LEXINGTON, Ky. – University of Akron redshirt freshman Mercy Jebitok (Kapsabet, Kenya) ran a Mid-American Conference and school-record time of 33:05.76 in the women's 10,000 meters in second-day competition at the NCAA East Preliminary Round on Thursday (May 28).
Jebitok garnered a seventh-place finish in a time of 33:05.76 to earn a qualifying berth to the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships on June 11 in Eugene, Ore. The women's 10,000-meter final will be at 10:56 p.m. ET from historic Heyward Field. Jebitok will be Akron's first-ever runner in the event at the NCAA Outdoor Championships and represents the first Zip from the women's squad to advance to nationals since 2019.
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Kent State sophomore Kristen Jay also earned a spot at the 2026 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships after delivering a breakthrough performance in the women's javelin at the NCAA East Preliminary Round.
Jay secured her national qualification with a personal-best throw of 168'-3" (51.28m), placing eighth in the regional competition and finishing among the top qualifiers advancing to Eugene, Ore. The mark moved her to fifth in Kent State program history and marked the best performance of her collegiate career.
With her qualification, Jay becomes the first Golden Flash in 14 years to reach the NCAA Outdoor Championships in the javelin, continuing Kent State's tradition of excellence in the throwing events.
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Ball State's Kenli Nettles will represent the Mid-American Conference at the 2026 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships after earning a berth in the women's heptathlon.
One of the conference's most versatile athletes, Nettles enters the national meet following another impressive postseason performance. Competing at the NCAA East Preliminary Round, she also raced in the 400-meter hurdles, where she finished 35th overall despite entering the competition seeded 43rd. Her time ranked eighth in Ball State program history, further showcasing her ability to excel across multiple disciplines.
Nettles will compete in the heptathlon at the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Oregon, where she will face the nation's top multi-event athletes in pursuit of All-America honors.
