Ball State University Athletics
Ball State Lands Eight Cross Country, Track & Field Standouts
November 08, 2020 | Cross Country, Track & Field
In an unorthodox year for recruiting across college athletics, the Ball State cross country and track programs overcame those obstacles to land eight standout performers in the early signing period. Sprinters Jenna Oriani and Emma Potter, hurdler Makensie Kramer, jumper McKenna Cinotte and distance runners Sarah Mahnensmith, Jenna Schifferer, Jessica Velez and Carly Spletzer will compete at BSU starting in the fall of 2021.
"I'm very proud of our staff for the work that they've put in in the recent months to assemble such a quality early signing class," Etelman said. "While the recruiting process has certainly been different this year, we're fortunate to have a beautiful campus, a great university and a well-built program to attract high-level high school talent. We look forward to adding to this class in the coming weeks and months."
Oriani, from Chardon, Ohio, is a seven-time conference champion, two-time team MVP and an all-state honoree. She has recorded PR runs of 56.10 in the 400m, 25.01 in the 200m and 7.65 in the 60m.
"We are fortunate to have Jenna as a part of our program," Etelman said. "She has been one of Ohio's most complete sprinters and has the ability to be a difference maker from 60m – 400m. Her success as a high school soccer player adds the grit necessary to be successful at this level. Jenna will help continue to carry a very talented sprint group here at Ball State."
Potter, a mid-distance runner from Mentor, Ohio, near Cleveland, is an all-state athlete who was a conference champion in the 400m and the 1600- and 3200m relays. She's been a part of school record and state finalist relay teams and is a 12-time state qualifier. Her top times are: 26.00 in the 200m, 56.29 in the 400m and 2:16 in the half mile.
"We are incredibly excited to add Emma. She will be one of Ohio's best returning long sprinters this coming spring and has the versatility to help us in many areas," Etelman said. "Emma's combination of toughness, work ethic and success in other sports makes her a perfect fit for our team culture. She comes from a very athletic family and we anticipate her developing quickly and being an important piece of our team."
Kramer, a multi-sport athlete in high school at Center Grove near Indianapolis, owns a 15.30 mark in the 100m hurdle and 46.57 in the 300m hurdle. Etelman says she has 'unlimited potential.'
"Makensie is one of Indiana's diamonds in the rough and best hurdlers," the coach said. "We are fortunate to have her help continue the trend of Ball State success in the hurdles. She will be able to step into a competitive environment and make a nice contribution right away."
Schifferer is a distance runner from Batavia, Illinois, who has been an all-conference athlete in both cross country and track all throughout her career. Her 3200m relay team was a state finalist during her sophomore year. Schifferer's top times include a 2:23 mark in the 800m, 5:16 in the mile and 11:09 in the 3200m. Her top cross country time is a 3-mile mark of 17:48.
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"Jenna is an all-around great student-athlete. She comes from a strong high school program and knows how to work hard and compete," Ball State distance coach Sarah Pease said. "I'm excited to watch Jenna progress as an athlete at Ball State and know she will be an important contributor to our program."Â
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Spletzer will join Ball State from Lakota East High School in Ohio, where she regional and district champion and conference runner of the year in cross country. Spletzer led her team to four straight appearances in the state meet, including a runner-up finish in 2020. Her best 5K cross country time is 18:11. In track, she's a district champ and state qualifier in the 3200m, where her best time is 10:49. Spletzer also owns a 5:11 mile time and a 2:21 split time in the 3200m relay.
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"Carly has had an impressive senior cross country season and is one of the top distance runners in Ohio," Pease said. "She has run at a high level throughout high school and I know she will be able to immediately contribute at Ball State."Â
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Mahnensmith, from Norwell High School not too far north of Ball State, is her school's conference runner of the year and a four-time all-conference runner. She's been named second team all-state, team MVP and also mental attitude award winner in her high school career. She holds her school's record in the 5K (18:06) in cross country and her track times include 5:16 in the mile and 11:29 in the 3200m.
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"Sarah is an incredibly competitive athlete who is always looking to better herself," Pease said. "She improved tremendously over her senior cross country season and I'm excited to see her continue to progress at Ball State."Â
Velez, who joined the new Cardinal group in December, is from Indianapolis and ran for Pike High School. She was 35th at the 2019 IHSAAÂ track meet with a 11:43 3200m time. She also has recorded an 18:29 5K time.
"Jessica has been consistently competitive in the state of Indiana," Pease said. "She is very driven to be a great student and athlete who will fit in with the culture we are creating. I am excited to see her continue to improve at Ball State and contribute to our team."
Cinotte, from Downers Grove, Illinois, is the lone field event athlete in this class who competes in the triple jump, long jump and sprints. She was an all-conference performer in four different events in 2019 and and was also named all-state. She holds her school's indoor triple jump record and was on the school record 400m relay team. Cinotte's best triple jump is 40'1.5" and her top long jump is 17'8.5". Her top sprint times came in the 200m (27.7) and 55m dash (7.2).
"We are very excited to add McKenna to our team. She had an impressive sophomore season and finished her shortened junior season as one of the top 10 triple jumpers in the nation. That's quite the accomplishment," jumps coach Forrest Donnell said. "McKenna understands our team goals, she has embraced our expectations and she gets what we are doing as a team. We are delighted that McKenna will be in the Cardinal and White next year."
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"I'm very proud of our staff for the work that they've put in in the recent months to assemble such a quality early signing class," Etelman said. "While the recruiting process has certainly been different this year, we're fortunate to have a beautiful campus, a great university and a well-built program to attract high-level high school talent. We look forward to adding to this class in the coming weeks and months."
Oriani, from Chardon, Ohio, is a seven-time conference champion, two-time team MVP and an all-state honoree. She has recorded PR runs of 56.10 in the 400m, 25.01 in the 200m and 7.65 in the 60m.
"We are fortunate to have Jenna as a part of our program," Etelman said. "She has been one of Ohio's most complete sprinters and has the ability to be a difference maker from 60m – 400m. Her success as a high school soccer player adds the grit necessary to be successful at this level. Jenna will help continue to carry a very talented sprint group here at Ball State."
Potter, a mid-distance runner from Mentor, Ohio, near Cleveland, is an all-state athlete who was a conference champion in the 400m and the 1600- and 3200m relays. She's been a part of school record and state finalist relay teams and is a 12-time state qualifier. Her top times are: 26.00 in the 200m, 56.29 in the 400m and 2:16 in the half mile.
"We are incredibly excited to add Emma. She will be one of Ohio's best returning long sprinters this coming spring and has the versatility to help us in many areas," Etelman said. "Emma's combination of toughness, work ethic and success in other sports makes her a perfect fit for our team culture. She comes from a very athletic family and we anticipate her developing quickly and being an important piece of our team."
Kramer, a multi-sport athlete in high school at Center Grove near Indianapolis, owns a 15.30 mark in the 100m hurdle and 46.57 in the 300m hurdle. Etelman says she has 'unlimited potential.'
"Makensie is one of Indiana's diamonds in the rough and best hurdlers," the coach said. "We are fortunate to have her help continue the trend of Ball State success in the hurdles. She will be able to step into a competitive environment and make a nice contribution right away."
Schifferer is a distance runner from Batavia, Illinois, who has been an all-conference athlete in both cross country and track all throughout her career. Her 3200m relay team was a state finalist during her sophomore year. Schifferer's top times include a 2:23 mark in the 800m, 5:16 in the mile and 11:09 in the 3200m. Her top cross country time is a 3-mile mark of 17:48.
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"Jenna is an all-around great student-athlete. She comes from a strong high school program and knows how to work hard and compete," Ball State distance coach Sarah Pease said. "I'm excited to watch Jenna progress as an athlete at Ball State and know she will be an important contributor to our program."Â
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Spletzer will join Ball State from Lakota East High School in Ohio, where she regional and district champion and conference runner of the year in cross country. Spletzer led her team to four straight appearances in the state meet, including a runner-up finish in 2020. Her best 5K cross country time is 18:11. In track, she's a district champ and state qualifier in the 3200m, where her best time is 10:49. Spletzer also owns a 5:11 mile time and a 2:21 split time in the 3200m relay.
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"Carly has had an impressive senior cross country season and is one of the top distance runners in Ohio," Pease said. "She has run at a high level throughout high school and I know she will be able to immediately contribute at Ball State."Â
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Mahnensmith, from Norwell High School not too far north of Ball State, is her school's conference runner of the year and a four-time all-conference runner. She's been named second team all-state, team MVP and also mental attitude award winner in her high school career. She holds her school's record in the 5K (18:06) in cross country and her track times include 5:16 in the mile and 11:29 in the 3200m.
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"Sarah is an incredibly competitive athlete who is always looking to better herself," Pease said. "She improved tremendously over her senior cross country season and I'm excited to see her continue to progress at Ball State."Â
Velez, who joined the new Cardinal group in December, is from Indianapolis and ran for Pike High School. She was 35th at the 2019 IHSAAÂ track meet with a 11:43 3200m time. She also has recorded an 18:29 5K time.
"Jessica has been consistently competitive in the state of Indiana," Pease said. "She is very driven to be a great student and athlete who will fit in with the culture we are creating. I am excited to see her continue to improve at Ball State and contribute to our team."
Cinotte, from Downers Grove, Illinois, is the lone field event athlete in this class who competes in the triple jump, long jump and sprints. She was an all-conference performer in four different events in 2019 and and was also named all-state. She holds her school's indoor triple jump record and was on the school record 400m relay team. Cinotte's best triple jump is 40'1.5" and her top long jump is 17'8.5". Her top sprint times came in the 200m (27.7) and 55m dash (7.2).
"We are very excited to add McKenna to our team. She had an impressive sophomore season and finished her shortened junior season as one of the top 10 triple jumpers in the nation. That's quite the accomplishment," jumps coach Forrest Donnell said. "McKenna understands our team goals, she has embraced our expectations and she gets what we are doing as a team. We are delighted that McKenna will be in the Cardinal and White next year."
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2020 Ball State Early Signees
| Name | Events | Hometown/High School |
| McKenna Cinotte | Jumps | Downers Grove, Ill./North |
| Makensie Kramer | Hurdles | Greenwood, Ind./Center Grove |
| Sarah Mahnensmith | Distance | Ossian, Ind./Norwell |
| Jenna Oriani | Sprints | Chardon, Ohio/Chardon |
| Emma Potter | Sprints | Mentor, Ohio/Mentor |
| Jenna Schifferer | Distance | Batavia, Ill./Batavia |
| Carly Spletzer | Distance | Liberty Twp., Ohio/Lakota East |
| Jessica Velez    | Distance | Indianapolis, Ind,/Pike |
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