Nettles and Higgins Make Ball State History on Day 1 of MAC Indoor Track Championships

Friday, February 27

Mount Pleasant, MI

All Day

Ball State University

Mid-American Conference

Photo by: Mid-American Conference

Nettles and Higgins Make Ball State History on Day 1 of MAC Indoor Track Championships

February 27, 2026 | Track & Field

Live Stats Watch Live

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. -- Kenli Nettles produced the third-highest pentathlon point total in Ball State history on Friday at the Mid-American Conference Indoor Track Championships, and Malena Higgins recorded the best finish ever by a Cardinal in the weight throw competition. Ball State competed in 11 events on Day 1 of the MAC Indoor Championships, and won its first medal as Nettles captured the five-event pentathlon.

Ball State sits in sixth place through the first day of competition, with points scored by Nettles, Higgins, Kylee Marshall in the long jump and a seventh-place distance medley relay team consisting of Sarah Mahnensmith, Abby Brennan, Kaitlyn Kauppila and Emily Decker.

"It was a solid start to the MAC Championships," said coach Adrian Wheatley. "Our women showed up for each other today, competing with focus and supporting one another throughout the meet. That part matters just as much as the results. We were proud to see the Cardinals on the podium four different times on day one. That's a reflection of our preparation and trust in the process. Looking ahead, we have 10 scoring opportunities tomorrow, with four events advancing through today. We've put ourselves in position. Our team is battle-tested and ready for the next opportunity. Day one is complete. Now we reset and prepare for tomorrow!"

Nettles, the 2025 MAC Outdoor champ in the seven-event heptathlon, continued a remarkable string of Ball State successes in MAC multi events. Since May 2021, Cardinals student-athletes have captured 10 consecutive heptathlon and pentathlon competitions at league meets. Since Karlie Zumbro won the 2021 MAC heptathlon, Ball State has ridden the talents of Zumbro, Charity Griffith, Jenelle Rogers and now Nettles to capture every MAC multi-event title since May 2021. Each has won at least two events during that stretch.

Friday, Nettles started early with a win in the pentathlon's first event, the 60-meter hurdles. Her time of 8.59 seconds was a personal record, and it set her tone for the day, by finishing in the top three of every event. She was third in the pentathlon high jump, just shy of her personal best, then proceeded to finish third in the shot put with another PR. She was also third in the long jump and she finished the pentathlon competition with a second-place finish in the 800 meters.

Nettles amassed 4,008 points in the event, the third best in Cardinals history, behind All-Americans Jenelle Rogers (4,430 in 2024) and Charity Griffith (4,315 in 2023). Joining Rogers and Griffith from Ball State, Nettles became the eighth pentathlete in MAC history to score over 4,000 points on the league's top stage.

Her pentathlon win garnered 10 team points for Ball State, and Marshall delivered five more with a fourth-place finish in the long jump. Marshall registered a career-long leap of 5.81 meters on the third of her six jumps. Higgins delivered three more from an uncommon source for Ball State. Not since 2016 has Ball State earned points in the weight throw competition, and since the league began its annual indoor competition in 2013, never have the Cardinals placed a competitor in the top six. Higgins' throw of 17.78 meters was the best of her career, and came on the first of six tries in the weight throw series.

The Cardinals capped the afternoon on the track with a final two points scored by the distance medley team comprised of seniors Brennan and Mahnensmith, and freshmen Kauppila and Decker. Competition continues Saturday, with Cardinals' scoring hopes hinging on the high jump and sprint finals. Marshall, Laya'Lapri Ratney and veteran sprinter Alana Springer all reached finals races on Saturday, with qualifying times in Friday's preliminary heats.

FRIDAY EVENTS
Pentathlon 60m Hurdles
1st, Kenli Nettles, Sr. -- 8.59 PR
11th, Kendra Keesling, Jr. -- 9.18 PR

Weight Throw
6th, Malena Higgins, Sr. -- 17.78m PR
25th, Syndey Miller, Jr. -- 13.47m
Brooklyn Taylor, Jr. -- ND

Pentathlon High Jump
3rd, Kenli Nettles, Sr. -- 1.71m
11th, Kendra Keesling, Jr. -- 1.53m

Pentathlon Shot Put
3rd, Kenli Nettles, Sr. -- 12.20m PR
10th, Kendra Keesling, Jr. -- 9.47m

Pentathlon Long Jump
3rd, Kenli Nettles, Sr. -- 5.71m
7th, Kendra Keesling, Jr. -- 5.32m

Pentathlon 800m
2nd, Kenli Nettles, Sr. -- 2:28.79
12th, Kendra Keesling, Jr. -- 2:41.69

Mile Run - Prelims
18th, Kaitlyn Kauppila, Fr. -- 4:59.65
19th, Sarah Mahnensmith, Sr. -- 5:04.55

60m Hurdles - Prelims
7th, Laya'Lapri Ratney, So. -- 8.58 (qualified for finals)
17th, Lia Patterson, Fr. -- 8.90
22nd, Lauren Grahan, Jr. -- 9.01

400m Dash - Prelims
9th, Paige Kirtz, Jr. -- 57.24
16th, Amina Hadziahmetovic, Fr. -- 57.74

60m Dash - Prelims
3rd, Alana Springer, Sr. - 7.50 (qualified for finals)
12th, Kylee Marshall, So. -- 7.61 PR
18th, Laya'Lapri Ratney, So. -- 7.69

200m Dash - Prelims
2nd, Alana Springer, Sr. -- 24.43 (qualified for finals)
8th, Kylee Marshall, So. -- 24.84 (qualified for finals)

Long Jump
4th, Kylee Marshall, So. -- 5.81m PR
13th, Kenli Nettles, Sr. -- 5.54m
27th, Kendra Keesling, Jr. -- 5.13m

Distance Medley Relay
7th, Sarah Mahnensmith, Abby Brennan, Kaityln Kauppila, Emily Decker -- 11:51.09

SATURDAY EVENTS
Shot Put
Malena Higgins, Sr. -- 13.78m
Sydney Miller, Jr. -- 13.54m

High Jump
Nina Garner, Fr. -- 1.76m
Malina Miller, Jr. -- 1.76m
Bella Jackson, Sr. -- 1.75m
Lexi Hale, So. -- 1.70m

Triple Jump
Anisa Barnett, Fr. -- 11.77m
Brenna Lehrke, Sr. -- 11.75m

60m Hurdles - Finals

60m Dash - Finals

200m Dash - Finals

3000m Run
Emily Decker, Fr. -- 9:56.74
Kaitlyn Kauppila, Fr. -- 9:52.55

4x400m Relay
Amina Hadziahmetovic, Paige Kirtz, Abby Brennan, Alana Springer