Nettles Soars to MAC Heptathlon Title, Keesling Multiple PRs Enough to Claim Podium

Kendra Keesling, Kenli Nettles pose atop the podium after scoring in the MAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships Heptathlon

Photo by: Michael Hickey

Nettles Soars to MAC Heptathlon Title, Keesling Multiple PRs Enough to Claim Podium

May 15, 2026 | Track & Field

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MUNCIE, Ind.— For the eleventh consecutive indoor and outdoor conference championships, Ball State won the multi-event competition for the third time through the performance of senior Kenli Nettles in the heptathlon. Dating back to Karlie Zumbro in 2021, and spanning Charity Griffith and Jenelle Rogers before reaching Nettles, Ball State has claimed the title in every MAC heptathlon and pentathlon at the conference championships.

Nettles put together a stellar second day, including a win in the heptathlon long jump to go along with a pair of seconds in the heptathlon javelin and heptathlon 800 meters. By the time the seventh and final event concluded, her lead swelled to nearly 500 points, cementing her successful title defense from a year ago. With a score of 5,642 points—second highest in Ball State program history— she also currently finds herself in a position to qualify for the NCAA outdoor track and field championships in Eugene, Oregon.

It wouldn't be a solo podium, however, for Nettles. She was joined by junior teammate Kendra Keesling in eighth place.

Keesling, a local walk-on from Delta High School, posted personal records in five of the seven events over two days. Her strong performances resulted in another PR, this time in total points at 4,706. The new mark shattered her previous PR by over 550 points, cementing her best day yet with the Cardinals.

Full results from the first two days of competition can be found below, along with qualifying times and marks for tomorrow's final day can be found below.

THURSDAY, MAY 14
100m Hurdles (Heptathlon)
Kenli Nettles, Sr. - 5th, 14.22
Kendra Keesling, Jr. - 10th, 14.95 PR

High Jump (Heptathlon)
Kenli Nettles, Sr. - 2nd, 1.67m
Kendra Keesling Jr. - 10th, 1.52m

Shot Put (Heptathlon)
Kenli Nettles, Sr. - 2nd, 12.47m PR
Kendra Keesling, Jr. - 8th, 10.35m PR

200m Dash (Heptathlon)
Kenli Nettles, Sr. - 1st, 24.43 PR
Kendra Keesling, Jr. - 7th, 26.29 PR

Hammer Throw
Sydney Miller, Jr. – 24th, 43.45m
Malena Higgins, Sr. – 13th, 49.54m

Javelin
Kenli Nettles, Sr. – 12th, 38.43m
Maci Easton, Sr. – 13th, 37.81m

1500m (Trials)
Kaitlyn Kauppila, Fr. – 4th, 4:26.04 PR
Sarah Mahnensmith, Sr. – 8th, 4:27.57 PR

400m Hurdles (Trials)
Lia Patterson, So. – 4th, 1:00.57 PR
Kenli Nettles, Sr. – 8th, 1:01.22
Lily Eagleston, Fr. – 16th, 1:02.63
Lindley Steele, Sr. – 21st, 1:05.19

200m (Trials)
Alana Springer, Sr. – 2nd, 23.71
Amina Hadziahmetovic, Fr. – 17th, 24.64
Trinity Bibbs, Fr. – 12th, 24.42

10,000m
Carly Spletzer, Sr. – 7th, 34:50.62

FRIDAY, MAY 15
Long Jump (Heptathlon)
Kenli Nettles, Sr. — 1st, 5.84m
Kendra Keesling, Jr. — 6th, 5.41m

Javelin (Heptathlon)
Kenli Nettles, Sr. — 2nd, 40.03m
Kendra Keesling, Jr. — 3rd, 37.89 PR

800m (Heptathlon)
Kenli Nettles, Sr. — 2nd, 2:23.54
Kendra Keesling, Jr. — 8th, 2:38.56 PR

Shot Put
Malena Higgins, Sr. – 10th, 13.87m
Sydney Miller, Jr. – 16th, 13.22m

Long Jump
Kylee Marshall – 11th, 5.71m
Kenli Nettles, Sr. – 14th, 5.60m

100m Hurdles (Trials)
Laya'Lapri Ratney, So. – 1st, 13.69
Lauren Graham, So. – 17th, 14.70
Lia Patterson, So. – 22nd, 15.05

400m (Trials)
Paige Kirtz, Jr. – 18th, 57.11

100m (Trials)
Alana Springer, Sr. – 4th, 11.66
Kylee Marshall, So. – 11th, 11.93 PR
Amina Hadziahmetovic, Fr. – 22nd, 12.15

3000m Steeplechase
Emily Decker, Fr. – 10th, 10:42.44

SATURDAY, MAY 16
Discus
Sydney Miller, Jr. – 47.16m
Malena Higgins, Sr. – 42.27m

High Jump
Malina Miller, Jr. – 1.76m
Nina Garner, Fr. – 1.76m
Bella Jackson, Sr. – 1.70m
Lexi Hale, So. – 1.65m

Triple Jump
Anisa Barnett, Fr. – 11.89m
Brenna Lehrke, Sr. – 11.48m

4x100m Relay
Laya'Lapri Ratney, Kylee Marshall, Amina Hadziahmetovic, Alana Springer – 44.72

1500m (Finals)
Sarah Mahnensmith, Sr. –
Kaitlyn Kauppila, Fr. –

100m Hurdles (Finals)
Laya'Lapri Ratney, So. –
Lauren Graham, So. –
Lia Patterson, So. –

400m (Finals)
Paige Kirtz, Jr. –

100m (Finals)
Alana Springer, Sr. –
Amina Hadziahmetovic, Fr. –
Kylee Marshall, So. –

400m Hurdles (Finals)
Kenli Nettles, Sr. –
Lia Patterson, So. –
Lily Eagleston, Fr. –

200m (Finals)
Alana Springer, Sr. –
Amina Hadziahmetovic, Fr. –
Trinity Bibbs, Fr. –

5,000m
Carly Spletzer, Sr. – 16:27.32
Emily Decker, Fr. – 17:05.51
Kaitlyn Kauppila, Fr. – 17:06.53

4x400m Relay
Lia Patterson, Paige Kirtz, Allison Valladay, Alana Springer – 3:46.42