
Photo by: Ball State University
Ball State boasts plethora of personal bests at Doug Raymond National Qualifier
February 12, 2022 | Track & Field
Cardinals produce strong performance in final meet before MAC Championships
KENT, Ohio – Through the two-day Doug Raymond National Qualifier over the weekend, the Ball State track and field team posted multiple top performances in its final meet before the Mid-American Conference Championship.
"It was a good meet for us," head coach Adrian Wheatley said. "Overall, it was a good experience. We are coming around at the right time. In the next couple of weeks, we'll continue to sharpen up in preparation for the MAC Championships."
Karlie Zumbro posted multiple personal bests, including an indoor-best 2:14.95 during the 800-meter run that was an event win. She also had personal bests in the long jump (17-4 3/4 (5.30m)) and the 60-meter hurdles (9.04).
Charity Griffith also posted a personal best in the long jump at 19-6 1/4 (5.95m), placing second, and in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.97.
Rounding out the field events, McKenna Cinotte won her flight and had a personal best in the triple jump (38-11 (11.86m)), while Jenelle Rogers had an indoor personal best in the long jump (17-8 1/4 (5.39m)). Cinotte also posted an improved long jump of 17-0 (15.8m).
Sarah Greer posted season bests in both the 800-meter run (2:23.55) and in the mile run (5:16.25), both of which were heat wins.
In the 200-meter run, Aaleiah Winford won her heat in the 200-meter dash and finished sixth with a time of 25.14, coming in just behind MaQuila Norman, who finished fourth.
The 400-meter dash saw three Cardinals picked up new marks in the event. Alexis Thigpen set an indoor personal best and placed fourth, crossing the line in 56.46. Oriani (57.60) and Potter (58.33) ran their fastest 400-meter season opener - either indoor or outdoor.
All three runners in the 5,000-meter run had personal bests in Jenna Schifferer (18:56.84), Jessica Velez (19:30.11) and Maddie Aul (19:34.89). Schifferer won her heat, while Velez was second in her heat.
In the 60-meter dash, Winford and Moriah Johnson both advanced to the finals, placing fifth and eighth, respectively. Winford improved from 7.74 in the prelims to 7.70 in the finals, while Johnson maintained a 7.83 mark.
In the final event of the weekend, the 4x400-meter relay team of Oriani, Griffith, Potter and Jennah Rogers won their heat with a time of 4:00.72.
The Cardinals return to the same venue for the MAC Championship, Feb. 24-26.
"One of the biggest reasons for us to come to Kent State this weekend was to get another practice run before the big show," Wheatley added. "Having an opportunity to get a feel for the facility, feel for the track, identify where the check-in table will be at, where the starts are going to be for the races and things of that nature, so that when we come back here in a couple weeks, we've been here and done that. We'll stay in the same hotel, have a similar meal and make sure that we continue to replicate the things that we've been doing all season long.
"We talk all the time that we're not trying to do anything different because it's a MAC meet. We're just going to continue to compete and compete for each other and let the chips lie where they lie."
"It was a good meet for us," head coach Adrian Wheatley said. "Overall, it was a good experience. We are coming around at the right time. In the next couple of weeks, we'll continue to sharpen up in preparation for the MAC Championships."
Karlie Zumbro posted multiple personal bests, including an indoor-best 2:14.95 during the 800-meter run that was an event win. She also had personal bests in the long jump (17-4 3/4 (5.30m)) and the 60-meter hurdles (9.04).
Charity Griffith also posted a personal best in the long jump at 19-6 1/4 (5.95m), placing second, and in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.97.
Rounding out the field events, McKenna Cinotte won her flight and had a personal best in the triple jump (38-11 (11.86m)), while Jenelle Rogers had an indoor personal best in the long jump (17-8 1/4 (5.39m)). Cinotte also posted an improved long jump of 17-0 (15.8m).
Sarah Greer posted season bests in both the 800-meter run (2:23.55) and in the mile run (5:16.25), both of which were heat wins.
In the 200-meter run, Aaleiah Winford won her heat in the 200-meter dash and finished sixth with a time of 25.14, coming in just behind MaQuila Norman, who finished fourth.
The 400-meter dash saw three Cardinals picked up new marks in the event. Alexis Thigpen set an indoor personal best and placed fourth, crossing the line in 56.46. Oriani (57.60) and Potter (58.33) ran their fastest 400-meter season opener - either indoor or outdoor.
All three runners in the 5,000-meter run had personal bests in Jenna Schifferer (18:56.84), Jessica Velez (19:30.11) and Maddie Aul (19:34.89). Schifferer won her heat, while Velez was second in her heat.
In the 60-meter dash, Winford and Moriah Johnson both advanced to the finals, placing fifth and eighth, respectively. Winford improved from 7.74 in the prelims to 7.70 in the finals, while Johnson maintained a 7.83 mark.
In the final event of the weekend, the 4x400-meter relay team of Oriani, Griffith, Potter and Jennah Rogers won their heat with a time of 4:00.72.
The Cardinals return to the same venue for the MAC Championship, Feb. 24-26.
"One of the biggest reasons for us to come to Kent State this weekend was to get another practice run before the big show," Wheatley added. "Having an opportunity to get a feel for the facility, feel for the track, identify where the check-in table will be at, where the starts are going to be for the races and things of that nature, so that when we come back here in a couple weeks, we've been here and done that. We'll stay in the same hotel, have a similar meal and make sure that we continue to replicate the things that we've been doing all season long.
"We talk all the time that we're not trying to do anything different because it's a MAC meet. We're just going to continue to compete and compete for each other and let the chips lie where they lie."
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