Ball State University
Grand Valley State University Big Meet Friday
Track and Field Continues to Reach New Personal Bests at GVSU Big Meet
February 10, 2024 | Track & Field
ALLENDALE, Mich. -- Track and field competed at the Grand Valley State University Big Meet on Friday, February 9. This was the team's last regular season meet before they head to the indoor MAC Championships.
In the field events, the open long jump got things started for the Cardinals. Sophie Daugard hit a new personal best with a mark of 5.66m, good for fourth place. In the long jump invite event, Jenelle Rogers secured first place with a mark of 5.86m.
Track events saw many personal successes. Maci Hoskins ran a new personal best in the mile with a time of 5:11.88, surpassing her old best by two seconds.
Jenna Oriani achieved a new indoor best in the 200m dash with a time of 24.27. Her efforts were good for a second-place finish. Moriah Johnson hit a new personal best, also in the 200m, with a time of 24.95.
In the 400m dash, Alexis Thigpen made a big impact finishing with a time of 56.43 and jumping from 11th to 8th in the MAC rankings.
Distance events closed the day with great strength. Carly Spletzer had a huge performance in the 5000m, achieving a new personal best time of 17:27.65, 17 seconds faster than her previous best. Sarah Mahnensmith also saw significant improvement, finishing the mile seven seconds faster than her previous indoor best with a time of 4:53.18. Mahnensmith's new best places her in the record book where she is now the fourth fastest indoor mile in Ball State history.
The Cardinals will have a weekend off from competing as they prepare for the MAC Championship. The indoor MAC Championship meet, hosted by Eastern Michigan, will take place February 23 and 24 in Ypsilanti, Michigan.
Ball State Individual Results at GVSU Big Meet
400m Early Section
11th – Paige Kirtz – 58.49
800m Early Section
15th – Leila Williams-Molitor – 2:18.29
400m Dash (Top 30)
13th – Alexis Thigpen – 56.43
Mile
47th – Maci Hoskins – 5:11.88
200m Dash (Top 30)
2nd – Jenna Oriani – 24.27
9th – Moriah Johnson – 24.95
5000m Heat #2
14th – Carly Spletzer – 17:27.65
23rd – Shelby Christman – 18:07.30
4x400m Relay
11th – Alexis Thigpen, Jenelle Rogers, Paige Kirtz, Allison Valladay – 3:53.03
Mile Heat #1
6th – Sarah Mahnensmith – 4:53.18
Long Jump (Invite)
1st – Jenelle Rogers – 5.86m
Long Jump
4th – Sophie Daugard – 5.66m
9th – Kendra Keesling – 5.37m
13th – Emma Upp – 5.24m
16th – Mckenna Cinotte – 5.07m
Triple Jump (Invite)
8th – Mckenna Cinotte – 11.52m
10th – Brenna Lehrke – 11.12m
11th – Taylor Hickman
Shot Put
8th – Sophie Daugard – 13.64m
12th – Malena Higgins – 12.84m
16th – Brooklyn Taylor – 12.45m
28th – Amaya Hendrickson – 11.09m
Weight Throw
19th – Malena Higgins – 15.33m
30th – Brooklyn Taylor – 12.30m
High Jump (Invite)
3rd – Malina Miller – 1.62m
Players Mentioned
