Ball State University Athletics
Wednesday, May 27
Lexington, Ky.
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NCAA First Round
Photo by: Michael Hickey
Four Cardinals Set for NCAA First Round in Lexington
May 26, 2026 | Track & Field
MUNCIE, Ind.— Four Ball State track and field athletes are set to compete when the NCAA East Regional track meet kicks off Thursday, May 27th, for the first round and quarterfinals in several events. Ball State qualified a pair of hurdlers that begin competition Thursday, and a pair of high jumpers who compete Saturday afternoon.
Sophomore Laya'Lapri Ratney is the first Cardinal in action on Thursday, in the 100-meter hurdles, with her event slated to start at 7:00 p.m. ET. Ratney enters the NCAA regionals with the 42nd-ranked time of 13.32 seconds, the second-fastest mark in Ball State history. The first team All-MAC sophomore recently won the 100-meter hurdles title at the Mid-American Conference championship on May 16. A transfer from Abilene Christian University, this regional appearance is the first for Ratney.
Ratney is followed by senior Kenli Nettles on Thursday, who is looking to punch a second ticket to the NCAA nationals in Eugene, Oregon. Nettles, a transfer from the University of Illinois, is set to run in the 400-meter hurdles at 8:20 p.m. The senior, who came out of medical retirement to compete for the Cardinals, has already qualified for the national finals in the heptathlon, just as she did last season. This time though, Nettles aims to go one better and book two tickets to Eugene by qualifying for the 400-meter hurdles, too.
Both in the first-round field of 48, if Ratney or Nettles finishes in the top 24 of their respective events on Thursday, they will be back in action on Saturday for the NCAA quarterfinals and a chance to reach the NCAA semifinals, two weeks from now in Oregon.
A long-running tradition of excellence for Ball State returns to action on Saturday in the high jump pit when junior Malina Miller and freshman Nina Garner compete in the first round of the high jump. In the last 15 seasons, Ball State has qualified at least one jumper in the first round of the event on nine separate occasions. The most recent was in 2023, when Charity Griffith finished fourth in the regional, advanced to the national finals and subsequently won the NCAA title. This year, Ball State is one of only seven schools to have multiple competitors in the high jump competition. The last time two Ball State jumpers qualified for the high jump was 2003 with teammates Ashley Gillies and Ashlie Coleman.
Miller enters the NCAA first round off the heels of a MAC title with a cleared height of 1.77 meters, a personal record that is tied as the fifth-best mark in program history. That mark seeds the junior from Noblesville, Indiana, 25th entering the regional meet. And like her teammate Ratney, Miller will also be competing at the regional meet for the first time in her collegiate career.
Garner, a true freshman from Munster, Indiana, has jumped side-by-side with Miller all season, and that will continue into the NCAA regional meet. The MAC Indoor Freshman Field Performer of the Year winner placed fourth at the MAC championship, and holds a current personal record of 1.76 meters, seeding her 32nd for the first round. The top 12 performers in the high jump advance directly to the finals at the NCAA national championships.
ESPN+ carries a broadcast of both days of competition, beginning live at 6 p.m., Thursday, and 5 p.m., Saturday, with field events featured throughout.
Sophomore Laya'Lapri Ratney is the first Cardinal in action on Thursday, in the 100-meter hurdles, with her event slated to start at 7:00 p.m. ET. Ratney enters the NCAA regionals with the 42nd-ranked time of 13.32 seconds, the second-fastest mark in Ball State history. The first team All-MAC sophomore recently won the 100-meter hurdles title at the Mid-American Conference championship on May 16. A transfer from Abilene Christian University, this regional appearance is the first for Ratney.
Ratney is followed by senior Kenli Nettles on Thursday, who is looking to punch a second ticket to the NCAA nationals in Eugene, Oregon. Nettles, a transfer from the University of Illinois, is set to run in the 400-meter hurdles at 8:20 p.m. The senior, who came out of medical retirement to compete for the Cardinals, has already qualified for the national finals in the heptathlon, just as she did last season. This time though, Nettles aims to go one better and book two tickets to Eugene by qualifying for the 400-meter hurdles, too.
Both in the first-round field of 48, if Ratney or Nettles finishes in the top 24 of their respective events on Thursday, they will be back in action on Saturday for the NCAA quarterfinals and a chance to reach the NCAA semifinals, two weeks from now in Oregon.
A long-running tradition of excellence for Ball State returns to action on Saturday in the high jump pit when junior Malina Miller and freshman Nina Garner compete in the first round of the high jump. In the last 15 seasons, Ball State has qualified at least one jumper in the first round of the event on nine separate occasions. The most recent was in 2023, when Charity Griffith finished fourth in the regional, advanced to the national finals and subsequently won the NCAA title. This year, Ball State is one of only seven schools to have multiple competitors in the high jump competition. The last time two Ball State jumpers qualified for the high jump was 2003 with teammates Ashley Gillies and Ashlie Coleman.
Miller enters the NCAA first round off the heels of a MAC title with a cleared height of 1.77 meters, a personal record that is tied as the fifth-best mark in program history. That mark seeds the junior from Noblesville, Indiana, 25th entering the regional meet. And like her teammate Ratney, Miller will also be competing at the regional meet for the first time in her collegiate career.
Garner, a true freshman from Munster, Indiana, has jumped side-by-side with Miller all season, and that will continue into the NCAA regional meet. The MAC Indoor Freshman Field Performer of the Year winner placed fourth at the MAC championship, and holds a current personal record of 1.76 meters, seeding her 32nd for the first round. The top 12 performers in the high jump advance directly to the finals at the NCAA national championships.
ESPN+ carries a broadcast of both days of competition, beginning live at 6 p.m., Thursday, and 5 p.m., Saturday, with field events featured throughout.
Players Mentioned
Jumps
/ Track & Field
Jumps
/ Track & Field
Multis
/ Track & Field
Hurdles
/ Track & FieldWednesday, May 27
Tuesday, May 12
Thursday, April 30
Friday, April 10