Bechtel Sets MAC Record; RedHawks Finish Seventh

Saturday, February 29

Akron, Ohio

All Day

Miami University

MAC Indoor Championships

Bechtel Sets MAC Record; RedHawks Finish Seventh

2/29/2020 7:46:00 PM | Track & Field, Cross Country

Results

Good for Miami's best finish at the indoor championships since 2012.

AKRON, Ohio - The Miami RedHawks put together their best finish in the Mid-American Conference Indoor Championship on Saturday as Miami completed the weekend in seventh place.

The RedHawks finished in seventh with 60 points.

Olivia Bechtel put a stamp on her historic 2020 indoor season as she won the 400m with a MAC Indoor all-time record. After running 53.54 in the prelims, which was itself a meet record, the senior and Miami school-record holder kicked it up a notch Saturday in the finals with a run of 53.43. This gave Bechtel the first indoor MAC title of her career to go along with the outdoor win in the event last year.

She came close to making it two event wins, ultimately finishing second in the 200. She ran a 23.96, just off her personal-best pace, to take home the silver. For her efforts, Bechtel was named a first-team All-MAC performer at this weekend's meet.

Elsewhere, several other athletes hit the podium and grabbed points for the RedHawks. Emily Akin had a strong day to round off her excellent debut season with Miami; she took a pair of top-five finishes. In the mile, Akin ran a 4:49.93 for third, before finishing her weekend in the 800 with a fifth-place performance. She improved upon her prelim time with a mark of 2:11.45. Akin was also a part of Miami's third-place DMR on Friday.

Carly Davis had a top-three of her own, running a 9:52.51 for third in the 3000. This comes after she also earned points in the 5000 last night.

In the field, both Hannah Bush and Elise Walker earned points in the high jump. The duo each cleared a height of 1.60m (5-3) to tie for sixth-place.

The final event of the day was the 4x400, which saw Miami win its heat and finish third overall. After Gabby Cossio and Sarah Bruns helped get things started, Gabby Maslowski took the third leg and Bechtel pulled away as the anchor as the 'Hawks won their section by over five full seconds. The time would end up standing in third, giving the 'Hawks six additional points.

After finishing Friday's slate in eighth with 14 points, a total of 46 points on day two saw the RedHawks reach as high as fifth in the leaderboard and ultimately finish in seventh, just 0.5 away from sixth and ultimately separated by 17 points from the top three. Regardless, this is MU's best indoor finish since 2012 when Miami finished in fifth and is leap of three spots from last year's 10th place.

Eastern Michigan ended the weekend as the women's indoor champion.

Up next on the indoor track and field calendar is the NCAA Championships in Albuquerque, New Mexico; stay tuned for more information on that meet as it pertains to the RedHawks.

Miami Results - Day 2
60h
7. Kayla Walters - 8.83

200m
2. Olivia Bechtel - 23.96

400m
1. Olivia Bechtel - 53.43 (Meet Record)

800m
5. Emily Akin - 2:11.45

Mile
3. Emily Akin - 4:49.93
9. McKenna Fry - 4:56.01
16. Claire Linn - 5:05.14

3000m
3. Carly Davis - 9:52.51
11. Claire Linn - 10:07.48
13. Carmen Riano - 10:14.63

4x400
3. Cossio, Bruns, Maslowski, Bechtel - 3:45.06

High Jump
T-6. Elise Walker - 1.60m
T-6. Hannah Bush - 1.60m

Triple Jump
9. Hannah Falcione - 11.72m

Pole Vault
12. Grace Dima - 3.52m

Shot Put
9. Grace Rigel - 13.80m (PR)