Jones, Bader Lead Women’s S&D at Day 3 of MAC Championships

Jones, Bader Lead Women’s S&D at Day 3 of MAC Championships

February 25, 2022 | Women's Swimming and Diving

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - - Freshman Hannah Jones locked in her third program record of the week, while senior Alex Bader turned in the Ball State women's swimming & diving team's best individual finish Friday night on the third day of the 2022 Mid-American Conference Championships at Bowling Green's Cooper Pool.

Jones, who placed eighth in both the 100 butterfly (54.29) and 100 backstroke (54.55) Friday, started the day with a program record time of 54.44 in the prelims of the 100 backstroke.

It was BSU's first individual program record of the meet, while it was the third overall for Jones who was a member of the record setting 800 freestyle and 200 medley relays.

Jones was not the only BSU swimmer to score in each event, however, as junior Shelby Crist took 15th in the 100 backstroke (55.85) and junior Phoebe Rensink tallied 16th in the 100 butterfly (55.57).

Ball State's best event on the day was the 100 breaststroke, which saw a pair of Cardinals in the championship heat, and three score overall. Leading the way was Bader who tied her career-best time, and the second-best time in program history, with a 1:01.69 to place fourth.

Sophomore Laura Wright was not far behind, adding the third-fastest time in program history with a 1:02.06 to place sixth. Senior Alexa McDonald was BSU's third scored swimmer in the event, with a final touch of 1:04.14.

Other scorers on the day for Ball State were freshmen Alexa Arkenberg in the 400 IM (15th in 4:28.92) and Gracey Payne in the 200 freestyle (10th in 1:50.05).

In addition, freshman diver Ashleigh Provan advanced to Saturday's championship round of 3M diving. She enters as the fifth seed after scoring 265.50 in the prelims.

Action in the 2022 Women's MAC Swimming & Diving Championships concludes Saturday with finals of the 200 backstroke, 100 freestyle, 200 breaststroke, 200 butterfly, 1650 freestyle, 3M diving, and 400 freestyle relay.

Prelims being at 10:30 a.m., while the 1650 freestyle starts at 4:10 and the finals open at 6:15 with a special senior recognition.

TEAM STANDINGS AFTER DAY 3
1. Akron – 594.5
2. Buffalo – 421.5
3. Miami – 289.5
4. Eastern Michigan - 247
5. Ohio - 243
6. Bowling Green – 217
7. Ball State – 155.5
8. Toledo - 149

BALL STATE'S FRIDAY CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS
100 Butterfly Championships
8th - Hannah Jones - 54.29 - 11 points - 3rd in program history
16th - Phoebe Rensink - 55.57 (55.25 in prelims) - 1 point

400 IM Championships
15th - Alexa Arkenberg - 4:28.92 (4:27.45 in prelims) - 2 points

200 Freestyle Championships
10th - Gracey Payne - 1:50.05 - 7 points?

100 Breaststroke Championships
4th - Alex Bader - 1:01.69 - 15 points - T2nd best in program history
6th - Laura Wright - 1:02.06 - 13 points - 3rd best in program history
16th - Alexa McDonald - 1:04.14 (1:03.49 in prelims) - 1 point

100 Backstroke Championships
8th - Hannah Jones - 54.55 (54.44 in prelims - program record) - 11 points
15th - Shelby Crist - 55.85 (55.63 in prelims) - 2 points

400 Medley Relay
DQ

BALL STATE'S FRIDAY PRELIM RESULTS
100 Butterfly Prelims
22nd - Shelby Crist - 56.86
25th - Lilia Newkirk - 57.85
EXH - Gracie Saulman - 56.89

400 IM Prelims
22nd - Sydney Dygert - 4:35.49
23rd - Sophia Kuehn - 4:36.55

200 Freestyle Prelims
25th - Marcella Ribeiro - 1:52.74
34th - Mary Kate Phillips - 1:53.61
EXH - Kayleigh Witt - 1:52.03
EXH - Elizabeth King - 1:53.88

100 Breaststroke Prelims
17th - Jenn Gillen - 1:04.60
EXH - Abbie McCarter - 1:04.82

100 Backstroke Prelims
17th - Lilia Newkirk - 55.88 - 7th in program history
19th - Jessie Fraley - 57.47
EXH - Meri Gray - 57.16
EXH - Cecilia Moore - 58.63

3M Diving Prelims
5th - Ashleigh Provan - 265.50 - Advanced to Saturday's Championship Final
30th - Madison Gatzlaff - 174.40