Kelly's Record-Breaking Gold Leads Women's S&D on Day 2 of MAC Championships
February 27, 2025 | Women's Swimming and Diving
BUFFALO – Payton Kelly earned the Ball State women's swimming and diving program's first medal of the 2025 Mid-American Conference Championships with a dramatic ending in freestyle action at Buffalo's Alumni Arena Natatorium & Dorsi Raynolds Pool.
In a charge to the wall after the final turn of the 50 freestyle, the Cardinals' freestyle sprint specialist and Ohio's Zita Szoke both finished at the exact same time at 22.23, sharing the top podium spot and naming them co-champions.
The two women battled for silver at last year's MAC Championships in the same event, with Kelly getting the edge with a 22.40 finish. Kelly has placed in the top three in the 50 freestyle for the last three years, but claimed her first gold in the event tonight.
While earning gold, Kelly also bested her own program record time of 22.32, which she set back in 2023.
After matching her own best time of 22.82 in the 50 freestyle during prelims, freshman Anna Keen made her first individual league championship finals appearance as she earned a podium finish, taking 5th with a time of 22.60.
Sophomore Alexa Von Holtz added to the Cardinals' point total after she clocked in at 2:03.82 in the consolation heat of the 200 individual medley, finishing 14th overall.
In the 400 medley relay, Ava Butterfield, Laura Wright, Keen and Kelly secured fifth place as they earned the fifth-fastest time in program history (3:42.94).
At the end of day two, Ball State remains fifth overall with117.5 points. Akron still holds the top spot with 264, while Buffalo follows with 228.
Action in the 2025 MAC Championships continues Friday with five more individual events, prelims and consolation finals of 3-meter diving, and the 200 freestyle relay. Prelims start at 10 a.m. and finals at 6 p.m.
Ball State Results on Day 2 of the MAC Championships
THURSDAY EVENING FINAL RESULTS
200 IM | Program Record - 2:00.85 by Alexa Von Holtz in 2023
14th – Alexa Von Holtz – 2:03.82
50 Freestyle | Program Record - 22.23 by Payton Kelly in 2025
Tied 1st – Payton Kelly – 22.23 - Program record
5th – Anna Keen – 22.60 – 3rd in program history
400 Medley Relay | Program Record - 3:39.86 by Pratt, Ruehl, H. Richter, Magley in 2013
5th - Ava Butterfield, Laura Wright, Anna Keen, Payton Kelly – 3:42.94 – Tied 5th in program history
THURSDAY MORNING PRELIM RESULTS
500 Freestyle | Program Record - 4:48.37 by Marcella Ribeiro in 2021
17th – Callie Tuma – 5:02.79
23rd - McKenna Potteiger – 5:05.93
29th – Olivia Owens – 5:10.35
31st– Kayla Newman – 5:11.12
200 IM | Program Record - 2:00.85 by Alexa Von Holtz in 2023
Advanced to B Finals – 11th – Alexa Von Holtz – 2:03.68
Prelims
19th– Magdalena Lechowska – 2:06.68
27th – Julia Ofman – 2:11.62
50 Freestyle | Program Record - 22.32 by Payton Kelly in 2023
Advanced to A Finals – 2nd – Payton Kelly – 22.53
Advanced to A Finals – 6th – Anna Keen – 22.82
Prelims
23rd – Haley Sakbun – 23.70
43rd – Natalie Marshall – 24.66
46th – Maya McDonald – 24.74
49th – Lauren Fecher – 24.86
EX – Eliza Bader – 24.34
1M Diving | Program Record - 305.48 by Caitlin Locante in 2021
26th – Leelah Fettig – 206.20
31st – Eeva-Liisa Gibson – 192.55
34th – Hannah Justice – 168.35
In a charge to the wall after the final turn of the 50 freestyle, the Cardinals' freestyle sprint specialist and Ohio's Zita Szoke both finished at the exact same time at 22.23, sharing the top podium spot and naming them co-champions.
The two women battled for silver at last year's MAC Championships in the same event, with Kelly getting the edge with a 22.40 finish. Kelly has placed in the top three in the 50 freestyle for the last three years, but claimed her first gold in the event tonight.
While earning gold, Kelly also bested her own program record time of 22.32, which she set back in 2023.
After matching her own best time of 22.82 in the 50 freestyle during prelims, freshman Anna Keen made her first individual league championship finals appearance as she earned a podium finish, taking 5th with a time of 22.60.
Sophomore Alexa Von Holtz added to the Cardinals' point total after she clocked in at 2:03.82 in the consolation heat of the 200 individual medley, finishing 14th overall.
In the 400 medley relay, Ava Butterfield, Laura Wright, Keen and Kelly secured fifth place as they earned the fifth-fastest time in program history (3:42.94).
At the end of day two, Ball State remains fifth overall with117.5 points. Akron still holds the top spot with 264, while Buffalo follows with 228.
Action in the 2025 MAC Championships continues Friday with five more individual events, prelims and consolation finals of 3-meter diving, and the 200 freestyle relay. Prelims start at 10 a.m. and finals at 6 p.m.
Ball State Results on Day 2 of the MAC Championships
THURSDAY EVENING FINAL RESULTS
200 IM | Program Record - 2:00.85 by Alexa Von Holtz in 2023
14th – Alexa Von Holtz – 2:03.82
50 Freestyle | Program Record - 22.23 by Payton Kelly in 2025
Tied 1st – Payton Kelly – 22.23 - Program record
5th – Anna Keen – 22.60 – 3rd in program history
400 Medley Relay | Program Record - 3:39.86 by Pratt, Ruehl, H. Richter, Magley in 2013
5th - Ava Butterfield, Laura Wright, Anna Keen, Payton Kelly – 3:42.94 – Tied 5th in program history
THURSDAY MORNING PRELIM RESULTS
500 Freestyle | Program Record - 4:48.37 by Marcella Ribeiro in 2021
17th – Callie Tuma – 5:02.79
23rd - McKenna Potteiger – 5:05.93
29th – Olivia Owens – 5:10.35
31st– Kayla Newman – 5:11.12
200 IM | Program Record - 2:00.85 by Alexa Von Holtz in 2023
Advanced to B Finals – 11th – Alexa Von Holtz – 2:03.68
Prelims
19th– Magdalena Lechowska – 2:06.68
27th – Julia Ofman – 2:11.62
50 Freestyle | Program Record - 22.32 by Payton Kelly in 2023
Advanced to A Finals – 2nd – Payton Kelly – 22.53
Advanced to A Finals – 6th – Anna Keen – 22.82
Prelims
23rd – Haley Sakbun – 23.70
43rd – Natalie Marshall – 24.66
46th – Maya McDonald – 24.74
49th – Lauren Fecher – 24.86
EX – Eliza Bader – 24.34
1M Diving | Program Record - 305.48 by Caitlin Locante in 2021
26th – Leelah Fettig – 206.20
31st – Eeva-Liisa Gibson – 192.55
34th – Hannah Justice – 168.35
Players Mentioned
Fly, Back
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Fly/Back
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Back/Free
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Diving
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Diving
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Dive
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Free/Fly
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Free, Back
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Breast/IM
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Free
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Breast
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Free
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Breast
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Back
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Free/IM
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Free
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Free
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Free, Fly, IM
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Fly, IM
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Breast
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