Beard, Marano Shatter School Records at Ball State Open

Friday, February 20

Muncie, Ind.

5 p.m.

Purdue Fort Wayne

Ball State Open

Beard, Marano Shatter School Records at Ball State Open

2/20/2015 11:38:00 PM | Women's Track and Field

MUNCIE, Ind. – The IPFW track and field team wrapped up its regular season indoor slate at the Ball State Open on Friday evening at the Ball State Field Sports Building in Muncie, Ind. Two more program records were broken during the meet, a feat the 'Dons have accomplished in every meet except one during the 2014-15 indoor season.

Kyley Marano was the star in the field events for IPFW as the sophomore broke her own record in the high jump after posting a mark of 1.65 meters (5-5.00). She previously set the program-best mark as a freshman almost a year ago to the day with a jump of 1.63 meters (5-4.25).

Fellow sophomore Brittany Beard highlighted the night on the track for the 'Dons as she posted a career-best in the 800-meter run to take first place in the event with a time of 2:14.65. The mark blew her own school record of 2:17.20 out of the water, which she had set at the Mastodon Opener in December. After recovering from an illness over the last two months, the performance was also a great sign for Beard and the team as they head to the Summit League Indoor Championships next Friday, January 27 and Saturday, January 28 in Fargo, N.D.

Also competing in the 800 were freshmen Emily Roman, Kayla McGurk, Sydney Strang, junior Jazmin Zavala and senior Emily Craig. Roman and McGurk both posted personal-best times of 2:25.11 and 2:26.66, respectively, while Strang (2:33.00), Craig (2:46.67) and Zavala (3:03.35) all recorded solid times on the night.

In the 400-meter dash, sophomore Tori Nida recorded a season-best time of 1:02.84 and was just over a second off her career-best mark. It was also the best time on the team in the event this season. Freshman Elise Cobb turned in her third-best time of the season in the 400 with a time of 1:06.66.

Freshman Brittany Fensler and sophomore Rachel Kacer both ran the mile for the first time this season, with Fensler earning a fourth-place finish with a time of 5:29.07 and Kacer recording a career-best time of 5:40.47 in the event. Junior Andrea Bell (5:50.41) and freshman Abbigayle Dunleavly (5:56.26) both posted their top times of the season, while Taylor Busch (6:22.89) ran the mile for the first time in her career.

Rounding out the field events, sophomore Alexis Wygant was the first 'Don to compete in the triple jump this season, earning a mark of 9.88 meters (32-5.00), and freshman Tori VanDiepenbos participated in the pole vault for the second time this year, posting a mark of 2.62 meters (8-7.00).

Overall, it was a strong day for the young squad in its dress rehearsal for the league meet next weekend. The 'Dons will hope this season's trend of broken records will continue in North Dakota.

~Feel the Rumble~