Two Ball State University seniors closed out their track careers on a national stage this weekend.-á
Jill Scully and Jennifer McCoy represented the Cardinals at the 2006 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field National Championships in Sacramento, Calif.-á
McCoy completed her career at Ball State with a 27th place finish in the heptathlon on Saturday with a score of 4,167. -á
McCoy began the competition on Friday in the 100-meter hurdles and earned a ninth place finish with a time of 14.41 seconds. McCoy took 26th in the high jump with a mark of 5 and one half. McCoy fouled out in the shot put, but she finished her day on Friday at 26th place in the 200-meter dash with a time of 26.76 seconds.-á
On Saturday, McCoy took eighth in the long jump with a jump of 19 feet, 18th in the javelin with a mark of 112-07 and 27th in the 800 meter-run with a time of 2:46.17. Arizona State University's Jacquelyn Johnson won the heptathlon with a score of 5,939.-á
Scully competed in the 10,000-meter run on Thursday and took 17th place with a time of 34:54.78. Arizona State's Victoria Jackson won the event with a time of 32:54.72.-á
Scully said she was disappointed in her performance at nationals.
"I didn't have a great race," she said. "Going in, the only expectation I had was to come out and have a great race. Unfortunately, it didn't happen."-á
Despite the disappointing finish, Scully ends a career at Ball State with numerous all-conference honors, two national championship appearances and the title of 2006 Mid-American Conference Outdoor Track and Field Most Outstanding Performer. -á
"Scully's the ultimate competitor," coach Sue Parks said. "She always comes to compete. McCoy's the same way. They always showed up in the conference tournaments and when we really needed them."-á
Parks added the success of Scully and McCoy has given the Cardinal program some national attention.-á
"Any time you can get more than one member competing at a national level, it's great for the program," Parks said. "Now we have to try and keep the program at that level."-á