There was no lack of effort by the Ball State University track and field team on Friday as it played host to the Ball State University Triangular. Despite finishing third with 89 points behind Western Michigan University, 114.50 points, and Miami University, 94.50 points, a number of Cardinals turned in their best performances of the season.
Head coach Randy Heisler said he was pleased with where his athletes are at as they head into the Mid-American Conference meet on Friday.
"I feel a lot better now than last year and a hundred times better than two weeks ago," Heisler said. "Half to two-thirds of our girls have PRs, and that's what you want to do this time of season."
Among the personal bests were a broken school record and another school record tied.
Lauren McNichols cleared 12 feet in the pole vault to break her own school record, and Cara Collins tied a school record in the weight throw with a toss of 60 feet and 7 and three-quarter inches. Another personal best of 45 feet and 9 and three-quarter inches in the shot put moved Collins into third place all-time in the Ball State record books.
McNichols said she had been waiting some time to set a new mark.
"It's something I've been expecting for a long time; I keep hitting 11-8," McNichols said. "I came in today and said, 'I'm getting it this time.'"
McNichols said she hopes to set another personal best in the MAC meet. By then, the team expects to have received a shipment of stiffer poles that are designed for higher heights, she said.
Heisler said several key Cardinals saw limited action in the meet in order to avoid overworking or injuring any athletes. Ball State entered one athlete in the 3,000-meter run and none in the 200-meter dash. However, Heisler said those who were entered competed very well.
The Cardinals took the top three spots in the long jump. Amanda Barnhart jumped 19 feet and 9 and one-half inches to finish in first. She was followed by teammates Terri Abraham and Lindsay Bangert in second and third.
"I'm really pleased with the girls in the long jump," Heisler said. "They've had a good year of training but have struggled on the boards. Today they go 1-2-3, all beyond 19 feet. They're at the top of the conference, and that's going to help our program."
Other top performers for the Cardinals included Ali Bishel and Brittany Ade, who finished first and third in the 1-mile run with times of 4:55.51 and 5:03.85. Vanessa Gilbert also captured the 3,000-meter run in a time of 10:35.93.
The meet ended with the entire crowd on its feet for the 4x400-meter relay. The relay team from Western Michigan edged the Cardinal quartet of Jenna Schmitmeyer, Brandi Robinson, Thekla Lorenz and Katie Johnson by less than one-half of a second.
Heisler said Lorenz turned in the Cardinals' best 4x400 split time of the year.
Heisler also said he was impressed with Johnson's lifetime best in the 60-meter hurdles and teammate RaJae Marable's performance in the same event. Marable was on pace to run a personal best until she hit a hurdle, he said.
Marable is one of the freshmen that has greatly improved over the season, McNichols said. It's a trend McNichols said she has noticed and one that will help Ball State in future competition.
"A lot of underclassmen have stepped up, and they've got another chance to do so in the MAC meet," McNichols said.
The two-day conference meet is being held at Eastern Michigan University.
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