Distance Squad Leads Track & Field on Opening Day of Music City Challenge

Photo by: Ball State University Creative Services

Distance Squad Leads Track & Field on Opening Day of Music City Challenge

February 15, 2020 | Track & Field

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Ball State's distance medley relay made its 2020 debut a memorable one, taking top honors in the event on the opening day of the Music City Challenge hosted at the Vanderbilt Rec Center / Indoor Track Facility.

In the DMR's debut race this season, senior Peyton Kneadler (Monticello, Ind./Twin Lakes), sophomore Karlie Zumbro (Zanesville, Ohio/John Glen), redshirt sophomore Madison Kiser (Royal Center, Ind./Pioneer High School) and freshman Grace Dean (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence North)combined for a winning time of 12:05.72. The time is currently the fifth-fastest in the league this season.

Individually, the Cardinals picked up four career-best performances and three top 10 finishes on the day, led by freshman Charity Griffith (Arlington, Ind./Rushville) who tied for eighth in the high jump at 1.59m.

Senior Megan Graves (Fishers, Ind./Fishers) was not far behind, placing ninth in the weight throw at 16.69m. Rounding out Ball State's top 10 finishers was senior Bryeana Byrdsong (Indianapolis, Ind./Warren Central) with a 10th-place time of 24.71 in the 200m.

Senior Maritza Rodriguez (Indianapolis, Ind./Ben Davis) also turned in a strong showing in the 5,000m, placing 18th overall in a career-fast 17:01.46. Her effort was less than 10 seconds shy of the Mid-American Conference Indoor Championship automatic qualifying time of 16:52.00 and is currently the second-fastest time in the league so far this season.

The Ball State indoor track & field team concludes competition in the Music City Challenge Saturday, with action beginning at 11 a.m. ET / 10 a.m. CT in the 3,000m run.

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Friday's Results at Music City Challenge
High Jump / MAC Qualifying Standard: 1.69m / 5-6.5  / Program Record: 1.81m / 5-11.25 by Regan Lewis in 2017
T-8th - Charity Griffith - 1.59m

Weight Throw  / MAC Qualifying Standard: 18.25m / 59-10.5  / Program Record: 18.55m / 60-10 by Marie Lumpkin in 2015
9th - Megan Graves - 16.69m

Long Jump  / MAC Qualifying Standard: 5.82m / 19-1.25  / Program Record: 6.43m / 21-1.5 by Patricia Soman in 2003
Foul - Michelle Lehmann
Foul - Karlie Zumbro

200m Dash  / MAC Qualifying Standard: 24.48  / Program Record: 23.25 by LaTasha Jenkins in 1999
10th - Bryeana Byrdsong - 24.71
12th - MaQuila Norman - 24.73*
14th - Amber Jones - 24.81
22nd - Ivy McKee - 25.21
33rd - Michelle Lehmann - 25.73*
37th - Dejah Johnson - 25.90

Distance Medley Relay / Program Record: 11:34.14 by Donna Harless, Linise Gordon, Natasha Lothery, Katie Nowak in 2001
1st - 12:05.72 - Peyton Kneadler, Karlie Zumbro, Madison Kiser, Grace Dean

5000m Run - Section 1 / MAC Qualifying Standard: 16:52.00 / Program Record: 16:21.66 by Ali Bishel in 2008
18th - Maritza Rodriquez - 17:01.47*
31st - Cayla Eckenroth - 17:39.17*

* denotes career-best performance