Track & Field Completes 2020-21 Recruiting Class

Photo by: Ball State University Creative Services

August 27, 2020 | Track & Field

MUNCIE, Ind. - - With the start of classes in full swing, the Ball State track & field program is excited to announce the final three members of its 2020-21 recruiting class.

Samantha Biernat, Jennah Rogers and Aaleiah Winford complete the incoming freshman class, which includes six student-athletes who signed with the Cardinals in the fall or winter.

The first six members of the recruiting class include Ashley Craycraft, Elka Machan, Kylee Mastin, Brooke Neal, Jenelle Rogers and Alexis Thigpen - COMPLETE RELEASE

Learn more about the three latest members of the Ball State track & field program below:

Name: Samantha Biernat
Events: Distance
Hometown (High School): Angola, Ind. (Angola)

PRs: 800m – 2:25.16 | 1600m - 5:29.87 | 5K (XC) – 19:36.20

HIGH SCHOOL: A four-year letterwinner at Angola High School … four-time All-North Eastern Corner Conference selection in cross country and two-time honoree in track & field … three-time team MVP in cross country and two-time team distance MVP in track & field … helped guide Angola to four conference championships and a 2016 sectional title … turned in a career-fast 5K cross country time of 19:36.20 to place 34th at the Marion Invitational as a senior … also won the 4K DeKalb Classic in a career-fast 16:14.00 her senior year … as a junior on the track, Biernat won the 2019 Angola Sectional title in the 800m and went on to place seventh at the Marion Regionals with a career-fast time of 2:25.16 … turned in a third-place and career-fast 1,600m time of 5:29.87 to place third at the 2018 East Noble Sectional.

Name: Jennah Rogers
Events: Sprints/Hurdles
Hometown (High School): Oswego, Ill. (Oswego)

PRs: 100m Hurdles – 14.94 | 200m - 25.73

HIGH SCHOOL: A four-year letterwinner at Oswego High School … placed 12th at the IHSA 3A Girls State Track & Field Championships as a junior in the 100m hurdles with a career-fast time of 14.94 … she also took 20th at the state meet in the 200m with a time of 26.05 … turned in a personal-best in the 200m one weekend earlier, placing second at the IHSA 3A Girls Molina Sectional with a time of 25.73 … also took second in the 100m hurdles (14.96) at sectionals her junior campaign … placed 11th in the 100m hurdles at the state meet as a sophomore, clocking in at 15.35 … opened her high school career by placing 36th at the state meet as a freshman with a 100m time of 12.53, which was just off her career-best mark of 12.52 set at the sectional meet one week earlier.

Name: Aaleiah Winford
Events: Sprints
Hometown (High School): Jeffersonville, Ind. (Jeffersonville)

PRs: 60m – 7.81 | 100m – 12.10 | 200m - 24.73 | 400m - 57.15

HIGH SCHOOL: A four-year letterwinner at Jefferson High School … three-time IHSAA Girls State Track & Field Championship qualifier in the 200m and two-time state qualifier in the 100m … placed 10th in the 200m at the state championships as a junior with a time of 24.82 … also collected Jeffersonville Sectional (25.30) and Bloomington North (25.43) championship titles in the 200m … finished her junior career by advancing all the way to the USATF National Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships, placing 11th overall in the 200m with a career-fast time of 24.73 and taking 14th in the 400m with a career-fast effort of 57.15 … owns a career-best 60m indoor time of 7.81 set at the end of both her junior and senior seasons … took eighth in the IHSAA State Championships in the 200m as a sophomore with a time of 25.12, while once again also collecting sectional and regional championships … went on to place 18th at the AAU Junior Olympic Games in the 200m (24.80), while taking 22nd in the 100m (12.30) … also advanced to the IHSAA State Championships in the 100m as a sophomore, placing 19th overall in 12.43 … coming off a sectional championships, she turned in a career-fast 100m time of 12.10 in the prelims of the IHSAA Bloomington North Regional as a sophomore, going on to win the title later in the day with a time of 12.28 … placed 13th in the 200m (25.67) and 16th in the 100m (12.54) at the state championships as a freshman … also claimed sectional and regional titles in both events as a freshman.