Ball State runners finish top in heats, finals at MAC Outdoor Championships

Day two of the Mid-American Conference Outdoor Championships saw one runner from Ball State Track and Field placing in the top eight and five runners qualifying for Saturday's finals at Ball State’s Briner Sports Complex.

Sophomore Emmalyne Tarsa placed sixth in the 3,000-meter steeple event bringing three more points to Ball State's combined total of eight points thus far.

"It's a good feeling," Tarsa said about making it to the top eight. "You get to the end of the race and think 'Wow, I could've given it a little bit more.'"

She said this was the first time she scored in a collegiate race of this level.

"It's just kind of fun to see all that hard work that you worked, just like every season — finally it's like going toward something," Tarsa said. "Wish I could've given it a little bit more but I still got two more years."

Bryeana Byrdsong, the junior sprinter who clocked the fastest time in the 200-meter preliminaries Thursday, placed third overall in the 100-meter preliminaries. Her teammate Peyton Stewart also joined her in qualifying for the 100-meter finals Saturday.

"I just want to focus on my start, and focus on my strength and my training and trust that because sometimes I rush it," Byrdsong said. "But that gave me confidence today that I can do well and know that I can advance and do better."

She wants to make it to regionals, run fast enough and bring home MAC Championships. But for the finals all she wants to do is "run just as fast as I know I can."

Stewart said qualifying for the finals was "really good" for her since she has had a "rough season."

"It's going to be my last MAC race," the senior sprinter said. "So, why not just give it all I got." 

Junior Jasmine Harris qualified for the 100-meter hurdles after placing eighth in the preliminaries. She will also be competing in the 200-meter finals tomorrow along with Byrdsong.

Apart from her finals, she and her team start off tomorrow with the 4x100-meter relay, which Harris said is "a very good start for all of us."

"From thereon of, our team is just going to keep surprising everybody, and I think we're going to have a very good day tomorrow," she said.

MaQuila Norman, who placed eighth overall in the 400-meter preliminaries today, said while she hopes to place eighth or higher and help Ball State score points in the finals, she still wants to finish at a top spot.

"I'm shooting for third or fourth and I know I can do it if I put my mind to it," Norman said. "Track is all about mentality, and if you have your mind set right you will get a better place, get a good spot, get a better time."

Also qualifying for Saturday's finals is freshman Karleigh Conner in the 800-meter race after placing second overall in the preliminaries.

"It's really exciting, especially as a freshman," Conner said. "Just to make the final outdoor means a lot. It just shows how far I've grown and how much confidence I've built this year."

Contact Rohith Rao with comments at rprao@bsu.edu or on Twitter @RaoReports. 

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