A new distance champion took over the women's Mid-American Conference Track and Field Championships this weekend, dominating the 5,000-meter and 10,000-meter races.
Ball State University junior Jill Scully cruised her way to two first-place finishes and shattered the 20-year-old MAC record in the 10,000-meter run by five seconds, recording a time of 34:43.28.
The Ball State team finished in sixth place, 65 points behind winner Kent State. Scully was the only individual champion for the Cardinals.
"She continues to impress," Coach Sue Parks said. "It was certainly a great weekend for her."
Weather was an issue Saturday as it caused rain delays, but Scully won the 5,000-meter race when play resumed.
"The weather was great for both races," Scully said. "I figured the playing field would be leveled due to the weather conditions, but it didn't play out that way."
Scully will follow her record-breaking performance with a trip to the National Collegiate Athletic Association Championships in both events. After the MAC Championships, Scully and her coach feel she will be confident heading into the NCAAs.
"I think she has a great shot at doing something really good in the NCAAs," Parks said. "She possibly has a chance at All-American."
"I gained a lot of confidence because I wasn't expecting to be so dominant in my races," Scully said. "My work ethic is really paying off."
Distance and field events provided most of the 64 points scored by the Cardinals, who were left short-handed after members of the team were suspended for NCAA violations.
"We were weak in the sprints and the sprint relays, and that definitely hurt us," Parks said. "When you don't have sprinters, you probably don't have a chance at winning."
Only one runner from Ball State raced in the 100-meter dash, sophomore Christina Poulson, and no Ball State runner competed in the 200-meter and 400-meter races.
The Cardinals were in the running for the title after the second day was completed. Ball State earned 14 points in the long jump, placing three jumpers in the top six places. Sophomores Amanda Barnhart and Terri Abraham and junior Jennifer McCoy took third, fourth and sixth places respectively.
Sophomore Amanda Ponsot helped secure more distance points, placing third in the 1,500-meter run and fifth in the 800-meter run.
"She did a great job for us," Parks said. "It was a big step forward for her, and I think we will continue to see big things for her in the future."
Senior Ashley Gillies also scored a third-place finish in the high jump with a leap of 5-7.
Sophomore Rose Lehe grabbed a fifth-place finish in the 3,000-meter steeplechase.
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