Track & Field Set For Doug Raymond Qualifier

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MUNCIE, Ind.- - With just two meets remaining before the 2019 Mid-American Conference Indoor Championships, the Ball State track & field team will go up against another tough, talented field Saturday at the Doug Raymond National Qualifier hosted by Kent State.

The Cardinals are slated to compete in 11 events at the Kent State Field House, beginning at noon with the weight throw. Ball State's first action on the track is schedule for 1:45 p.m. with the prelims of the 60m.

Like last weekend, the Doug Raymond National Qualifier will feature a highly-competitive field including all 12 Mid-American Conference women's programs, as well as several other highly-ranked teams from around the area.

This Weekend's Ball State Schedule:
Saturday, Feb. 9 @ Doug Raymond National Qualifier
Weight Throw (Noon): Princess Carter, Megan Graves
Shot Put (TBA – Following Weight Throw): Kelsey Walters, Jada Caldwell
High Jump (1 p.m.): Regan Lewis, Hailley Peters, Karlie Zumbro
Long Jump (1 pm): Michelle Lehmann
60m (Prelims at 1:45 pm / Finals at 3:15 p.m.): Peyton Stewart, Bryeana Byrdsong, Jazmin Smith, Michelle Lehmann, Ivy McKee
60m Hurdles (Prelims at 2:15 pm / Finals at 4:05 p.m.): Jazmin Smith, Jasmine Harris, Anasja Troutman, Karlie Zumbro
Mile (3:25 p.m.): Karleigh Conner, Emmalyne Tarsa, Maritza Rodriguez, Meliza Rodriguez
400m (4:10 pm): Amber Jones, Dejah Johnson, MaQuila Norman
800m (4:50 pm): Peyton Kneadler, Karlie Zumbro, Meghan Hedrick
200m (5:15 pm): Bryeana Byrdsong, Peyton Stewart, Jasmine Harris, Ivy McKee
4x400m Relay (6:35 pm): Bryeana Byrdsong, Dejah Johnson, Amber Jones, MaQuila Norman

Three Things to Know Entering the Weekend:

No. 1: Ball State student-athletes lead the Mid-American Conference in the 60m hurdles (Jazmin Smith) and high jump (Regan Lewis), while holding down the No. 2 slot in the 60m (Peyton Stewart) and pentathlon (Karlie Zumbro).

In addition, the Cardinals have two student-athletes ranked in the Top 50 of the NCAA Rankings; 60m hurdles (Jazmin Smith, 33rd) and high jump (Regan Lewis, 38th).

?? RANKINGS UPDATE ??

2? Cardinals enter the Doug Raymond National Qualifier leading @MACSports in their respective events and ranked in the Top 3?8? among all @NCAATrackField Division I student-athletes ??#ChirpChirp | #WeFly | #MACtion | #ncaaTF pic.twitter.com/opzHvnGQDY
— BallStateTrack&XC (@BallStateTFXC) February 6, 2019

No. 2: Ball State enters the Doug Raymond National Qualifier with one of the nation's top 60m groups. Three Cardinals, Peyton Stewart (7.50), Bryeana Byrdsong (7.53) and Jazmin Smith (7.59), has already clocked MAC auto marks in the event. Michelle Lehmann is not far behind at 7.72. Overall, Ball State's average time among the top four runners is 7.58 which ranks first in the MAC, second in the Great Lakes Region and 30th among all NCAA Division I programs.

?? RANKINGS UPDATE ??

Our 60m group also ranks ?? in #MACtion, ?? in the Great Lakes Region and 3?0?th nationally w/average time of 7.58 among our top four runners#ChirpChirp | #WeFly | #MACtion | #ncaaTF pic.twitter.com/mi4ZdnzP4b
— BallStateTrack&XC (@BallStateTFXC) February 6, 2019

No. 3: Last weekend saw junior Maritza Rodriguez register the fifth-fastest individual time in program history in the 3000m at 9:51.63 to take third in her heat and 16th overall at the Meyo Invitational.

The time currently ranks 11th in the MAC and is the fastest for a Ball State distance runner since Ali Bishel clocked in at 9:43.23 to win the 2009 MAC Championship. Rodriguez's previous best in the event was 10:02.51 to place 12th at last season's MAC Indoor Championships.

DYK: With her PR & 3?rd-place time of 9:51.63 in the 3000m this afternoon, junior distance specialist @ritzaaaa__ climbed to 5?th on Ball State's all-time list for the event.

?? Congrats on a GREAT RACE Maritza ??#ChirpChirp | #WeFly | #ncaaTF pic.twitter.com/NbxAN3w7rl
— BallStateTrack&XC (@BallStateTFXC) February 2, 2019

Quotables:
Head Coach Brian Etelman on treating this weekend like the MAC Championship

"... I want to treat this weekend like it's the MAC Championship. That's been the message to our team ..." - head coach Brian Etelman looks ahead to Saturday's meet at Kent State#ChirpChirp | #WeFly | #ncaaTF pic.twitter.com/uh7zaEmcOS
— BallStateTrack&XC (@BallStateTFXC) February 7, 2019

Head Coach Brian Etelman's thoughts on last weekend's performance at the Meyo Invitational

"I am super happy with how we did at Notre Dame … The closer you get to the championship, the better you want to be and we're certainly trending in that direction …" - head coach Brian Etelman on last weekend's effort at the Meyo Invite.#ChirpChirp | #WeFly | #ncaaTF pic.twitter.com/wkYBN7muOK
— BallStateTrack&XC (@BallStateTFXC) February 7, 2019

Senior Peyton Stewart on her performance at the Meyo Invitational

"... I think it was a good improvement. I was able to put some races together and execute the way I wanted to." - @PEYme_ on her performance at the Meyo Invitational.#ChirpChirp | #WeFly | #ncaaTF pic.twitter.com/4nExBsMFm3
— BallStateTrack&XC (@BallStateTFXC) February 5, 2019

Last Time Out – Ball State Award Winners From Meyo Invitational

?? @BallStateTFXC Track Athlete of the Week ??

Peyton Stewart dominated the competition last weekend, placing ?? in the 60m at the Meyo Invitational.

Her season-best time of 7.50 topped the defending #MACtion champion by .02 in the finals.#ChirpChirp | #WeFly | #ncaaTF pic.twitter.com/YrT69cFXFq
— BallStateTrack&XC (@BallStateTFXC) February 4, 2019

?? @BallStateTFXC Field Athlete of the Week ??

It was another solid weekend of throws for @K_walt18, who turned in a season-best shot put of 14.02m and was just shy of her career best in the weight throw at 16.13m#ChirpChirp | #WeFly | #ncaaTF pic.twitter.com/q9TK5Df7kc
— BallStateTrack&XC (@BallStateTFXC) February 4, 2019

?? @BallStateTFXC Cardinal of the Week ??

? - PR & #MACtion auto mark in 60m (7.59)
? - 2nd-best 60m hurdles prelim (8.41)
? - solid time in 200m (24.70)
? - second leg of 4x400m (3:50.53)

It was another strong weekend for Jazmin Smith#ChirpChirp | #WeFly | #ncaaTF pic.twitter.com/LnPK10iVF9
— BallStateTrack&XC (@BallStateTFXC) February 4, 2019

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Bryeana Byrdsong

Jada Caldwell

Princess Carter

Karleigh Conner

Megan Graves

Jasmine Harris

Meghan Hedrick

Dejah Johnson

Amber Jones

Peyton Kneadler

Michelle Lehmann

Regan Lewis

Ivy McKee

MaQuila Norman

Hailley Peters

Maritza Rodriguez

Jazmin Smith

Peyton Stewart

Emmalyne Tarsa

Anasja Troutman

Kelsey Walters

Karlie Zumbro