Seniors Excel at TF We Fly Challenge

MUNCIE, Ind. – Ball State track and field hosted its annual We Fly Challenge this weekend at Briner Sports Complex in Muncie, Indiana. The team collected numerous personal bests and top finishes in front of an exciting home crowd.

Friday focused on field events, with Cardinals in the hammer, discus, javelin and high jump. Lexi Hale tied her collegiate best height in the high jump at 1.65 meters, tying for first place.

The Cardinals opened Saturday morning with the senior ceremony, honoring their 12 senior members. Following their recognition, seniors Moriah Johnson and Jenna Oriani dominated in the 4x100-meter relay race with the help of teammates Alana Springer and Kylee Marshall. The team finished in 45.09, moving into the fourth fastest 4x100-meter time in Ball State history.

Another outstanding senior performance came from the 100-meter hurdles when Kenli Nettles ran a personal best time of 14.09, finishing second overall.

Seniors, Oriani and Emma Potter continued the 2025 class's success in the 400-meter dash with second and third place finishes. Oriani crossed with a time of 54.98, followed by Potter in a time of 55.05.

The Cardinals secured another victory soon after in the 100-meter dash. Springer won the event with a time of 11.68, followed closely by Johnson who finished third with a time of 11.86.

Springer went on to win the 200-meter dash as well, finishing in a personal best time of 23.67. Oriani was not far behind, finishing fourth with a time of 24.34.

In the field events, the triple jumpers had a standout performance, sweeping the top four spots. Senior, Mckenna Cinotte, led the group with a first-place jump of 11.85 meters. Brenna Lehrke was next at a mark of 11.53, followed by Emma Upp at 11.01 and rounding out the Cardinals' top four was Taylor Hickman at 11 meters.

Next up, Ball State will return to Indiana State for the Gibson Invitational next Thursday (Apr. 17) through Saturday (Apr. 19) in Terre Haute, Indiana.

Ball State Individual Results at We Fly Challenge:
Friday
Field Events
Hammer Throw
5^th – Sydney Miller – 45.38m*
8^th – Malena Higgins – 43.03m
10^th – Brooklyn Taylor – 41.24m*

Discus Throw
4^th – Sydney Miller – 43.94m
6^th – Brooklyn Taylor – 40.66m
8^th – Malena Higgins – 39.91m

High Jump
T-1^st – Lexi Hale – 1.65m
3^rd – Malina Miller – 1.65m
4^th – Kenli Nettles – 1.60m

Javelin Throw
5^th - Kendra Keesling – 32.09m
10^th - Maci Easton – 26.01m

Saturday
Field Events
Long Jump
3^rd – Kylee Marshall – 5.57m
4^th – Brenna Lehrke – 5.52m*
6^th – Lindley Steele – 5.49m
7^th – Emma Upp – 5.46m*
15^th – Taylor Hickman – 5.15m*

Shot Put
5^th – Brooklyn Taylor – 12.64m
6^th – Sydney Miller – 12.62m
F – Malena Higgins

Triple Jump
1^st – Mckenna Cinotte – 11.85m
2^nd – Brenna Lehrke – 11.53m
3^rd – Emma Upp – 11.01m
4^th – Taylor Hickman – 11.00m

Track Events
4x100m Relay
1^st – Moriah Johnson, Alana Springer, Jenna Oriani, Kylee Marshall – 45.09*

800m
10^th – Mikayla Mimnaugh – 2:20.01*
13^th – Leila Williams-Molitor – 2:20.84

100m Hurdles
2^nd – Kenli Nettles – 14.09*
12^th – Emma Upp – 15.44*
17^th – Makensie Kramer – 16.03
23^rd – Kendra Keesling – 17.15

400m
2^nd – Jenna Oriani – 54.98
3^rd – Emma Potter – 55.05
10^th – Paige Kirtz – 57.67
15^th – Allison Valladay – 58.67

100m
1^st – Alana Springer – 11.68
3^rd – Moriah Johnson – 11.86
12^th – Savannah Lake – 12.13
14^th – Jiah Davenport – 12.21

400m Hurdles
5^th – Lindley Steele – 1:03.60
13^th – Leila Williams-Molitor – 1:06.01

200m
1^st – Alana Springer – 23.67*
4^th – Jenna Oriani – 24.34
7^th – Moriah Johnson – 24.52*
11^th – Kylee Marshall – 24.74
15^th – Emma Potter – 24.91
29^th – Savannah Lake – 25.80

1500m
14^th - Tori Jackson – 4:38.15*
24^th – Jessica Velez – 4:50.74*

*Indicates personal best

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Mckenna Cinotte

Jiah Davenport

Maci Easton

Lexi Hale

Taylor Hickman

Malena Higgins

Tori Jackson

Moriah Johnson

Kendra Keesling

Paige Kirtz

Makensie Kramer

Savannah Lake

Brenna Lehrke

Kylee Marshall

Malina Miller

Sydney Miller

Mikayla Mimnaugh

Kenli Nettles

Jenna Oriani

Emma Potter

Alana Springer

Lindley Steele

Brooklyn Taylor

Allison Valladay

Jessica Velez

Leila Williams-Molitor