Track & Field Fueled Up For Akron Invitational

Friday, February 7

Akron, OH

10 a.m.

Ball State University

Akron Invitational

Photo by: Ball State University Creative Services

February 06, 2020 | Track & Field

MUNCIE, Ind. - - After using the off-week to prep and fuel up, the Ball State indoor track & field team zips over to Ohio for the two-day Akron Invitational which starts Friday at the Stile Athletics Field House.

With just three meets remaining until the 2020 Mid-American Conference Indoor Championships (Feb. 28-29), the Cardinals are looking to gain an early edge by competing at the championship site this weekend.

Friday will be a light day of competition for Ball State, with action in just the long jump starting at 6:30 p.m. Things pick up Saturday, however, as the Cardinals compete in 14 different events starting at 10 a.m. with the mile run and concluding at 5:40 p.m. with the 4x400m relay.

The Cardinals enter the Akron Invitational holding 15 spots inside the top 10 on the Mid-American Conference indoor performance list led by a MAC automatic qualifying mark of 7.58 in the 60m by senior Bryeana Byrdsong. The time currently ranks third in the league, as does senior Maritza Rodriguez's effort of 17:16.61 in the 5,000m.

MEET SCHEDULE

MEET INFORMATION

LIVE RESULTS

LIVE VIDEO: Friday (4p) | Saturday (3p)

Teams expected to join the Cardinals and host Zips this weekend include; Ashland, Bowling Green, Buffalo, Cleveland State, Dayton, Grand Valley State, John Carroll, Kent State, Lake Erie, Malone, Mount St. Mary's, Saint Francis, Shawnee State, Toledo, Walsh, West Virginia, Western Michigan and Youngstown State.

Ball State Entries in the Akron Invitational (career-best performance)
Friday, February 7th
Blue Long Jump (6:30 p.m.) - Michelle Lehmann (5.62m / 18'-5.25"), Charity Griffith (5.10m / 16'-8.75"), Karlie Zumbro (5.08m / 16'8")

Saturday February 8th
Blue Mile Run (10 a.m.) - Hannah Cummings (5:09.25), Vivian Van Eck (N/A), Meghan Hedrick (N/A)
Blue Weight Throw (11 a.m.) - Jada Caldwell (14.94m / 49'-0.25")
Blue High Jump (11 a.m.) - Charity Griffith (1.60m / 5'-3")
Blue Shot Put (11 a.m.) - Jada Caldwell (13.61m / 44'-8")
Gold 60m Hurdles (11:15 a.m. Prelims) - Anasja Troutman (8.65), Kennedy Batts (8.85), Karlie Zumbro (9.15)
Blue 400m Dash (11:15 a.m.) - Dejah Johnson (57.48)
Gold 60m Dash (11:15 a.m. Prelims) - Michelle Lehmann (7.68), Ivy McKee (7.73), Paris Carver ( 7.77)
Blue 800m Dash (11:15 a.m.) - Madison Kiser (2:17.51), Karlie Zumbro (2:20.37), Grace Dean (2:23.10)
Gold Shot Put (3 p.m.) - Kelsey Walters (14.49m / 47'-6.5")
Gold Weight Throw (3 p.m.) - Megan Graves (17.86m / 58'-7.25")
Gold 400m Dash (4:05 p.m.) - Amber Jones (56.95), MaQuila Norman (57.67)
Gold 200m Dash (4:50 p.m.) - Bryeana Byrdsong (23.53), Amber Jones (24.65)
Gold 3000m Run (5:10 p.m.) - Maritza Rodriguez (9:51.63), Cayla Eckenroth (10:07.20), Peyton Kneadler (N/A)
Gold 4x400m Relay (5:40 p.m.) - Ball State "A" - Jones, Byrdsong, Kiser, Johnson

CARDINALS IN THE MAC RANKINGS:
With three meets already under their belts this season, Ball State's student-athletes enter the Akron Invitational with 15 performances currently ranked in the top 10 on the MAC performance list. Leading the way are seniors Bryeana Byrdsong and Maritza Rodriguez with third-place times in the 60m (7.58) and 5,000m (17.16.61), respectively.

Below is a complete list of Ball State track and field student-athletes ranked among the top 10 in the MAC. Times listed with a "c" are converted for track size.

60m - 3. Bryeana Byrdsong (7.58), 8. Michelle Lehmann (7.68), 10. MaQuila Norman (7.71)
200m - 4. Amber Jones (24.65), 8. MaQuila Norman (24.88)
3,000m - 10. Maritza Rodriguez (9:59.77c)
5,000m - 3. Maritza Rodriguez (17:16.61)
60m Hurdles - 5. Anasja Troutman (8.65), 9. Kennedy Batts (8.85)
4x400m Relay - 6. Ball State (3:50.82c)
Shot Put - 7. Kelsey Walters (14.49m / 47'-6.5")
Weight Throw - 9. Megan Graves (17.86m / 58'-7.25"), 10. Princess Carter (17.83m / 58-6)
Pentathlon - 5. Karlie Zumbro (3,089c), 7. Charity Griffith (3,050c)

MAC AUTO MARKS:
After turning in a blazing fast time of 7.58 in the semifinals of the 60m at the Gene Edmonds Memorial Invite (Jan. 10), senior sprinter Bryeana Byrdsong became the first Ball State student-athlete to post a Mid-American Conference automatic qualifying mark this season.

For the effort, Byrdsong was named the MAC Women's Track Athlete of the Week for the second time in her career and for the first time during the indoor portion of a season.

CARDINALS IN THE NCAA RANKINGS:
In addition to ranking among the MAC leaders, Maritza Rodriguez's effort of 17:16.61 in the 5,000m at the Gladstein Invitational (Jan. 24) is one of the fastest in the nation, coming in at 78th. She is the lone Ball State student-athlete ranked in the top 100 on the NCAA Division I performance list.

5,000m - 78. Maritza Rodriguez (17:16.61)

IN THE BALL STATE RECORD BOOKS:
With a toss of 17.86m (58'-7.25") in the weight throw at the Gladstein Invitational (Jan. 24), senior Megan Graves moved into fourth in the Ball State track & field record book (PDF).

She climbed past junior Princess Carter who won the weight throw with a career-best toss of 17.83m (58'-6") at the season-opening Mastodon Opener (Dec. 7).

Kelsey Walters' shot put effort of 14.49m (47'-6.5") at the Gladstein Invitational (Jan. 25) keeps her second all-time in the Ball State's record book, as it was 0.12m further than her previous career-best mark of 14.37m (47-1.75) which held the same spot.

EVENT WINNERS:
Ball State's student-athletes have won eight events so far this season, with six wins coming at the Mastodon Opener (Dec. 7) and two coming at the Gladstein Invitational (Jan. 24-25).

Gladstein Invitational Event Winners
300m - Amber Jones (39.89)
800m - Madison Kiser (2:19.18)
3000m - Cayla Eckenroth (10:07.61)
4x400m Relay - Amber Jones, Dejah Johnson, Madison Kiser, MaQuila Norman (3:56.72)
Shot Put - Kelsey Walters (14.35m / 47-1)
Weight Throw - Princess Carter (17.83m / 58-6)

Akron Invitational Event Winners
200m - Amber Jones (24.65)
5,000m - Maritza Rodriguez (17:16.61)

CAREER-BEST PERFORMANCES:
Ball State's student-athletes turned in 51 career-best performances over the first three meets of the season, with 25 coming at the Mastodon Opener (Dec. 7), 13 at the Gene Edmonds Memorial Invite (Jan. 10-11) and 13 at the Gladstein Invitational (Jan. 24-25).