Nettles finds redemption, drive at Ball State after comeback season
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By Ben Crane
For Kenli Nettles, this past season was more than a comeback—it was a statement.
After medically retiring from track and field her senior year and missing over a year of competition, Nettles returned to the sport with a fiery purpose. Her journey reached a high point when she won the Mid-American Conference heptathlon title for Ball State University, and later earned a spot at the NCAA Division I Championships in Eugene, Oregon.
“Honestly, I was probably the most anxious I’d ever been going into a meet,” the former Arthur student said. “It’d been over a year since I competed, and I just really started getting back into technical training. I was mentally prepared—like, I’ve done it before. It’s not my first rodeo. But it was definitely a little nerve-wracking, for sure.”
She leaned on belief—her own, and that of her coaches.
“I went into every meet with the mindset of, like, I am here for a reason,” she said. “My coaches believe in me. They put their trust in me. They recruited me for a reason, and coming back from medical retirement is not something that very many people do.”
That mindset fueled her gradual return to form. Though her indoor season served mostly as a rust-buster, Nettles broke the 60-second barrier in the 400-meter hurdles during the outdoor season in Florida—a key turning point that restored her confidence.
“Going into MAC, I knew that I had my entire team behind me,” she said. “They’d seen me from the minute I stepped foot on campus and was unable to finish my first tempo Tuesday workout to showing up at night and kind of giving it my all.”
The championship moment didn’t come easily. Going into the final event of the heptathlon—the 800 meters—Nettles trailed a Kent State athlete in the standings.
“I knew I had a faster 800 time than her, and I just needed to stay ahead in order to beat her,” she said. “The minute I realized: One, I won the 800. Two, she hasn’t crossed the finish line. Three, that just means I won the hep. I bent over, and I was like, ‘Thank you, Jesus. This is crazy, but I just did that.’ Tears started flowing, for sure.”
The MAC victory vaulted Nettles into national contention. Her score placed her 20th among the top 24 athletes in the country, qualifying her for the NCAA Championships.
“I knew going in—this is the national meet. It’s the best of the best,” she said. “I deserve to be here. I’ve made it this far. Let’s break the form chart.”
But tragedy struck on the eve of her competition. Nettles suffered a calf injury during warmups.
“When I couldn’t push off on my long jump approach, I was like, I’m going to have to call it quits,” she said. “Coaches and I made a decision. I did my athlete introduction on the big video board, and then they took me down to medical. I was definitely upset. A lot of tears were shed.”
Just a day later, in an unexpected twist, she received life-changing news.
“I actually didn’t know I had my sixth year until Coach Wheatley told me in the airport,” Nettles said. “I thought I was done. But he told me I had the full sixth year. So even though I got injured, I know this isn’t the end.”
The plan now is recovery—rest, rehab, and strength training. Her eyes are already locked on the coming year, now armed with the clarity of another chance.
“We know that I have the potential to reach the national meet again,” she said. “We’re going to take training day by day… to peak at championship time. I’m just going in trying to stay healthy. Obviously, stay happy—because if you’re happy, you’re healthy.”
Happiness, in fact, is central to her resurgence.
“I love Ball State University,” Nettles said. “It’s given me people that are going to be in my life forever. My teammates are some of my best friends. My coaches are people that I trust with my life. I don’t dread going to practice anymore. I look forward to waking up each day, doing the sport that I love.”
With new life in her legs and a rekindled passion, her sights are set high.
“I want to win the pentathlon at indoor MAC. I want to qualify for nationals. Go back-to-back in the hep. Podium at Nationals. Hopefully make U.S. Championships. And eventually—train post-collegiately or become a college coach.”
After everything she’s endured, she embraces each day as a gift.
“I show up to practice each and every single day—whether I’m feeling terrible or 100%—and I give it everything that I’ve got,” she said. “I have so much drive. I know that I’ve got the capabilities to reach my goals, and I have the support system who’s going to help me do it.”