Nettles, Keesling and Jones Set Personal Records in Pentathlon Events

Friday, January 30

South Bend, Ind.

All Day

Ball State University

Meyo Invitational

Photo by: Brayden Minix/Ball State Athletics

Nettles, Keesling and Jones Set Personal Records in Pentathlon Events

January 30, 2026 | Track & Field

Louisville Lenny Lyles Meet Results Notre Dame Meyo Invitational Meet Results

MUNCIE, Ind. -- Personal bests by three Ball State pentathletes highlighted Friday competition for the Cardinals, split between a pair of meets in Lousville, Kentucky, and South Bend, Indiana. Ball State's other highlight on the opening day of weekend competition was sprinter Kylee Marshall who raced to second place finished in both the 60 meters and 200 meters.

With a personal-record time of 7.63 seconds, Marshall won the sixth heat of preliminary races in the 60 meters, and earned one of 10 spots in Saturday morning's semifinal competition. Later, she ran the 200 meters in 24.88 seconds to finish second out of 45 entrants. She won the second heat in the race to finish second overall in final scoring for the event. Cardinals freshman Amina Hadziahmetovic finished fourth in the 200m with a personal-best time of 25.07.

For much of the day though, the Cardinals had their attention focused on pentathlon competitions in both meets - at the PNC Lenny Lyles Indoor Track Meet in Louisville, and the Meyo Invitational in South Bend.

In Louisville, reigning MAC outdoor heptathlon champion Kenli Nettles took part in her first multi-event competition of the indoor season. But after starting the day with a personal-record 8.63 seconds in the 60m hurdles, she faulted in the long jump three events later and did not finish the overall competition. In South Bend, senior Kendra Keesling finished fifth, and freshman Phaelin Jones sixth, over five events at Notre Dame. Keesling won the long jump event among pentathletes with a leap of 5.44 meters, the longest of her career. Jones, competing in her first multi-event at the college level, established college standards in all five events and had PRs in the long jump and shot put.

"It was a good day for the Cardinals. We saw a lot of season bests and personal bests across the board," said coach Adrian Wheatley, "and that's a credit to the consistency and commitment this group has shown. We're pleased with how we competed today and are looking forward to getting back after it on day two."

The Cardinals continue track and field action in South Bend on Saturday. This week's Ball State entries in Louisville and South Bend, with qualifying marks for each event:

Louisville Lenny Lyles Indoor Track Meet
Pentathlon
Kenli Nettles, Sr. - DNF
60m hurdles - 5th, 8.63 PR
High Jump - 3rd, 1.63m
Shot Put - 3rd, 11.86m
Long Jump - 8th, foul
800 meters - DNS

Notre Dame Meyo Invitational
Pentathlon
5th, Kendra Keesling, Sr. - 3042 points PR
60m hurdles - 4th, 9.55
High Jump - 5th, 1.44m
Shot Put - 6th, 9.24m
Long Jump - 1st, 5.44m PR
800 meters - 4th, 2:44.17

6th, Phaelin Jones, Fr. - 2083 points
60m hurdles - 7th, DNF
High Jump - 7th, 1.38
Shot Put - 7th, 8.94m PR
Long Jump - 3rd, 5.18m PR
800 meters - 5th, 2:44.40

60m Dash - Prelims
2nd, Kylee Marshall, So. - 7.63 PR (qualified for semis)
13th, Savannah Lake, So. - 7.80
17th, Jiah Davenport, So. - 7.83
37th, Lindley Steele, Sr. - 8.17
Trinity Bibbs, Fr. - DNS

60m Hurdles
Lia Patterson, Fr. - DNS

200m Dash
2nd, Kylee Marshall, So. - 24.88
4th, Amina Hadziahmetovic, Fr. - 25.07 PR
30th, Savannah Lake, So. - 25.91
35th, Jiah Davenport, So. - 26.25
Trinity Bibbs, Fr. - DNS

Long Jump
16th, Taylor Hickman, Sr. - 5.22m PR
17th, Anisa Barnett, Fr., 5.20m
24th, Lindley Steele, Sr. - 4.89m

Shot Put
14th, Malena Higgins, Sr. - 13.20m
18th, Sydney Miller, Jr. - 12.73m
24th, Brooklyn Taylor, Jr. - 12.23m
30th, Ayla Rice, Jr. - 10.82m

5000m Run
31st, Emily Decker, Fr. - 17:24.09

Saturday's scheduled entries at the Meyo Invitational
60m Dash - Semifinals
Alana Springer, Sr. - 7.45 (automatic qualifier)
Laya'Lapri Ratney, So. - 7.57 (automatic qualifier)
Kylee Marshall, So. - 7.63

60m Hurdles - Semifinals
Laya'Lapri Ratney, So. - 8.55 (automatic qualifier)

400m Dash
Abby Brennan, Sr. - 55.68
Paige Kirtz, Jr. - 56.71
Lia Patterson, Fr. - 58.31
Amina Hadziahmetovic, Fr. - 59.10

Mile Run
Sarah Mahnensmith, Sr. - 4:51.54
Kaitlyn Kauppila, Fr. - 5:07.40

3000m Run
Sarah Mahnensmith, Sr. - 9:40.80
Emily Decker, Fr. - 10:01.14
Maci Hoskins, Sr., 10:10.48
Kaitlyn Kauppila, Fr. - NT

4x400m Relay

Triple Jump
Taylor Hickman, Sr. - 11.38m

Weight Throw
Malena Higgins, Sr. - 16.10m
Brooklyn Taylor, Jr. - 15.54m
Ayla Rice, Jr. - 15.08m
Sydney Miller, Jr. - 14.31m