4 Down, 3 To Go: Nettles Enters Final Day of NCAA Championships

EUGENE, Ore. -- In Lane 4 of Friday's third heat of the heptathlon 100-meter hurdles, Kenli Nettles wore Ball State's red uniform into the NCAA Outdoor Track Championships to mark the fourth consecutive year a Ball State student-athlete reached the NCAA Finals. It was the third straight year a Cardinals track star represented Muncie in the NCAA heptathlon finals.

Nettles didn't disappoint..

In fact, were it not for a late surge from Oregon's Annika Williams (13.96) in her home stadium at venerable Hayward Field, Nettles (14.02) would have won the third out of six heats. The Ball State transfer matched the best time of her career, but settled for second in the heat and 17th in the event, one spot behind Williams.

Overall, Nettles enters Day 2 of the heptathlon finals in 22nd place out of 24 competitors with 3,294 points. After the 100m hurdles, she also finished 17th in the high jump (1.63m), then 18th in the shot put with a near-personal record throw of 11.48m. She saved her best finish for the final event of the evening, racing to a 24.64 time in the 200 meters. Fifth in the first of three heats, her 12th-place finish in the 200m was her best finish of four events on Day 1.

Saturday's slate opens with the heptathlon long jump at 3:30 p.m. PT, followed by the javelin and the 800 meters, perhaps her best event.

NCAA Heptathlon Finals Schedule - Friday:
2:45pm ET | 11:45am PT - 100m Hurdles (14.02 PR) | 14:02, 17th place
3:45pm ET | 12:45pm PT - High Jump (1.75m PR) | 1.63m, 17th place
5:45pm ET | 2:45pm PT - Shot Put (11.60m PR) | 11.48m, 18th place
9:43pm ET | 6:43pm PT - 200m (24.50 PR) | 24.64, 12th place
NCAA Heptathlon Finals Schedule - Saturday
6:30pm ET | 3:30pm PT - Long Jump (6:01m PR) | ESPN+
7:45pm ET | 4:45pm PT - Javelin (39.69m PR) | ESPN+
10:43pm ET | 7:43pm PT - 800m (2:18.01 PR) | ESPN+
11:30pm ET | 8:30pm PT - Trophy Presentation | ESPN+

* ESPN+ viewing links are unique for each heptathlon event

4 Down, 3 To Go: Nettles Enters Final Day of NCAA Championships

Players Mentioned

Kenli Nettles

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