Byrdsong Paces Track & Field Friday at Gene Edmonds Invite

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - - Senior sprinter Bryeana Byrdsong became the first Ball State track & field student athlete to turn in a MAC indoor championship automatic qualifying mark this season, as she led a strong effort on the opening day of the Gene Edmonds Memorial Invite.

One of three Cardinals to qualify for the semifinals of the 60m dash Friday evening at Purdue's Lambert Fieldhouse, Byrdsong improved from 13th in the opening round to fourth in the semifinals with a time of 7.58.

Her effort is currently the second-fastest in the MAC this season and earned her one of eight spots in Saturday's 12:30 p.m. finals race.

Ball State also had a pair of student-athlete qualify for Saturday's finals in the 60m hurdles (12:20 p.m.), as junior Anasja Troutman turned in the fifth-fastest qualifying time at 8.81, while redshirt freshman Kennedy Batts logged a career-fast 9.10 to earn the seventh seed.

Senior Megan Graves turned in another impressive effort in the weight throw Friday, taking fifth overall with a distance of 16.76m. Junior Princess Carter was not far behind, placing 10th at 15.26m

The busiest Cardinals of the day, however, were sophomore Karlie Zumbro and freshman Charity Griffith who placed seventh (3,068 points) and eighth (3,029 points), respectively, in the pentathlon.

Zumbro logged a career-best shot put distance of 8.96m and finished third among the 19 competitors in the 800m run at 2:31.45.

Griffith finished with career-bests in the 60m hurdles (9.75), shot put (8.37m) and long jump (5.10m). Her best event was the long jump, where she placed fourth among the 19 competitors.

The Cardinals close out competition in the Gene Edmonds Memorial Invite Saturday, with action slated to being at 10:30 a.m. with the women's shot put.

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

Ball State Results on Opening Day of Gene Edmonds Memorial Invite
Weight Throw / MAC Qualifying Standard: 18.25m / 59-10.5  / Program Record: 18.55m / 60-10 by Marie Lumpkin in 2015
5th - Megan Graves - 16.76m
10th - Princess Carter - 15.26m
FOUL - Kelsey Walters

Pentathlon / Program Record: 3,797 by Thekla Lorenz in 2008
7th - Karlie Zumbro - 3068 Points
    10th - 60m Hurdles - 9.44
    8th - High Jump - 1.51m
    9th - Shot Put - 8.96m*
    12th - Long Jump - 4.70m
    3rd - 800m - 2:31.45
8th - Charity Griffith - 3029 Points
    12th - 60m Hurdles - 9.75*
    8th - High Jump - 1.54m
    15th - Shot Put - 8.37m*
    4th - Long Jump - 5.10m*
    7th - 800m - 2:38.18

60m Hurdles / MAC Qualifying Standard: 8.64 / Program Record: 8.19 by Amber Williams in 2007
Qualified for Finals - Anasja Troutman - 8.81
Qualified for Finals - Kennedy Batts – 9.10*

60m Dash  / MAC Qualifying Standard: 7.60 / Program Record: 7.33 (c) by LaTasha Jenkins in 1998
Qualified for Finals - Bryeana Byrdsong - 7.58 SF (MAC AUTO MARK) / 7.70 FR
14th - Ivy McKee – 7.74 SF / 7.77 FR
15th - Michelle Lehmann - 7.77 SF / 7.80 FR

*- denotes career-best performance

Byrdsong Paces Track & Field Friday at Gene Edmonds Invite

Players Mentioned

Kennedy Batts

Bryeana Byrdsong

Princess Carter

Megan Graves

Charity Griffith

Michelle Lehmann

Ivy McKee

Anasja Troutman

Kelsey Walters

Karlie Zumbro

Related Videos