With two track invitationals beneath their cleats, the Ball State University track and field team trekked only 36 miles to the Indiana Wesleyan Invitational to continue its indoor season.
The trip to Marion proved successful for the Cardinals, who earned first-place finishes in field and track events Saturday.
"We went into this meet with two objectives," coach Randy Heisler said. "We wanted to give the team the opportunity to have more runs, more throws and more jumps, more chances to compete. We also wanted to give the younger runners more races at a not-so-stressed level of competition. We just wanted to give the girls more."
Boosting the Cardinals' points at the invitational was fifth-year-senior Amber Williams, who clocked in three first-place times. Williams came in first in the 60-meter dash with a time of 7.63 and finished first with a 25.25 in the 200-meter dash. Williams also earned a first place finish in the 60-meter hurdles with a 8.44, only .01 second away of meeting the required time to be considered eligible for the NCAA Women's Indoor Track and Field Provisional. All three of Williams' races became Indiana Wesleyan University Indoor Sport Complex records.
"Amber competed really well," Heisler said. "She took advantage of a nice indoor track facility. She's on the list for the NCAA indoor champs. We used this meet to see where we are and we're pleased."
Freshman Janae Taylor trailed fourth behind Williams with a time of 7.91 in the 60-meter dash and earned a second place in the 200-meter dash with a time of 25.55.
Junior Jenna Schmitmeyer and sophomore Megan Bevans also assisted the Cardinals in individual races with first place finishes. Schmitmeyer crossed the white line with a 59.71 in the 400-meter dash, and Bevans concluded the 800-meter race with a 2:22.01. Schmitmeyer also helped the 4x400-meter relay earn a first place with a 4:01.63 with her teammates freshman Kelsey Stephens, sophomore Thekla Lorenz and junior Katie Johnson.
In other relay events, the distance medley relay broke a track-record with a 12:16.93 with the legs of juniors Ali Bishel, Brittany Ade and Lisa Arrowsmith and sophomore Erin Filak.
Sophomore Lindsay Bangert won the long jump with a distance of 18-09.75, breaking a track record.
Another sophomore helped Ball State in the field events when Jerrica Edmonds placed second in the triple jump with a distance of 35-09.25. Seniors Jessica Genovese placed second in the high jump with a height of 5-05.00, and Lauren McNichols earned a first place tie in the pole vault event with a vault of 11-09.75.
"We finished well with our jumps," Heisler said. "Over Christmas break, Jessica Genovese fell on a bike rack. A recent bone scan found out she was jumping with a fractured rib, and she tied her all-time best at this invitational."
Ball State concluded the invitational with junior Tyra Schantz's fifth-place weight throw, a distance of 43-05.25, and senior Lanae Stovall's third place in shot put with a toss of 39-06.00.
The Cards will look to progress in their indoor season when they journey to Notre Dame territory in the Meyo Invitational this upcoming weekend.
"We're looking at the best 5,000-meter in the country coming up this weekend," Heisler said. "There are kids flying in from everywhere to compete. It just confirms that everybody has to mentally show to the meet for us to be successful."
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