Norman Wins 200m, Track & Field Places Third at MAC Indoor Championships

AKRON, Ohio - - Led by Mid-American Conference 200m champion MaQuila Norman (Garfield Heights, Ohio/Lutheran West), the Ball State track & field team earned the program's best finish at the MAC Indoor Championships since the 2009 season with a third-place showing among the league's 12 teams.

[VIDEO] @BallStateTFXC head coach Brian Etelman talks about what the third-place finish means to the program.#ChirpChirp #WeFly pic.twitter.com/HE7DTqR82K
— BallStateTrack&XC (@BallStateTFXC) February 29, 2020

Over the course of the two-day meet, the Cardinals scored 77 total points which is the program's largest point total since scoring 86 in 2008. Eastern Michigan won the meet with 104 points, followed by Northern Illinois at 102.

? Best Team Finish Since 2009
? Most Points Scored Since 2008
? #MACtion Champion @MaQuila_Norman in the 200m
? 6 Total Medals ????????????
? An excellent @MACSports Indoor Championship for #YourCardinals #ChirpChirp #WeFly pic.twitter.com/8SG3la1OZa
— BallStateTrack&XC (@BallStateTFXC) February 29, 2020

While Norman's run of 23.87 to win the 200m and climb into second in program history gave Ball State its first champion in the event since the 2009 season, she was not the only Cardinal to score in the event Saturday.

Senior Bryeana Byrdsong (Indianapolis, Ind./Warren Central) was not far behind, capturing bronze in the indoor 200m for the second straight season in 24.22. In addition, senior Amber Jones (Matteson, Ill./Rich South) followed in sixth place at 24.61. Combined, the three sprinters scored 19 of the Cardinals' 77 total points in the one race.

Earlier in the day, Jones would turn in an even more impressive performance when she placed fourth in the 400m with a program-record time of 54.46, shattering the old mark of 55.11 set by Linise Gordon on Feb. 26, 2000.

Byrdsong earned herself a fourth-place finish earlier in the day as well, leading a trio of Cardinals to the line in the 60m finals with a time of 7.59.

Junior Ivy McKee (Columbus, Ohio/Gahanna Lincoln) followed in sixth-place with a career-fast time of 7.61, while redshirt sophomore Michelle Lehmann (Columbus, Ohio/Bishop Watterson) took eighth in 7.64.

Junior Anasja Troutman (Chesterland, Ohio/Notre Dame Cathedral Latin) was the first Ball State student-athlete to score points Saturday, earning five with a career-fast and fourth-place time of 8.62 in the 60m hurdles.

The Cardinals also scored big in the final two individual events on the day, starting with senior Maritza Rodriguez (Indianapolis, Ind./Ben Davis) who clocked in at 9:51.18 to place second in the 3000m. It was her second silver medal of the championships, as she also placed fifth in the 5,000m Friday.

Senior Kelsey Walters (Troy, Ohio/Troy) followed with a school record shot put throw of 15.33m to place second. It was the second straight weekend Walters broke the program record, as she landed a throw 15.15m at Ball State Tune-Up (Feb. 21).

[VIDEO] @BallStateTFXC head coach Brian Etelman on who he thought stood out for the Cardinals at the 2020 #MACtion Indoor Championships#ChirpChirp #WeFly pic.twitter.com/7BCBlfcPrT
— BallStateTrack&XC (@BallStateTFXC) February 29, 2020

The Cardinals' final five points came in the 4x400m relay, with junior Dejah Johnson (Indianapolis, Ind./Warren Central), Jones, redshirt sophomore Madison Kiser (Royal Center, Ind./Pioneer) and Norman combining for the fourth-fastest time in program history at 3:45.17.

The Ball State track & field team will now turn its attention to the outdoor season, which begins March 21 at the Stan Lyons Invitational hosted by Butler.

[VIDEO] @BallStateTFXC head coach Brian Etelman on what the team's performance means heading into the 2020 outdoor season#ChirpChirp #WeFly pic.twitter.com/coJAbjwb8E
— BallStateTrack&XC (@BallStateTFXC) February 29, 2020

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

2020 MAC Indoor Championship Team Scores
1st - Eastern Michigan - 104
2nd - Northern Illinois - 102
3rd - Ball State - 77
4th - Akron - 72
5th - Bowling Green - 68
6th - Toledo - 60.5
7th - Miami - 60
8th - Central Michigan - 34
9th - Kent State - 33.5
10th - Buffalo - 24
T-11th - Ohio & Western Michigan - 14

Ball State Individual Results on Day 2 of MAC Indoor Championships
High Jump Finals
T-13th - Charity Griffith - 1.55m

Mile Run Finals
13th - Peyton Kneadler - 5:01.92*

60m Hurdles Finals
4th - Anasja Troutman - 8.62* - 5 Points

400m Dash Finals
4th - Amber Jones - 54.46* - Program Record - 5 Points

60m Dash Finals
4th - Bryeana Byrdsong - 7.59 - 5 Points
6th - Ivy McKee - 7.61* - 3 Points
8th - Michelle Lehmann - 7.64 - 1 Point

200m Dash Finals
1st - MaQuila Norman - 23.87 - Second-Fastest Individual Time in Program History - 10 Points
3rd - Bryeana Byrdsong - 24.22 - 6 Points
6th - Amber Jones - 24.61 - 3 Points

3000m Run Finals
2nd - Maritza Rodriguez - 9:51.18 - 8 Points
16th - Vivian Van Eck - 10:16.79

Shot Put Finals
2nd - Kelsey Walters - 15.33m - Program Record - 8 Points
12th - Jada Caldwell - 13.47m

4x400m Relay Final
4th - Dejah Johnson, Amber Jones, Madison Kiser, MaQuila Norman - 3:45.17 - Fourth-Fastest in Program History - 5 points

Ball State Individual Results on Day 1 of MAC Indoor Championships
Pentathlon Finals
2nd - Karlie Zumbro - 3,577* - Fourth-Best Individual Score in Program History - 8 points
    60m Hurdles - 4th - 9.07* (895)
    High Jump - T-6th - 1.61m* (747)
    Shot Put - 15th - 9.31m* (484)
    Long Jump - 11th - 5.27m* (634)
    800m - 3rd - 2:20.45 (817)

11th - Charity Griffith - 3370* points
    60m Hurdles - 16th - 9.52 (804)
    High Jump - 12th - 1.58m (712)
    Shot Put - 13th - 9.46m* (494)
    Long Jump - T-9th - 5.28m* (637)
    800m - 5th - 2:27.61* (723)

60m Hurdles Prelims
6th - Anasja Troutman - 8.67 - Advanced to Event Finals
DNS - Kennedy Batts

400m Dash Prelims
6th - Amber Jones - 55.76 - Advanced to Event Finals
10th - MaQuila Norman - 56.14*
12th - Dejah Johnson - 56.78*

60m Dash Prelims
1st - Bryeana Byrdsong - 7.45* - Fourth-Best Individual Time in Program History - Advanced to Event Finals
3rd - Michelle Lehmann - 7.56* - Advanced to Event Finals
8th - Ivy McKee - 7.67* - Advanced to Event Finals

800m Run Finals
14th - Madison Kiser - 2:14.62

200m Dash Prelims
1st - MaQuila Norman - 24.16* - Fourth-Best Individual Time in Program History - Advanced to Event Finals
3rd - Bryeana Byrdsong - 24.25 - Advanced to Event Finals
6th - Amber Jones - 24.57* - Advanced to Event Finals

5000m Run Finals
2nd - Maritza Rodriguez - 16:53.30* - Fifth-Best Individual Time in Program History - 8 points
15th - Cayla Eckenroth - 17:34.63*

Weight Throw Finals
9th - Megan Graves - 17.66m

Distance Medley Relay Finals
7th - Peyton Kneadler, Dejah Johnson, Madison Kiser, Grace Dean - 11:52.20 - 2 points

* denotes career-best performance

Norman Wins 200m, Track & Field Places Third at MAC Indoor Championships

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Players Mentioned

Kennedy Batts

Bryeana Byrdsong

Jada Caldwell

Grace Dean

Cayla Eckenroth

Megan Graves

Charity Griffith

Dejah Johnson

Amber Jones

Madison Kiser

Peyton Kneadler

Michelle Lehmann

Ivy McKee

MaQuila Norman

Maritza Rodriguez

Anasja Troutman

Vivian Van Eck

Kelsey Walters

Karlie Zumbro

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