Ball State University
Bob Parks Memorial
Cardinals Perform Well at Bob Parks Memorial Invitational
January 20, 2024 | Track & Field
YPSILANTI, MI – Track and field had a Saturday full of wins, personal bests and even a new program record as they competed at the Bob Parks Memorial Invitational in Ypsilanti, Michigan.
Field events got things started in Ypsilanti early Saturday afternoon. Ball State jumpers had a strong day with multiple top-ten finishes. Jenelle Rogers placed second in the long jump with a finishing mark of 5.61m. Malina Miller also had an impressive second-place performance, hitting 1.65m in the high jump. In the triple jump, Mckenna Cinotte finished seventh with a mark of 11.45m.
Shot put also saw great success with four top-ten finishes. Rogers had a dominant first-place finish, with a throw of 14.22m. Sophie Daugard finished sixth with a throw of 13.07m. In the ninth and tenth place slots, Brooklyn Taylor and Malena Higgins had throws of 12.46m and 12.35m.
Rogers continued to dominate on the track, winning and beating her personal best in the 60m hurdles in the prelims (8.57), then again in the finals (8.52). Lauren Graham was also successful in the 60m hurdles, qualifying for the finals and finishing fourth with a time of 8.85.
Sarah Mahnensmith ran a smart mile, putting up a strong fight for her third-place finish (5:00.59). Mahnensmith was just tenths of a second behind the top two finishers and within a second of her indoor mile personal best.
The 300m dash was thrilling and saw three Cardinals in the top five. Jenna Oriani was strong from the gun and walked away with the first-place spot and a new program record after finishing the 300m in 39.48 seconds. Alana Springer was close behind, finishing second with a time of 40.87. Rounding out the top five, Allison Valladay crossed the finish line with a time of 42.08.
Emma Potter was a strong competitor in the 400m, finishing third and running a time of 57.58.
In the 200m, Paige Kirtz won her heat and finished eighth overall with a time of 26.31, just .1 seconds off her indoor personal best.
Late in the afternoon, the 3000m brought another close battle. Carly Spletzer had an impressive second place finish with a new collegiate best time of 10:02.60, just tenths of a second away from the first-place spot.
The 4x400m relay team made up of Allison Valladay, Jenna Oriani, Paige Kirtz, and Leila Williams-Molitor closed out the meet with a second-place finish and a time of 3:56.15.
The Cardinals will hope to continue their success as they prepare for the Jaguar Invitational in Indianapolis, Indiana scheduled for January 26 and 27.
Ball State Individual Results at the Bob Parks Memorial Invitational
High Jump
15th – Malena Higgins – 12.27m
Long Jump
2nd – Jenelle Rogers – 5.61m
15th – Mackenna Cinotte – 5.10m
19th – Emma Upp – 5.06m
22nd – Sophie Daugard – 4.97m
High Jump
2nd – Malina Miller – 1.65m
Triple Jump
7th – Mckenna Cinotte – 11.45m
13th – Brenna Lehrke – 10.58m
14th – Emma Upp – 10.08m
Shot Put
1st - Jenelle Rogers – 14.22m
6th – Sophie Daugard – 13.07m
9th – Brooklyn Taylor – 12.46m
10th – Malena Higgins – 12.35m
60m Hurdles
1st – Jenelle Rogers – 8.52
4th – Lauren Graham – 8.85
60m
4th – Alana Springer – 7.65
5th – Makayla Sumrall – 7.66
200m
8th – Paige Kirtz – 26.31
12th – Aaleiah Winford – 27.11
300m
1st – Jenna Oriani – 39.48
2nd – Alana Springer – 40.87
5th – Allison Valladay – 42.08
400m
3rd – Emma Potter – 57.58
6th – Paige Kirtz – 1:00.60
800m
11th – Sarah Mahnensmith – 2:20.44
14th – Leila Williams-Molitor – 2:23.49
Mile
3rd – Sarah Mahnensmith – 5:00.59
13th – Ella Fullmer – 5:32.23
3000m
2nd – Carly Spletzer – 10:02.60
5th – Shelby Christman – 10:33.60
13th – Ella Fullmer – 11:31.89
4x400m Relay
2nd – Allison Valladay, Jenna Oriani, Paige Kirtz, Leila Williams-Molitor – 3:56.15
Players Mentioned
