Track & Field Earns Pair of Auto Marks at Oliver Nikoloff Invite

CINCINNATI, Ohio - - It was another strong weekend for the Ball State track & field team, which earned two more Mid-American Conference Outdoor Championship automatic qualifying marks at the Oliver Nikoloff Invitational hosted by Cincinnati.

The first came from freshman Karleigh Conner who took fourth in the 800m run with a time of 2:10.88, just under the MAC auto mark of 2:11.09. That was not the only special thing about the run, however, as it was also the fourth-fastest individual time in program history in the event.

Ball State's second MAC auto mark came from senior Regan Lewis who cleared 1.69m in the high jump to place second overall in her 2019 outdoor debut. For the four-time defending MAC high jump champion, the 1.69m is right on the MAC auto mark.

Sophomore Emmalyne Tarsa also turned in a stunning performance in the 3000m steeplechase, finishing just off the MAC auto mark with a career-fast time of 10:58.65. The time also ranks as the third-best individual performance in program history.

Overall, Ball State's student-athletes captured 27 top 10 finishes and 21 career-best performances to take third place among 16 women's programs competing at the meet.

Host Cincinnati won the 20-event competition with 206.5 points, followed by Miami (124), BSU, Indianapolis (60.5) and Wright State (48) in the top five.

Fans will get their first chance to see the Ball State track and field program compete at home this coming weekend, when it hosts the two-day Ball State Challenge (April 12-13).

For the most up-to-date news on Ball State track & field, follow @BallStateSports and @BallStateTFXC.

Ball State Individual Results at Oliver Nikoloff Invitational
Javelin
MAC Qualifying Standard: 41.21m/135-02.5 / Program Record: 42.78m/140-04.5 by Kim Woodhouse in 1982
2nd - Abby Denham - 39.47m
8th - Stella East - 31.83m*

Hammer
MAC Qualifying Standard: 54.80m/ 179-9.5 / Program Record: 56.33m/184-10 by Sarah Martin in 2001
8th - Megan Graves - 47.67m
11th - Princess Carter - 44.43m*
14th - Kelsey Walters - 42.72m*

Shot Put
MAC Qualifying Standard: 14.84m/48-08.25 / Program Record: 14.77m/48-05.5 by Kelsey Walters in 2018
5th - Kelsey Walters - 14.14m
8th - Jada Caldwell - 12.77m
19th - Stella East - 11.24m*

Long Jump
MAC Qualifying Standard: 5.92m/19-5.25 / Program Record: 6.60m/21-08 by Patricia Soman in 2003
8th - Michelle Lehmann - 5.12m*

Discus
MAC Qualifying Standard: 47.93m/157-3 / Program Record: 47.82m/156-11 by Christy Richart in 1995
4th - Princess Carter - 44.53m*

5000m Run
MAC Qualifying Standard: 16:46.02 / Program Record: 16:15.29 by Katie Nowak in 2003
6th - Cayla Eckenroth - 17:33.17*
24th - Meliza Rodriguez - 18:51.60

800m Run
MAC Qualifying Standard: 2:11.09 / Program Record: 2:06.40 by Angie Stewart in 1997
4th - Karleigh Conner - 2:10.88* - MAC Auto
24th - Madison Kiser - 2:22.78*
28th - Meghan Hedrick - 2:26.45

100m Dash
MAC Qualifying Standard: 11.87 / Program Record: 11.08 by LaTasha Jenkins in 1999
2nd - Peyton Stewart - 11.97
4th - Michelle Lehmann - 12.11*

400m Dash
MAC Qualifying Standard: 55.33 / Program Record: 53.68 by Yvonne Ferguson in 2006
6th - MaQuila Norman - 56.11*
8th - Dejah Johnson - 57.18*
9th - Wambui Watene - 57.53*
10th - Bryeana Byrdsong - 58.26*

High Jump
MAC Qualifying Standard: 1.69m/5-6.5 / Program Record: 1.84m/6-05 by Bonita Harrington in 1984
2nd - Regan Lewis - 1.69m - MAC Auto
T-7th - Hailley Peters - 1.60m

100m Hurdles
MAC Qualifying Standard: 13.99 / Program Record: 13.18 by Amber Williams in 2007
2nd - Anasja Troutman - 14.31*
3rd - Jasmine Harris - 14.33

1500m Run
MAC Qualifying Standard: 4:29.34 / Program Record: 4:25.67 by Katie Nowak in 2002
16th - Karleigh Conner - 4:40.75
25th - Peyton Kneadler - 4:48.81
29th - Emma Cunningham - 4:59.27
33rd - Maddie Aul - 5:01.66*

400m Hurdles
MAC Qualifying Standard: 1:01.77 / Program Record: 57.82 by Linise Gordon in 2000
7th - Anasja Troutman - 1:04.71*
8th - Karlie Zumbro - 1:04.90*

200m Dash
MAC Qualifying Standard: 24.25 / Program Record: 22.29 by LaTasha Jenkins in 1999
3rd - Jasmine Harris - 24.40*
5th - Ivy McKee - 25.08
7th - Michelle Lehmann - 25.21*

3000m Steeplechase
MAC Qualifying Standard: 10:55.07/ School Record: 10:34.05 by Katie Nowak in 2002
3rd - Emmalyne Tarsa - 10:58.65*

4x400m Relay
School Record: 3:38.05 by Jada Phelps, Angka Morris, Patricia Soman and Linise Gordon in 2001
2nd - Dejah Johnson, Karlie Zumbro, MaQuila Norman, Jazmin Smith - 3:50.78
10th - Meghan Hedrick, Madison Kiser, Anasja Troutman, Emmalyne Tarsa - 4:02.27

Track & Field Earns Pair of Auto Marks at Oliver Nikoloff Invite

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Next Event

Players Mentioned

Maddie Aul

Bryeana Byrdsong

Jada Caldwell

Princess Carter

Karleigh Conner

Emma Cunningham

Abby Denham

Stella East

Cayla Eckenroth

Megan Graves

Jasmine Harris

Meghan Hedrick

Dejah Johnson

Madison Kiser

Peyton Kneadler

Michelle Lehmann

Regan Lewis

Ivy McKee

MaQuila Norman

Hailley Peters

Meliza Rodriguez

Jazmin Smith

Peyton Stewart

Emmalyne Tarsa

Anasja Troutman

Kelsey Walters

Wambui Watene

Karlie Zumbro