The Falcon track and field team qualified for the Mid-American Conference at the Tom Wright Open track meet Jan. 24 at the Perry Fieldhouse.

The team came out in second place with a total score of 115 points, close to first place Miami University’s 132. Ohio was a far third with 71 points.

The Falcons were solid overall in various events such as the 400 meter dash and the mile run. The high points, however, were from sophomore Alicia Arnold, junior Brooke Pleger and freshman Rachel Durbin. All three members reached qualifying marks at the event for the MAC.

Pleger, making her first return since competing last summer, threw 61-feet-10 winning the weight throw event. Arnold, who had already qualified for the championship, made history by setting the second-best high jump in BG history with a 19-5 to come in first place in the event. Durbin became the first BG runner since Nicole Farr in the 2011 MAC championships to finish the mile run in less than five minutes.

Pleger said that it felt good to return to competition and compete instead of train.

“Competing is always different from training, so yeah, it feels good to get back out there and finally compete instead of just train,” Pleger said.

She also said that even though she was happy about her accomplishment, she wishes she could have done better.

“I was hoping to come out today and throw farther, but I can’t complain too much because I opened up today finishing where I was last year,” Pleger said.

When discussing the Falcons’ next event in Findlay, Pleger said that she looks forward to doing well in the elite throw section that she’ll be competing in.

Like Pleger, Arnold believes that there still more to accomplish and achieve despite becoming second all-time leader in the high jump.

“I am super excited about … everything, but I can’t help but feel like there’s still more to do,” Arnold said. “So I don’t want to celebrate too early because I’m still at work to do more.”

Arnold said that she is ready for her next event and just wants to continue to improve.

“I’m looking forward to it, you know, I just want to keep getting better,” Arnold said.

She’s also said that she’s proud to be a member of the Falcons’ track and field team and is very excited for the team to be back in action after winter break.

The Falcons also showed balance and cohesiveness throughout other events. In the 400, BG took first, second and third with redshirt freshman Brittany Sinclair leading the way with 59:12 seconds. Second and third place runners, freshman Gabrielle Edwards and sophomore Taylor Rambo also finished the 400 dash in under a minute.

In the 600 meter dash, junior Natalie Sommerville set a personal-best with a time of 1:35:79 to finish second. Redshirt freshman Jasmine Redman won the 3,000 with a time of 10:17:76, a new personal best for her. BG also had third, fourth and fifth place by Mackenzie McMillin, Amanda Garlak and Heather Baruxes, respectively.

Coach Lou Snelling believed that these results were a step in the right direction and the team is starting to become more balanced and an all-around solid unit.

“This is a good step for us, we’re starting to see a balance within the team and it was just a good step overall,” Snelling said.

The coach was also happy with the efforts of the team as well as a few standouts such as Arnold in the long jump and Andrea Alt in the 5,000 sprint.

“Alicia did well, she improved by almost a foot in the long jump and Andrea did well in the 5k sprint,” Snelling said. “She didn’t hit the auto mark but she hit a time that’s going to get her in.”

As for the next week’s event in Findlay, Snelling said that not all of the events will take place there but he’s looking forward to the others because those will help the team get ready for the MAC championships.

“Findlay’s event going to be a mixed bag because there are some groups that won’t be competing that weekend,” Snelling said. “Once we get into February we have Akron and Grand Valley and those will be our last two big meets before conference, so that’s where the team all comes together and gets out for the primary events.”

The next meet takes place at Findlay University on Friday, Jan. 31 and will be an all-day event.