T&F Earns One Event Win, 11 PR's at Iowa

Iowa City, IA – Coming off a successful first meet in December, the Ball State indoor track and field team looked to maintain its momentum Saturday at the Iowa Recreational Building for the Hawkeye Invitational.

The Cardinals had many strong performances, with its student-athletes recording one event win, multiple heat wins, and 11 personal-best performances.

Ball State got off to a fast start in the day's first event as senior Charity Griffith opened her indoor season by tying her personal best and her own program record by clearing 1.85m (6'-0.75") in the high jump (1.85m / 6-0.75). In addition, the mark was a facility record and meet record.

Later in the day, Griffith would advance to the finals of the 60m hurdles, ultimately placing fifth in 8.96.

Freshman Alana Springer and sophomore Jenna Oriani were just off their own collegiate bests in the 60m final, showing great form in how they executed and finishing fifth (7.60) and sixth (7.64), respectively.

Three Cardinals made an impact in their indoor debuts, including sophomore Sarah Mahnensmith and sophomore transfer Shelby Christman and freshman Mary Porter.

Mahnensmith notched her personal best mile in 4:59, beating her previous high school 1600m best of 5:00. Christman went on to log her best season-opening time in the mile at 5:03.87.

In her collegiate debut, Porter recorded a 60m hurdles personal best at 9.60. Lea-Marie Diedicke also registered a personal-best time of 9.35 in the 60m hurdles.

In the 200m, Oriani recorded an indoor personal best (24.91). Two lifetime personal bests were recorded in the 200m for Junior Kayla Jones (25.91) and Diedicke (27.13).

Also in the 200m, freshman Lindley Steele notched a lifetime best (25.73) along with sophomore Emma Potter (25.86) while freshman Allison Valladay recorded an indoor personal best (26.05).

Sophomore Jessica Velez was the 10th Cardinal to notch a personal best, crossing the line at 10:55.42 in the 3,000m.

"It was a solid showcase of where we are headed as a program. My expectation is for each and everyone to be competitive in their respective events," head coach Adrian Wheatley said. "Looking throughout the competition, seeing the Cardinals battling is a good indicator that we are moving in the right direction. Each competition is a dress rehearsal for the big show, and it prepares us for what is to come as the season progresses."

Next up for the Cardinals is the Gladstein Invitational on Jan. 20 and Jan. 21. They will travel to Bloomington, Indiana, to compete in their third indoor meet of the 2022-23 season.

Ball State Individual Results in the Hawkeye Invitational
High Jump / Program Record: 1.85m / 6-0.75 by Charity Griffith in 2022
1^st – Charity Griffith – 1.85m / 6-0.75*
6^th – Jenelle Rogers – 1.60m / 5-3.0

60m Hurdles / Program Record: 8.19 by Amber Williams in 2007
4^th – Jennah Rogers – 8.91 (9.03 in prelims)
5^th – Charity Griffith – 8.96 (8.93 in prelims)
11^th – Jenelle Rogers – 9.13
15^th – Lea-Marie Diedicke – 9.35 (career best)
16^th – Makensie Kramer – 9.42
17^th – Mary Porter – 9.60*

60m Dash / Program Record: 7.33 (c) by LaTasha Jenkins in 1998
5th – Alana Springer – 7.60 (7.65 in prelims)
6^th – Jenna Oriani – 7.64 (7.65 in prelims)
9^th – Moriah Johnson – 7.83
20^th – Alexis Thigpen – 8.06

Mile Run / Program Record: 4:50.10 by MaryKate Mellen in 2013
5^th – Sarah Mahnensmith – 4:59.67 (career best)
8^th – Shelby Christman – 5:03.87
19^th – Sarah Greer – 5:16.69
20^th – Vivian Van Eck – 5:17.45
21^st – Grace Dean – 5:17.80
22^nd – Carly Spletzer – 5:19.42

Triple Jump / Program Record: 43-2.5 / 13.16m by Patricia Soman in 2003
4^th – Brenna Lehrke – 10.28m / 33-8.75

Long Jump / Program Record: 6.43m / 21-1.5 by Patricia Soman in 2003
7^th – Lindley Steele – 5.28m / 17-4.0

Shot Put / Program Record: 15.33m / 50-3.5 by Kelsey Walters in 2020
11^th – Malena Higgins – 12.22m / 40-2.25

200m Dash / Program Record: 23.25 by LaTasha Jenkins in 1999
4^th – Jenna Oriani – 24.91 (indoor best)
8^th – Alana Springer – 25.31
11^th – Lindley Steele – 25.73 (career best)
14^th – Alexis Thigpen – 25.80
15^th – Emma Potter – 25.86 (career best)
17^th – Kayla Jones – 25.91 (career best)
19^th – Allison Valladay – 26.05 (indoor best)
21^st - Moriah Johnson – 26.16
25^th – Jennah Rogers – 26.37
26^th – Charity Griffith – 26.39
27^th – Taylor Hickman – 26.40
39^th – Lea-Marie Diedicke – 27.13 (career best)

600m Run / Program Record: 1:33.23 by Natasha Lothery in 2003
9^th – Leila Williams-Molitor – 1:40.58

3,000m Run / Program Record: 9:31.43 by Jill Scully in 2006
6^th – Jessica Velez – 10:55.42 (career best)
10^th - Jocilyn Stackis – 11:34.31

4x400 Relay / Program Record: 3:39.94 (c) by Jada Phelps, Angka Morris, Patricia Soman and Linise Gordon in 2001
8^th – Ball State (Taylor Hickman, Jenelle Rogers, Mary Porter, Leila Williams-Molitor) – 4:08.38

Related News

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Taylor Hickman

Malena Higgins

Moriah Johnson

Makensie Kramer

Brenna Lehrke

Sarah Mahnensmith

Jenna Oriani

Mary Porter

Emma Potter

Jenelle Rogers

Jennah Rogers

Carly Spletzer

Alana Springer

Jocilyn Stackis

Lindley Steele

Alexis Thigpen

Allison Valladay

Jessica Velez

Leila Williams-Molitor