Track & Field Excited to Welcome First Recruits in 2020-21 Recruiting Class

Track & Field Excited to Welcome First Recruits in 2020-21 Recruiting Class

November 13, 2019 | Cross Country, Track & Field

MUNCIE, Ind. - - It's national signing day and that means new Cardinals are joining the flock and will be making their way to a new nest for the 2020-21 season.

Learn more about the newest members of the Ball State Track & Field and Cross Country programs below, with updates as new student-athletes sign.

Let's get this party started! ?? SIGNED ??

A big ??Welcome?? to Elka Machan @elkamachan from Coldwater, Michigan!
Elka is a highly accomplished distance runner and was one of the state of Michigan's BEST this cross country season. pic.twitter.com/MQdiRxHzZ9
— BallStateTrack&XC (@BallStateTFXC) November 13, 2019

Name: Elka Machan
Events: Distance
Hometown (High School): Coldwater, Mich. (Coldwater)

ETELMAN ON MACHAN: We are very excited to add Elka to the Cardinals family. She ended her fall season as one of the best cross country runners in the state of Michigan. Elka will come in and help our distance group right away. She's not afraid of the work that goes into being a successful athlete and student. Her drive will be a great attribute to the team.

PRs: 1600m - 5:03.11 | 3200m - 11:06.7 | 5K (XC) - 18:00.7

HIGH SCHOOL: A four-year letterwinner in cross country and entering her fourth season in track & field at Coldwater for coach Jim Bilsborrow … two-time All-State in cross country, while also earning all-state honors in track & field as a junior … won nine cross country meets as a senior, including the MHSAA LP Region 13-2 race and her second consecutive I-8 Conference Championship with a career-fast 5K time of 18:00.7 … also placed fourth at the MHSAA LP D2 Cross Country State Finals as a senior with a time of 18:26.3 … won two cross country events as a junior, including her first I-8 Conference Championship … four-time all-conference selection in cross country, as well as a three-time all-conference honoree in both the 1600m and 3200m in track & field … I-8 Conference Champion in the 3200m as a sophomore and junior, while also placing 15th at the state championships her sophomore season … placed ninth in the 1600m at the state meet as a junior with a career-fast time of 5:03.11, while also winning the conference championship in the event … also earned one letter in soccer at Coldwater.

WHY BALL STATE: I chose Ball State University because I automatically felt at home stepping onto campus. Everyone was so welcoming. Being at Ball State made all of the pieces fall together and I automatically knew I was in a place where I would have the support to do anything I imagined in athletics and academics.

?? SIGNED ??

A big ?? Welcome ?? to Jenelle Rogers from Oswego, IL!

Jenelle is the #9 ranked high jumper in the United States for the class of 2020! pic.twitter.com/Joa4AX9q9E
— BallStateTrack&XC (@BallStateTFXC) November 13, 2019

Name: Jenelle Rogers
Position: High Jump
Hometown (High School): Oswego, Ill. (Oswego)

DONNELL ON ROGERS: Jenelle is going to be a great addition to our team; she's been a multi-sport athlete throughout high school, she has an athletic family, and she will be a great kid to have around. Jenelle was one of the best high jumpers in Illinois last year and enters her senior season as one of the best in the nation. Our program has had a lot of success in the high jump and Jenelle will play a key role in continuing that. We are really excited to see her compete in her senior season and we can't wait to see her as a Cardinal.

PRs: Indoor High Jump - 5'-8" | Outdoor High Jump - 5'-9"

HIGH SCHOOL: Entering her fourth season on the track & field team at Oswego for coach Jamie Bechina … two-time all-state honoree and three-time All-Southwest Prairie Conference selection in the high jump … established the program record in both the indoor (5'-8") and outdoor (5'-9") high jump as a junior … placed second at the state meet in the high jump as a junior, following a third-place finish her sophomore campaign … also a member of the Panthers program-record setting 4x400m relay which placed 13th at the IHSA 3A Girls State Track & Field Championships with a time of 4:00.91 last season … named Oswego's Field MVP in each of the last two seasons and is a two-time Kendall County Now's MVA Athlete of the Week … helped lead her program to a pair of SPC Championships, as well as a sectional runner-up finish her junior season … also played two-and-a-half seasons of varsity basketball at Oswego, moving up from the junior varsity squad during her sophomore season … named program's Best Defensive Player as a freshman and sophomore, while earning Best Offensive Player honors as a junior … two-time Kendall County Now's MVA Athlete of the Week and was named the Kendall County Now's Girl's Basketball Player of the Year as a junior.

WHY BALL STATE: I chose Ball State because of the location and distance, as it's not too far away from home. Ball State was also a good match for me both academically and athletically.

?? SIGNED ??

A big ?? Welcome ?? to Alexis Thigpen from New Albany, OH!

Alexis is a talented 400/800 combination long sprinter that brings a big time championship pedigree to our program! pic.twitter.com/uKz0AjW8k0
— BallStateTrack&XC (@BallStateTFXC) November 13, 2019

Name: Alexis Thigpen
Position: Sprints
Hometown (High School): New Albany, Ohio (Gahanna Lincoln)

ETELMAN ON THIGPEN: In Alexis we are getting a great combination long sprinter that is going to help us in a variety of ways. She will step in and make an immediate impact on our relays and will be a very successful 800 meter runner over time. Alexis is an incredibly hard-working, goal-oriented young lady and fits in perfectly with the culture of our team. She's very well coached and comes from a winning program and checks all of the intangible boxes for us. We can't wait to see how fast she runs her senior year.

PRs: 400m - 56.55

HIGH SCHOOL: Entering her fourth season on the track & field team at Gahanna Lincoln for coach Roger Whittaker … three-time state champion and three-time first team all-state honoree in the outdoor 4x400m relay … also a three-time all-state honoree in the indoor 4x400m relay … three-time first team All-Ohio Capital Conference selection … placed 13th in the outdoor 400m at the 2019 OHSAA State Track & Field Championship, while also running leadoff for the state-championship winning 4x400m relay and running the second leg for the sixth-place 4x200m relay … placed seventh in the 400m at the OATCCC D1 Indoor State Championships as a junior, after earning a runner-up finish at regionals … finished 11th in the outdoor 400m at the state championships as a sophomore, while placing 13th as a freshman … won state titles in the 4x400m relay both seasons … also collected a 10th-place finish in the 400m at the indoor state championships her sophomore season … three-time district champion in the 400m … helped guide Gahanna Lincoln to a state championship her sophomore season, after a runner-up finish her freshman year.

WHY BALL STATE: I chose Ball State because I really enjoyed the environment. I love the bond between the team and loved the facilities. I felt really comfortable at Ball State.

??SIGNED ??

A big ?? Welcome ?? to Brooke Neal from Granger, IN.

A ??????? multi-sport ?? athlete from Penn High School, Brooke is a talented middle distance runner with a high ceiling for growth. pic.twitter.com/lJ4DVQz2ql
— BallStateTrack&XC (@BallStateTFXC) November 14, 2019

Name: Brooke Neal
Position: Distance
Hometown (High School): Granger, Ind. (Penn)

ETELMAN ON NEAL: Brooke has the experience of being a multi-sport athlete throughout high school. Her excitement about the Ball State program fits in well with the success building here. It's going to be fun to see Brooke develop in the years to come.

PRs: 1600m - 5:12.17 | 3200m - 11:28 | 5K (XC) - 18:49.6

HIGH SCHOOL: A three-year letterwinner in cross country and entering her fourth season on the track & field team at Penn for coach Michael Clements … first team All-Northern Indiana Conference in cross country each of the last three seasons and earned league MVP honors as a senior … a three-time state qualifier in cross country … claimed both the NIC Championship and the South Bend Riley Sectional championship this past season, and turned in a runner-up finish at the IHSAA Elkhart Central Regional … also clocked a career-fast 5K time of 18:49.6 at the Marion Invitational her senior campaign … helped guide the Kingsmen to a third-place finish in the 4x800m relay at the 2019 IHSAA State Championships, as well as an eighth-place finish in 2018 to earn a pair of all-state honors … sectional champion in the 1600m as a freshman and a sophomore … first team all-conference in the 4x800m relay and 1600m, as well as second-team all-conference in the 3200m over her career … helped guide the Kingsmen to three NIC Championships, three sectional championships, two regional championships and a semi-state runner-up finish in cross country … helped lead the track & field program to three NIC and three sectional championships … also earned three letters in soccer at Penn.

WHY BALL STATE: I chose Ball State because I felt like it was a good fit for me. When visiting Ball State, I felt comfortable and I also liked the running program.

?? SIGNED ??

A big ?? Welcome ?? to Kylee Mastin from Springfield, OH!

Kylee is a ?? multi-sport athlete ??????? from Tecumseh High School with a great middle distance background and huge competitive upside. pic.twitter.com/3FvErfxiYh
— BallStateTrack&XC (@BallStateTFXC) November 15, 2019

Name: Kylee Mastin
Events: Distance
Hometown (High School): Springfield, Ohio (Tecumseh)

ETELMAN ON MASTIN: Kylee is a grinder who is always looking for ways to better herself. She will be graduating top of her high school class which shows she is not afraid of a challenge. Kylee is the full package when it comes to speed, endurance and an all-around competitor. It will be exciting to see Kylee grow as a runner during her time at Ball State.

PRs: 800m - 2:14.73 | 1600m - 5:10.37 | 5K (XC) - 18:55.3

HIGH SCHOOL: A three-year letterwinner in cross country and entering her fourth season in track & field at Tecumseh for coach Dan Vaughan … three-time First Team All-Central Buckeye Conference selection in cross country … won five cross country meets her senior season, including the Sidney Yellowjacket Cross Country Invitational with a career-fast 5K time of 18:55.30 … finished 13th at the OHSAA State Track & Field Championships in the 800m as a junior with a time of 2:14.89, after earning an 11th-place finish in the event as a sophomore … earned first team all-conference in the 800m in each of her first three seasons, while also claiming first team honors in the 4x200m relay and 1600m as a junior … second team all-conference in the 1600m as a sophomore and in the 4x400m relay as a junior … earned special mention all-conference in the 1600m, 4x400m relay and 4x800m relay as a freshman and in the 4x800m relay as a sophomore … also played one season of basketball at Tecumseh.

WHY BALL STATE: I chose Ball State because of the beautiful campus, the good team atmosphere, the excellent dietetics program and the nice coaches.

?? SIGNED ??

A big ?? Welcome ?? to Ashley Craycraft from Valparaiso, IN!

Ashley is a skilled?? multi-sport athlete ??????? from Chesterton High School who will develop into a great middle distance competitor pic.twitter.com/eO1AFBZjzd
— BallStateTrack&XC (@BallStateTFXC) December 19, 2019

Name: Ashley Craycraft
Events: Mid-Distance
Hometown (High School): Chesterton, Indiana (Chesterton)

ETELMAN ON CRAYCRAFT: Ashley's athleticism and work ethic will help tremendously in her transition to college athletics. She is a great addition to our team and will be a very versatile runner for the mid distance group. We are excited to see her move into different events during her senior track season.

PRs: 800m – 2:20.07 | 5K (XC) – 19:30.3

HIGH SCHOOL: A four-year varsity letterwinner in cross country and track & field for coach Lindsay Moskalick at Chesterton High School … earned All-Conference, All-Sectional and All-Regional as a senior in cross country … sectional and conference champion in the 800m as a junior in track and field, while also garnering All-Duneland Athletic Conference honors … helped lead her cross country team to regional championship and a 10th-place finish at the IHSAA State Championships as a junior, while also earning all-region honors … earned the program's Mental Attitude Award as a senior, named Most Improved and Mid-Distance MVP as a junior, and Most Versatile as a freshman and sophomore ... also earned four varsity letters in basketball and played two years of volleyball for the Trojans ... was an All-State Honorable Mention in basketball as a sophomore, while earning All-Area Team Honorable Mention accolades as a junior.

WHY BALL STATE: I chose Ball State because I loved the campus, the environment and the coaches for track and cross-country.