Byrdsong & Carter Lead T&F on Day 1 of Tom Hathaway Classic

Byrdsong & Carter Lead T&F on Day 1 of Tom Hathaway Classic

January 25, 2019 | Track & Field

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - - Three event wins, a Mid-American Conference Indoor Championship automatic qualifying mark and the fourth-best individual effort in program history in the weight throw. That was the way the Ball State track and field team opened competition in the two-day Tom Hathaway Distance Classic Friday afternoon at UIndy's Athletic Recreational Center (ARC).

The Cardinals started the day with a bang thanks to freshman multi-event specialist Karlie Zumbro, who took second in her first career pentathlon with 3,219 points.

?????????Karlie Zumbro had her coffee this morning! ?????????

In her first ever Pentathlon, the Freshman races out to a big lead with a 9.30 60 hurdle effort bright and early this morning.

That's 848 points for event 1. High Jump up next! pic.twitter.com/INzCWAA23w
— BallStateTrack&XC (@BallStateTFXC) January 25, 2019

Zumbro topped all six pentathlon participants in the 60m hurdles (9.30 / 848 pts), long jump (5.70m / 578 pts) and 800m (2:28.83 / 708 pts). She also turned in personal bests in the shot put (8.65m / 441 pts) and high jump (1.52m / 644 pts).

Next up, the Cardinals swept the meet's two shortest events starting with sophomore Anasja Troutman clocking in at 9.00 in the finals to win the 60m hurdles. She also earned the fastest prelim time at 9.16

Junior Bryeana Byrdsong followed with the two fastest times in the 60m dash, clocking in at 7.66 in the prelims, before winning the event with a MAC auto mark of 7.58. The effort ties as the fourth-fastest in the league so far this season and makes her Ball State's second automatic qualifier in the event, joining senior Peyton Stewart who ranks second in the league at 7.52.

Turning to the field events, redshirt freshman Michelle Lehmann continued to improve in the long jump, placing second with a career-best mark of 5.62m.

Sophomore Princess Carter chipped in a spectacular performance by in the weight throw, recording the fourth-best individual performance in program history at 17.46m to take fourth.

You know that mark of 17.46m @_laneecarter posted in the weight throw earlier today ...

Well, it was only the 4?th-best individual effort in the event in PROGRAM HISTORY!!!

Congrats Princess on a job well done ??#ChirpChirp | #WeFly | #ncaaTF pic.twitter.com/JoBRGSKbBo
— BallStateTrack&XC (@BallStateTFXC) January 26, 2019

Ball State closed the opening day of the meet with a strong performance in the mile, led by freshman Karleigh Conner who earned her first career event victory with a time of 5:01.32. After her time is converted to account for the ARC's 200m flat track, Conner currently ranks eighth in the league at 4:58.37.

????Event Winner Alert ????

Karleigh Conner with a HUGE mile PR of 5:01.32 to take the win!

With the track being a flat 200m track, that will convert to well under 5:00! Great race!
— BallStateTrack&XC (@BallStateTFXC) January 25, 2019

Overall, the Cardinals received nine top five finishes, 13 top 10 efforts and 12 career-best performances Friday.

Ball State closes competition in the Tom Hathaway Distance Classic Saturday, competing in five events on the day starting at 11 a.m. with the shot put and high jump.
For the most up-to-date news on Ball State track & field, follow @BallStateSports and @BallStateTFXC.

Ball State's Friday Results at the Tom Hathaway Distance Classic
Pentathlon / Program Record: 3,797 points by Thekla Lorenz in 2008
2nd - Karlie Zumbro – 3,219
   60m Hurdles – 1st / 9.30 / 848 pts
   Long Jump – 1st / 5.07m / 578 pts
   800m – 1st / 2:28.83 / 708 pts
   Shot Put – 2nd / 8.65m* / 441 pts
   High Jump – 4th / 1.52m* / 644 pts

60m Hurdles / MAC Qualifying Standard: 8.64 / Program Record: 8.19 by Amber Williams in 2007
1st - Anasja Troutman – 9.00

60m Dash / MAC Qualifying Standard: 7.60 / Program Record 7.33 (c) by LaTasha Jenkins in 1998
1st - Bryeana Byrdsong – 7.58* - MAC Auto Mark
3rd - Michelle Lehmann – 7.74
4th - Ivy McKee – 7.83*

Long Jump / MAC Qualifying Standard: 5.82m / 19-1.25 / Program Record: 6.43m / 21-1.5 by Patricia Soman in 2003
2nd - Michelle Lehmann – 5.62m*

Weight Throw / MAC Qualifying Standard: 18.25m / 59-10.5 / Program Record: 18.55m / 60-10 by Marie Lumpkin 2015
4th - Princess Carter – 17.46m* - 4th-best individual effort in program history
6th - Kelsey Walters – 16.08m
9th - Jada Caldwell – 14.94m*
FOUL - Megan Graves

400m Dash / MAC Qualifying Standard: 55.51 / Program Record: 55.11 by Linise Gordon in 2000
25th - Anasja Troutman – 1:07.29

Mile Run / MAC Qualifying Standard: 4:51.38 / Program Record: 4:50.10 MaryKate Mellen in 2013
1st - Karleigh Conner – 5:01.32*
4th - Emmalyne Tarsa – 5:16.86*
7th - Peyton Kneadler – 5:20.56
8th - Jamie Wells – 5:20.80*
12th - Maddie Aul – 5:33.84
16th - Emma Cunningham – 5:40.69*
39th - Aubrey Norris – 6:07.66*

* denotes career-best performance