In a mass assemblage of 1,200 competitors at the Gladstein Invitational, the Ball State University track and field team managed to stand out by achieving individual season bests.
The Cardinals had eight top-three finishes in the meet at Bloomington, which did not have team scoring, to continue the beginning of their season.
"We came out strong and pushed individual times a little further. Ali was only a few seconds away from breaking the Ball State record held by graduate Jill Scully," coach Randy Heisler said, referring to junior Ali Bishel's second place finish in the 3,000-meter run. Bishel clocked in a time of 9:34.49.
Sophomore Megan Bevans led the 600-meter run with a time of 1:39.32, recording one of the three first-place finishes for Ball State. Bevans was followed by junior Erin Filak, who placed fourth, and freshmen Christine Talhelm who placed fifth for the Cardinals.
Fifth-year senior Amber Williams earned a first place in the 60-meter dash with a time of 7.64. Freshmen Janae Taylor trailed Williams, earning fifth place with a time of 7.87, and sophomore Ra'jae Marable finished 13th at 8.27 for Ball State.
"We had a really good short sprint meet," Heisler said. "The girls need to continue making positive progress."
Junior Katie Johnson achieved a personal best time for the season when she clocked in a 8.72 in 60-meter hurdles. Williams was the top seed in preliminaries and finished behind Johnson with a time of 8.73. Marable finished the race in eighth place when she clocked in at 9.35 for the event.
Taylor exceeded a personal best time by placing third in the 200-meter dash with a time of 25.35.
"We came there with 30 young ladies ready to compete, but we still have a ways to go to be at the level we need to dominate at the conference meet," Heisler said.
The 4x400 relay - comprised of Talhelm, sophomore Thekla Lorenz and juniors Jenna Schmitmeyer and Johnson - placed fourth with a time of 3:57.57. The 4x800 team of Bevans, Filak and juniors Brittany Ade and Bishel, finished third.
Throwing in the women's weight throw for the Cardinals, junior Tyra Schantz placed ninth with a distance of 43-feet-5-inches.
Sophomore Lindsay Bangert placed third in the long jump with a distance of 18-feet-11.75-inches, which was the second best jump in the Mid-American Conference. Senior Lanae Stovall earned a ninth place jump for the event.
"We have a lot to build on this week at practice to prepare us for our next meet," Heisler said.
The Cardinals will strive to keep their momentum at noon on Friday when they perform at Marion for the Indiana Wesleyan Invitational.
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