?-year career and is her best to open a season#ChirpChirp | #WeFly pic.twitter.com/qZw5Zayhhx
— BallStateTrack&XC (@BallStateTFXC) December 3, 2018

@BallStateTFXC Cardinal of the Week

?? @BallStateTFXC Cardinal of the Week ??

In her first career 300m run, sophomore Wambui Watene clocked in at 40.73 which is BSU's fastest time in the event since ... well, since before the 2009-10 season.#ChripChirp | #WeFly pic.twitter.com/Xho6gOM2sY
— BallStateTrack&XC (@BallStateTFXC) December 3, 2018