Wright, Provan Lead Women's S&D At Day 3 Of MAC Championships

Wright, Provan Lead Women's S&D At Day 3 Of MAC Championships

February 24, 2023 | Women's Swimming and Diving

OXFORD, Ohio - - Ball State continued to build on its hot start to the Mid-American Conference Women's Swimming & Diving Championships Friday, adding more names to the program's record book.

Much like the opening two days, it was Ball State's relay which made one of the biggest splashes as senior Shelby Crist swam leadoff for the 400 medley relay which touched with the third-fastest time in school history at 3:42.57. Crist was joined by junior Laura Wright, sophomore Hannah Jones, and freshman Payton Kelly.

Another big highlight for Ball State came in the diving well, as sophomore Ashleigh Provan finished third in preliminaries with a six-dive score of 287.80. Provan will compete tomorrow night in the 3M diving championship finals.

In the individual swimming events, Jones had her season-best performance in the 100 butterfly prelims shaving 1.62 seconds off her previous time with a 54.48. Jones would finish 11th in the butterfly finals while senior Phoebe Rensink took 16th.

In the 200 freestyle prelims, freshman Kiran Stauffer continued her great week by swimming the seventh-fastest time in school history at 1:50.77. Junior Marcella Ribeiro qualified for the finals, finishing 10th at 1:49.83.

The record-book making times did not stop there as junior Laura Wright touched at 1:01.79 for the fastest 100 breaststroke in her career. Wright's time places her third in program history.

In the final preliminary individual swimming event, sophomore Lilia Newkirk set a new career best in the 100 backstroke finishing at 55.44. That mark catapults her to sixth in program history. Jones was BSU's top finisher in the event, taking eighth in the championship heat at 56.37 after clocking 54.80 in the prelims.

With one day remaining, the Cardinals are currently sixth among the eight-team field at 211 points. Akron is first overall at 509.5.

Action at the MAC Championships wraps up Saturday, with five individual swimming events, 3-meter diving finals, and the 400 freestyle relay.

Preliminaries for the 200 backstroke will start at 10:30am and will be followed by the 100 freestyle, 200 breaststroke, and 200 butterfly.

TEAM STANDINGS AFTER DAY 3
1. Akron – 509.5
2. Buffalo – 411
3. Miami – 376.5
4. Ohio - 341
5. EMU - 225
6. Ball State – 211
7. Toledo – 148
8. Bowling Green – 95

BALL STATE FRIDAY'S CHAMPIONSHIP PERFORMANCES

100 Butterfly
11^th - Hannah Jones – 54.73
16^th - Phoebe Rensink – 56.07

200 Freestyle
10^th - Marcella Ribeiro – 1:49.25

100 Breaststroke
8^th - Laura Wright – 1:02.11
15^th - Jenn Gillen – 1:04.38

100 Backstroke
8^th - Hannah Jones – 56.37
12^th - Shelby Crist – 55.33
16^th - Lilia Newkirk – 55.74

400 Medley Relay
5^th – Shelby Crist, Laura Wright, Hannah Jones, Payton Kelly – 3:42.57 (3^rd in program history)

BALL STATE FRIDAY'S PRELIM PERFORMANCES

100 Butterfly
10^th - Hannah Jones – 54.38
14^th - Phoebe Rensink – 55.61
26^th - Lilia Newkirk – 57.21
28^th - Shelby Crist – 57.51
EXH - Eliza Bader – 57.38

400 IM
24^th - Sydney Dygert – 4:36.44
25^th - Sophia Kuehn – 4:36.74

200 Freestyle
10^th - Marcella Ribeiro – 1:49.83
18^th - Kiran Stauffer – 1:50.77 (7^th in school history)
20^th- Gracey Payne – 1:50.92
30^th - Payton Kelly – 1:52.62
33^rd - Elizabeth King – 1:53.64
EXH - Mary Kate Phillips – 1:53.53
EXH - Haley Sakbun – 1:54.00
EXH - Emma Horton – 1:59.82

100 Breaststroke
6^th - Laura Wright – 1:01.79 (3^rd in program history)
15^th - Jenn Gillen – 1:04.33
EXH - Kenzie Pierce – 1:04.91

100 Backstroke
8^th - Hannah Jones – 54.80
11^th - Lilia Newkirk – 55.44 (6^th in program history)
15^th - Shelby Crist – 55.72
18^th - Apsara Sakbun – 56.48
20^th - Alyssa Messenger – 56.91
21^st – Jessie Fraley – 57.52
EXH - Eliza Bader – 59.17
EXH - MaKayla Miller – 1:00.00

3M Diving
3^rd – Ashleigh Provan – 287.80
15^th – Maddy Hischer – 243.30