Thursday, May 27
Jacksonville, FL
All Day
Ball State University
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NCAA Championships East Prelims
4x100 Relay Turns In Historic Time At NCAA Prelim
May 29, 2021 | Track & Field
2nd-fastest 4x100 time in conference history
JACKSONVILLE, Florida - Heading to the MAC Outdoor Championships, Ball State had the fastest 4x100 relay time, a school-record 45.14. But the team DQ'd and didn't place. But redemption would be in its destiny. The Cardinals got another chance in the NCAAs and put up a historic effort Saturday at the NCAA East Prelim in Florida.
The team of Kennedy Batts, Bryeana Byrdsong, MaQuila Norman and Michelle Lehmann delivered a school-record 44.85 that is now the 2nd-best 4x100 time in conference history.
"We're really proud of this group. The theme was redemption from our mistake at the MAC meet and we were fortunate to get a spot here," head coach Brian Etelman said. "We really stepped up to the occasion."
The star-studded field consisted of LSU, which set the facility record, and 13 teams in addition to BSU that set a school record. The Cards were 7th in their heat, beating Cincinnati, Miami, Tennessee, North Carolina and finishing right behind South Carolina. The top three overall and top three from each heat advance to the finals at Hayward Field in Oregon. The Cards were seeded 24th in the event and placed 17th overall.
Etelman noted that the East region was the loaded region in sprints with the talent from the schools in the SEC, Big Ten and ACC. The Cardinals hung with the nation's elite.
In a historical context, the 4x100 effort by BSU is the third sub-45.00 time in conference history. The conference record is 44.65 by Eastern Michigan at the 2019 NCAA East Prelims. EMU was second with a 44.95 until the Cards bumped them to third.
"Charity stepped up in the moment. She did a great job to reach this point and her future is bright," Etelman said.
The team of Kennedy Batts, Bryeana Byrdsong, MaQuila Norman and Michelle Lehmann delivered a school-record 44.85 that is now the 2nd-best 4x100 time in conference history.
"We're really proud of this group. The theme was redemption from our mistake at the MAC meet and we were fortunate to get a spot here," head coach Brian Etelman said. "We really stepped up to the occasion."
The star-studded field consisted of LSU, which set the facility record, and 13 teams in addition to BSU that set a school record. The Cards were 7th in their heat, beating Cincinnati, Miami, Tennessee, North Carolina and finishing right behind South Carolina. The top three overall and top three from each heat advance to the finals at Hayward Field in Oregon. The Cards were seeded 24th in the event and placed 17th overall.
Etelman noted that the East region was the loaded region in sprints with the talent from the schools in the SEC, Big Ten and ACC. The Cardinals hung with the nation's elite.
In a historical context, the 4x100 effort by BSU is the third sub-45.00 time in conference history. The conference record is 44.65 by Eastern Michigan at the 2019 NCAA East Prelims. EMU was second with a 44.95 until the Cards bumped them to third.
CHARITY RISES ON THE BIG STAGE
Charity Griffith jumped 1.72m and placed 30th overall in the high jump Saturday, capping an impressive debut season that saw her improve nearly every single meet."Charity stepped up in the moment. She did a great job to reach this point and her future is bright," Etelman said.
@CharitySueGrif1 Has cleared 2 bars down here in Jacksonville. Here's her clearance at 1.72m!
— BallStateTrack&XC (@BallStateTFXC) May 29, 2021
Top 12 survive and advance. She sits in the mid 20s going into bar #3. pic.twitter.com/TO07RMyttG
NORMAN IN THE 200m
Norman ran Thursday in the 200m first round, clocking 24.06. She was 6th in her heat and 42nd overall. Read coverage of Norman's run HERE.
Players Mentioned
Sprints/Hurdles
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Sprints
/ Track & Field
High Jump
/ Track & Field
Sprints/Jumps
/ Track & Field
Sprints
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