Track & Field Opens 2019-20 Campaign Saturday in Fort Wayne

Saturday, December 7

Fort Wayne, IN

11 a.m.

Ball State University

Mastodon Opener

Track & Field Opens 2019-20 Campaign Saturday in Fort Wayne

December 05, 2019 | Track & Field

MUNCIE, Ind. - - It's December and that could only mean one thing … the start of the 2019-20 Ball State indoor track and field season!

The next chapter in the program's story begins Saturday at 11 a.m., when the Cardinals compete in the Mastodon Opener hosted by Purdue Fort Wayne at the Lutheran Health Fieldhouse.

First on the docket, the women's weight throw and women's long jump, both of which start at 11 a.m. sharp. The first running event for the Cardinals is slated to begin at 12:45 p.m. and is the prelims of the 60m hurdles. The women's portion of the meet is scheduled to conclude at 4:40 p.m. with the 4x400m relay.

In addition to the Cardinals and host Mastodons, a total of 10 teams are expected to compete on the women's side including Goshen, Grace, Huntington, Indiana Tech, IUPUI, Northern Kentucky, Taylor and Xavier.

The last time we saw the entire Ball State track & field team in action was the 2019 Mid-American Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships (May 9-11), when the Cardinals scored 57 points for its best point total at the outdoor league championship meet since 2009.

Leading the way that day was sprinter Bryeana Byrdsong who was named the Most Valuable Performer of the MAC Championships after winning the 100m (11.51), placing second in both the 200m (23.53), helping the 4x100m relay break the program record with a second-place time of 45.20 and running a leg for the third-place 4x400m relay (3:43.65).

The Cardinals also turned in impressive results at the 2019 MAC Indoor Championships (Feb. 22-23), with the team's 43 points and eighth-place finish being the best at the league indoor championships since 2009.

Fans unable to attend Saturday's Mastodon Opener can still watch the meet, as live video will be provided by Purdue Fort Wayne at the following link: https://www.youtube.com/GoMastodons/live.

NOTES:
- Ball State returns five student-athletes who combined to score 16 points at the 2019 MAC Indoor Championships;
       Bryeana Byrdsong - 3rd in 200m at 24.03 for 6 points / 8th in 60m at 7.57 for 1 points
       Maritza Rodriguez - 6th in 3000m at 9:52.69 for 3 points
       Jasmine Harris - 6th in 60m hurdles at 8.61 for 3 points
       Hailley Peters - 7th in high jump at 1.65m for 2 points
       Kelsey Walters - 8th in shot put at 14.36m for 1 point
- The last time Ball State started the indoor track & field season at the Mastodon Opener was in 2017 when the Cardinals earned five head-to-head dual wins, topping Purdue Fort Wayne (79-44), Butler (73-42), IUPUI (76-31), Northern Kentucky (73-43) and Xavier (76-55)
- At the 2017 Mastodon Opener, the Cardinals earned five event victories, claimed 22 top five finishes and earned 27 career-best performances on the day.
- Ball State returns two of its five event winners from the 2017 event, with Kelsey Walters taking home top honors in the shot put (13.57m) and Dejah Johnson winning the 300m (41.01) in her collegiate debut.

For the most up-to-date news on Ball State cross country, follow @BallStateSports and @BallStateTFXC.

Ball State Entries & PRs Entering The Mastodon Opener
60m Dash  / MAC Qualifying Standard: 7.60 / Program Record: 7.33 (c) by LaTasha Jenkins in 1998
Bryeana Byrdsong - 7.53
MaQuila Norman - 7.92
Michelle Lehmann - 7.72
Ivy McKee - 7.77
Amber Jones - 7.97
Paris Carver - 7.82
Dejah Johnson - 7.99

60m Hurdles / MAC Qualifying Standard: 8.64 / Program Record: 8.19 by Amber Williams in 2007
Anasja Troutman - 8.80
Kennedy Batts - N/A
Karlie Zumbro - 9.15
Charity Griffith - N/A

200m Dash  / MAC Qualifying Standard: 24.48  / Program Record: 23.25 by LaTasha Jenkins in 1999
Michelle Lehmann - N/A

300m Dash  / Program Record: 39.61 by Yvonne Ferguson in 2005
MaQuila Norman - 41.39
Amber Jones - 41.00
Dejah Johnson - 41.01
Bryeana Byrdsong - 41.04
Ivy McKee - 42.56
Paris Carver - 42.99
Kennedy Batts - N/A
Anasja Troutman - 42.66

800m Run / MAC Qualifying Standard: 2:11.14 / Program Record: 2:07.30 by Natasha Lothery in 2002
Madison Kiser - N/A
Karlie Zumbro - 2:20.37
Charity Griffith - N/A
Grace Dean - N/A

Mile Run / MAC Qualifying Standard: 4:51.38 / Program Record: 4:50.10 by MaryKate Mellen in 2013
Peyton Kneadler - 5:03.72
Emma Cunningham - 5:40.69

3000m Run  / MAC Qualifying Standard: 9:41.68  / Program Record: 9:31.43 by Jill Scully in 2006
Maritza Rodriguez - 9:51.63
Cayla Eckenroth - 10:27.82
Juliana Stogsdill - N/A
Vivian Van Eck - N/A
Maddie Aul - 10:50.97

4x400m Relay  / Program Record: 3:39.94 (c) by Jada Phelps, Angka Morris, Patricia Soman and Linise Gordon in 2001
Squad A: Jones, Johnson, Kiser, Norman
Squad B: Batts, Byrdsong, McKee, Carver, Troutman

High Jump  / MAC Qualifying Standard: 1.69m / 5-6.5  / Program Record: 1.81m / 5-11.25 by Regan Lewis
Charity Griffith - N/A

Long Jump  / MAC Qualifying Standard: 5.82m / 19-1.25  / Program Record: 6.43m / 21-1.5 by Patricia Soman in 2003
Michelle Lehmann - 5.62m / 18'-5.25"
Karlie Zumbro - 5.08m / 16'-8"

Shot Put  / MAC Qualifying Standard: 14.93m / 48-11.75  / Program Record: 14.77m / 48-5.75 by Gena Rusch in 1990
Kelsey Walters - 14.37m / 47'-1.75"
Jada Caldwell - 13.61m / 44'-8"
Abby Denham - N/A

Weight Throw  / MAC Qualifying Standard: 18.25m / 59-10.5  / Program Record: 18.55m / 60-10 by Marie Lumpkin in 2015
Princess Carter - 17.46m / 57'-0.35"
Megan Graves - 16.48m / 54'-01"
Kelsey Walters - 16.25m / 53'-3.75"
Jada Caldwell - 14.94m / 49'-00.25"