Track Team Returns to Indy for Final Tune-Up Prior to MAC Indoor Championships

Friday, February 13

Indianapolis, Ind.

All Day

Ball State University

Heartland Invitational

Photo by: Sam Findley/Ball State Athletics

Track Team Returns to Indy for Final Tune-Up Prior to MAC Indoor Championships

February 12, 2026 | Track & Field

Heartland Invitational

MUNCIE, Ind. -- The Heartland Invitational in Indianapolis features 25 universities competing in indoor track events for men's and women's teams this weekend. It is the third event in which Ball State will participate at the Indiana Farm Bureau Fall Creek Pavilion this year, and it serves as a final tune-up for the Cardinals as they prepare for the Mid-American Conference Indoor Track Championship, Feb. 27-28 at Central Michigan University.

Jumping and racing begins Friday afternoon, many events split between a collegiate division and a more elite, "invitational division" which features a top line of competition. Ball State's first competition scheduled for 12:15 in the weight throw -- with Brooklyn Taylor, Malena Higgins and Ayla Rice vying for top spots among 32 collegiate competitors. Senior Kenli Nettles opens her competition at 1:10 p.m., seeded third in the invitational division of the long jump.

Cardinals athletes will participate in 15 events total -- nine on Friday followed by six more Saturday. Friday's events conclude for Ball State with the 400 meters that features 10 heats beginning at 8:30 p.m. The biggest event over the two days will be Saturday's 200 meters that is scheduled for 12:20 p.m. Eighty runners will race over 14 heats in the 200 meters, including Ball State's Jiah Davenport, Savannah Lake, Kylee Marshall, Laya'Lapri Ratney and Alana Springer.

The 4x400 meter relay caps the Heartland Invitational, slated for 4 p.m., Saturday. Ball State's preliminary entry in the relay includes Springer, Abby Brennan, Amina Hadziahmetovic and Paige Kirtz.

Ball State entries in the Heartland Invitational, with qualifying marks for each event
FRIDAY'S EVENTS
Weight Throw
Brooklyn Taylor, Jr. -- 16.33m
Malena Higgins, Sr. -- 16.10m
Ayla Rice, Jr. -- 15.08m

Long Jump -- Invitational Division
Kenli Nettles, Sr. -- 6.01m

60m Hurdles
Laya'Lapri Ratney, So. -- 8.55
Lauren Graham, Jr. -- 8.76
Lia Patterson, Fr. -- 8.87
Lily Eagleston, Fr. -- 8.99
Kendra Keesling, Jr. -- 9.47
Phaelin Jones, Fr. -- 10.04

60m Dash
Kylee Marshall, So. -- 7.63
Savannah Lake, So. -- 7.78
Jiah Davenport, So. -- 7.80

Long Jump -- Collegiate Division
Kylee Marshall, So. -- 5.79m
Anisa Barnett, Fr. -- 5.47m
Kendra Keesling, Jr. -- 5.44m
Phaelin Jones, Fr. -- 5.18m

High Jump -- Collegiate Division
Nina Garner, Fr. - 1.67m
Lexi Hale, So. -- 1.65m

600m Dash
Kenli Nettles, Sr. -- NT (1:33.00)

3000m Run
Sarah Mahnensmith, Sr. -- 9:40.80
Kaitlyn Kauppila, Fr. -- 9:52.55
Emily Decker, Fr. -- 10:01.14
Maci Hoskins, Jr. -- 10:10.48

400m Dash
Abby Brennan, Sr. -- 55.68
Paige Kirtz, Jr. -- 56.71
Amina Hadziahmetovic, Fr. -- 57.19

SATURDAY'S EVENTS
Shot Put
Sydney Miller, Jr. -- 13.54m
Malena Higgins, Sr. -- 13.62m
Ayla Rice, Jr. -- 12.28m

Mile Run
Sarah Mahnensmith, Sr. - 4:51.54
Kaitlyn Kauppila, Fr. -- 5:03.53
Maci Hoskins, Jr. -- 5:10.59

Triple Jump
Brenna Lehrke, Sr. -- 11.75m
Anisa Barnett, Fr. -- 11.41m

200m Dash
Alana Springer, Sr. -- 23.67
Kylee Marshall, So. -- 24.40
Laya'Lapri Ratney, So. -- 25.06
Savannah Lake, So. -- 25.66
Jiah Davenport, So. -- 26.12

High Jump -- Invitational Division
Malina Miller, Jr. -- 1.76m

4x400m Relay
Springer, Brennan, Hadziahmetovic, Kirtz