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MAC Indoor Championships
Lewis, Smith Bring Home Titles on Final Day of MAC Indoor Championships
February 23, 2019 | Track & Field
KENT, Ohio - - Make it 651 days and counting, that is how long Ball State track & field senior Regan Lewis has been the Mid-American Conference high jump champion after winning her fourth consecutive title in a jump off Saturday afternoon on the final day of the 2019 MAC Indoor Championships at the Kent State Field House.
"That was the most pressure packed, intense, drawn out, frustrating, meat grinder of a competition and it's only fitting that Regan was the one that wins it," head coach Brian Etelman said of the high jump finals.
Battling injury for much of the season, Lewis was one of three student-athletes to clear 1.69m successfully and take on the bar at 1.73m. All three failed on their three attempts, and the event went into a jump off.
The jump off started with all three missing at 1.71m and then all three missing again at 1.69m. Lewis and Akron's Maike Anstett would successfully clear 1.67m, making it a two athlete showdown. Both went on to top the bar at 1.69m, while each failed for a second time at 1.71m.
"Regan is tougher than what everyone thinks," Etelman said of his four-time MAC Champion. "She was in a pretty tough situation having not competed for two-and-a-half months. She could have elected not to compete this weekend. We had that conversation and left it entirely up to her."
Back at 1.69m for a fourth time, Anstett missed to open the round giving Lewis another shot to win the title. Lewis did not disappoint, clearing the bar and becoming just the fourth female in MAC history to win four consecutive high jump titles. Lewis will look to become the first to win five straight high jump titles during the outdoor season.
"This one means a lot to me," Lewis said. "I've never been in a jump off, so it was definitely interesting to me. However, it means a lot that I was able to win after not jumping for over two months."
Lewis was not the only Ball State student-athlete to capture a MAC title Saturday, as senior Jazmin Smith ran and leaped to the second-fastest individual time in program history to take home her second career indoor 60m hurdles title in 8.29. Smith's first title came in 2017, when she clocked in at 8.43.
In addition, Smith's 60m hurdles winning time of 8.29 Saturday was the third-fastest in MAC Indoor Championship history. The only two better; the MAC and program record of 8.19 set by Amber Williams in 2007 and Williams' time of 8.24 in 2009.
"This championship means everything to me," Smith said. "I've been waiting for it since after my sophomore year. Not winning last year to winning this year means all my hard work payed off. Overall, I had a very interesting day. I was happy to at least get points for my team. While I feel I could have done better, the fact I scored points for my team, I couldn't be any prouder of myself."
Smith also placed seventh in the 60m (7.55) and eighth in the 200m (24.67) to score 13 of the Cardinals' 43 points at the meet.
"I was really impressed with the way Jazmin battled and made it through all three events today," Etelman said. "Not only did she post the third-fastest finals time in MAC Championship history in the 60m hurdles, but she beat several competitors who beat her head-to-head over the past couple weeks. Coming into the weekend, everyone was talking about the Perry twins being the favorites, but I didn't believe that. Jazmin definitely did not get the credit she deserves."
Lewis and Smith were also not the only Ball State student-athletes to score in their respective championship events either, as sophomore Hailley Peters took seventh in the high jump (1.65m) and junior Jasmine Harris clocked in for a sixth-place effort in the 60m hurdles (8.61).
Junior Bryeana Byrdsong also turned in a solid day, earning seven total points by placing third in the 200m (24.03) and eighth in the 60m (7.57). In Friday's prelims, Byrdsong's time of 23.99 was the second-fastest individual performance in program history
Meanwhile, senior Peyton Stewart collected her third top five finish in the 60m, leading Ball State's three runners in the finals with a fifth-place time of 7.51.
The Cardinals also receive a strong performance on the track from junior Maritza Rodriguez who picked up her first career points at the MAC Indoor Championships with a sixth-place time of 9:52.69 in the 3,000m run.
Also scoring for the first time at the MAC Indoor Championships was junior Kelsey Walters who turned in the second-best individual throw in program history in the shot put at 14.37m to place eight overall.
Overall, the Cardinals scored in all six events they competed in Saturday to accumulate 43 points and finish eighth among the 12 teams in the meet. The 43 points and eighth-place effort are Ball State's best at the MAC Indoor Championships since the 2009 squad placed third with 73 points.
In addition, Ball State's two event wins are the most since the 2009 squad earned five.
Central Michigan won the meet with 114.5 points, followed by Eastern Michigan (91), Akron (84), Toledo (69), Western Michigan (62), Kent State (56.5), Northern Illinois (48), BSU, Bowling Green (32), Miami (29), Buffalo (17) and Ohio (17).
The Ball State track & field program will now turn its attention to the outdoor season which begins Saturday, March 16 at the Stan Lyons Invitational.
For the most up-to-date news on Ball State track & field, follow @BallStateSports and @BallStateTFXC.
Ball State's Individual Results on Day 2 of the MAC Indoor Championships
Shot Put
8th - Kelsey Walters - 14.37m* (1 point) - Second-Best Individual Performance in Program History
60m Hurdles
1st - Jazmin Smith - 8.29* (10 points) - Second-Best Individual Performance in Program History
6th - Jasmine Harris - 8.61 (3 points)
High Jump
1st - Regan Lewis - 1.69m (10 points)
7th - Hailley Peters - 1.65m (2 points)
60m
5th - Peyton Stewart - 7.51 (4 points)
7th - Jazmin Smith - 7.55 (2 points)
8th - Bryeana Byrdsong - 7.57 (1 point)
200m
3rd - Bryeana Byrdsong - 24.03 (6 points)
8th - Jazmin Smith - 24.67 (1 point)
3,000m
6th - Maritza Rodriguez - 9:52.69 (3 points)
4x400m Relay
DNS - Ball State
Ball State's Individual Results on Day 1 of the MAC Indoor Championships
Pentathlon
9th - Karlie Zumbro - 3332*
60m Hurdles: 8th - 9.15* - 879 points
High Jump: T-12th - 1.54m* - 666 points
Shot Put: 15th - 8.81m* - 452 points
Long Jump: T-11th - 4.96m - 548 points
800m: 2nd - 2:22.69 - 787 points
Weight Throw
16th - Princess Carter - 16.46m
Long Jump
12th - Michelle Lehmann - 5.28m
60m Hurdles
Q (3rd) - Jazmin Smith - 8.50 - Qualified for Finals
Q (7th) - Jasmine Harris - 8.60 - Qualified for Finals
12th - Anasja Troutman - 8.80*
400m
16th - Amber Jones - 56.85
60m
Q (3rd) - Peyton Stewart - 7.49 - Qualified for Finals
Q (5th) - Jazmin Smith - 7.53* - Qualified for Finals
Q (7th) - Bryeana Byrdsong - 7.54 - Qualified for Finals
800m
11th - Karleigh Conner - 2:14.75
200m
Q (3rd) - Bryeana Byrdsong – 23.99*
Q (5th) - Jazmin Smith – 24.19*
15th - Jasmine Harris – 24.65*
5000m
13th - Maritza Rodriguez - 17:36.77
Distance Medley Relay
11th - Emmalyne Tarsa, Amber Jones, Peyton Kneadler, Karleigh Conner- 12:22.43
*denotes career-best performance
"That was the most pressure packed, intense, drawn out, frustrating, meat grinder of a competition and it's only fitting that Regan was the one that wins it," head coach Brian Etelman said of the high jump finals.
Battling injury for much of the season, Lewis was one of three student-athletes to clear 1.69m successfully and take on the bar at 1.73m. All three failed on their three attempts, and the event went into a jump off.
The jump off started with all three missing at 1.71m and then all three missing again at 1.69m. Lewis and Akron's Maike Anstett would successfully clear 1.67m, making it a two athlete showdown. Both went on to top the bar at 1.69m, while each failed for a second time at 1.71m.
"Regan is tougher than what everyone thinks," Etelman said of his four-time MAC Champion. "She was in a pretty tough situation having not competed for two-and-a-half months. She could have elected not to compete this weekend. We had that conversation and left it entirely up to her."
Back at 1.69m for a fourth time, Anstett missed to open the round giving Lewis another shot to win the title. Lewis did not disappoint, clearing the bar and becoming just the fourth female in MAC history to win four consecutive high jump titles. Lewis will look to become the first to win five straight high jump titles during the outdoor season.
"This one means a lot to me," Lewis said. "I've never been in a jump off, so it was definitely interesting to me. However, it means a lot that I was able to win after not jumping for over two months."
Lewis was not the only Ball State student-athlete to capture a MAC title Saturday, as senior Jazmin Smith ran and leaped to the second-fastest individual time in program history to take home her second career indoor 60m hurdles title in 8.29. Smith's first title came in 2017, when she clocked in at 8.43.
In addition, Smith's 60m hurdles winning time of 8.29 Saturday was the third-fastest in MAC Indoor Championship history. The only two better; the MAC and program record of 8.19 set by Amber Williams in 2007 and Williams' time of 8.24 in 2009.
"This championship means everything to me," Smith said. "I've been waiting for it since after my sophomore year. Not winning last year to winning this year means all my hard work payed off. Overall, I had a very interesting day. I was happy to at least get points for my team. While I feel I could have done better, the fact I scored points for my team, I couldn't be any prouder of myself."
Smith also placed seventh in the 60m (7.55) and eighth in the 200m (24.67) to score 13 of the Cardinals' 43 points at the meet.
"I was really impressed with the way Jazmin battled and made it through all three events today," Etelman said. "Not only did she post the third-fastest finals time in MAC Championship history in the 60m hurdles, but she beat several competitors who beat her head-to-head over the past couple weeks. Coming into the weekend, everyone was talking about the Perry twins being the favorites, but I didn't believe that. Jazmin definitely did not get the credit she deserves."
Lewis and Smith were also not the only Ball State student-athletes to score in their respective championship events either, as sophomore Hailley Peters took seventh in the high jump (1.65m) and junior Jasmine Harris clocked in for a sixth-place effort in the 60m hurdles (8.61).
Junior Bryeana Byrdsong also turned in a solid day, earning seven total points by placing third in the 200m (24.03) and eighth in the 60m (7.57). In Friday's prelims, Byrdsong's time of 23.99 was the second-fastest individual performance in program history
Meanwhile, senior Peyton Stewart collected her third top five finish in the 60m, leading Ball State's three runners in the finals with a fifth-place time of 7.51.
The Cardinals also receive a strong performance on the track from junior Maritza Rodriguez who picked up her first career points at the MAC Indoor Championships with a sixth-place time of 9:52.69 in the 3,000m run.
Also scoring for the first time at the MAC Indoor Championships was junior Kelsey Walters who turned in the second-best individual throw in program history in the shot put at 14.37m to place eight overall.
Overall, the Cardinals scored in all six events they competed in Saturday to accumulate 43 points and finish eighth among the 12 teams in the meet. The 43 points and eighth-place effort are Ball State's best at the MAC Indoor Championships since the 2009 squad placed third with 73 points.
In addition, Ball State's two event wins are the most since the 2009 squad earned five.
Central Michigan won the meet with 114.5 points, followed by Eastern Michigan (91), Akron (84), Toledo (69), Western Michigan (62), Kent State (56.5), Northern Illinois (48), BSU, Bowling Green (32), Miami (29), Buffalo (17) and Ohio (17).
The Ball State track & field program will now turn its attention to the outdoor season which begins Saturday, March 16 at the Stan Lyons Invitational.
For the most up-to-date news on Ball State track & field, follow @BallStateSports and @BallStateTFXC.
Ball State's Individual Results on Day 2 of the MAC Indoor Championships
Shot Put
8th - Kelsey Walters - 14.37m* (1 point) - Second-Best Individual Performance in Program History
60m Hurdles
1st - Jazmin Smith - 8.29* (10 points) - Second-Best Individual Performance in Program History
6th - Jasmine Harris - 8.61 (3 points)
High Jump
1st - Regan Lewis - 1.69m (10 points)
7th - Hailley Peters - 1.65m (2 points)
60m
5th - Peyton Stewart - 7.51 (4 points)
7th - Jazmin Smith - 7.55 (2 points)
8th - Bryeana Byrdsong - 7.57 (1 point)
200m
3rd - Bryeana Byrdsong - 24.03 (6 points)
8th - Jazmin Smith - 24.67 (1 point)
3,000m
6th - Maritza Rodriguez - 9:52.69 (3 points)
4x400m Relay
DNS - Ball State
Ball State's Individual Results on Day 1 of the MAC Indoor Championships
Pentathlon
9th - Karlie Zumbro - 3332*
60m Hurdles: 8th - 9.15* - 879 points
High Jump: T-12th - 1.54m* - 666 points
Shot Put: 15th - 8.81m* - 452 points
Long Jump: T-11th - 4.96m - 548 points
800m: 2nd - 2:22.69 - 787 points
Weight Throw
16th - Princess Carter - 16.46m
Long Jump
12th - Michelle Lehmann - 5.28m
60m Hurdles
Q (3rd) - Jazmin Smith - 8.50 - Qualified for Finals
Q (7th) - Jasmine Harris - 8.60 - Qualified for Finals
12th - Anasja Troutman - 8.80*
400m
16th - Amber Jones - 56.85
60m
Q (3rd) - Peyton Stewart - 7.49 - Qualified for Finals
Q (5th) - Jazmin Smith - 7.53* - Qualified for Finals
Q (7th) - Bryeana Byrdsong - 7.54 - Qualified for Finals
800m
11th - Karleigh Conner - 2:14.75
200m
Q (3rd) - Bryeana Byrdsong – 23.99*
Q (5th) - Jazmin Smith – 24.19*
15th - Jasmine Harris – 24.65*
5000m
13th - Maritza Rodriguez - 17:36.77
Distance Medley Relay
11th - Emmalyne Tarsa, Amber Jones, Peyton Kneadler, Karleigh Conner- 12:22.43
*denotes career-best performance
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Sprints
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Jumps/Multis
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Distance
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Sprints
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Distance
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Sprints/Hurdles
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Multis/Hurdles
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