Two Events, Two Qualifications: Nettles Advances to NCAA Competitions

MUNCIE, Ind. -- Ball State track star Kenli Nettles has qualified for upcoming NCAA competition in a pair of events, including next week's NCAA East First Round Meet where she will compete in the 400-meter hurdles. Nettles finished second in the 400m hurdles event at last week's Mid-American Conference Outdoor Championships, and earned a spot in next week's NCAA competition with a 58.96 time that she clocked at the UCF Knights Invitational in late April.

She returns to Florida next week to visit UNF Hodges Stadium, the site of the NCAA East First Round, with hopes of advancing to the NCAA Outdoor Championships.

"Having the opportunity to represent Ball State at the NCAA First Round is a big accomplishment," said Cardinals track coach Adrian Wheatley, who welcomed Nettles this season after a transfer from Illinois.

Nettles, while hoping to advance in the 400m hurdles event at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Oregon, June 11-14, has already earned a trip to the national finals in the heptathlon. At last week's MAC Championships, her personal record of 5,655 points over seven hep events ranks 20th among 24 NCAA championship qualifiers. Her participation in the NCAA Outdoor Championships marks the third consecutive year that Ball State has placed an athlete in the national finals of the heptathlon (Jenelle Rogers in 2023 and 2024).

"Kenli's progression since joining our program in January has been super exciting," said Wheatley. "She has bought in to our culture and embraced the program, which has provided her with an opportunity to have a season of personal bests. She is brave, and focused on being the best version of herself."

Two Events, Two Qualifications: Nettles Advances to NCAA Competitions

Players Mentioned

Kenli Nettles

Jenelle Rogers

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