University of Minnesota Athletics
2015-16 Women's Track & Field Roster
Kayla Nelson
- Class:
- Freshman
- High School:
- Rush City HS
- Hometown:
- Rush City, Minn.
| PRONUNCIATION |
2018 Season - Outdoor: Named Academic All-Big Ten • competed at four meets • recorded a career-best score of 4,596 points in the heptathlon at the Bryan Clay Multi-Event, clearing a career-best 1.60m (5-03.00) in high jump and throwing a career-best 10.87m (35-08.00) in shot put • ran a career-best time of 56.68 in the 400m at the Tommie Twilight • recorded a career-best mark of 26.09m (85-07) in javelin at the Courage Invite.
2017 Season - Indoor: Competed at six meets, including three appearances in the pentathlon • scored a career-best 3,413 points to place 11th in the pentathlon at the Big Ten Championship • posted career bests in high jump (1.59m, 5-02.50), long jump (5.23m, 17-02.00), and shot put (10.42m, 34-02.25) during the B1G pentathlon • ran a career-best 2:27.99 in the 800m during the pentathlon at the SDSU Holiday Open • ran a career-best 9.50 in the 60m hurdles to place 12th at the Parents Day Invite • ran a career-best 1:39.61 in the 600m at the Minnesota-Wisconsin Dual.
2017 Season - Outdoor: Competed at six meets, including two appearances in the heptathlon • recorded career-best marks in all seven heptathlon events • scored a career-best 4,515 in the heptathlon at the Kansas Relays • competed in the heptathlon at the Big Ten Championship, but did not finish • set career-bests in the 200m (25.26), 100m hurdles (15.45), and shot put (10.57m, 34-08.25) during the Kansas Relays heptathlon • recorded career bests in the 800m (2:25.78) and javelin (25.12m, 82-05) at the Hamline Twilight • cleared a career-best 1.58m (5-02.25) in high jump at the Janis Rider Invitational • recorded a career-best mark of 4.99m (16-04.50) in the long jump at the Bulls Invitational • jumped 5.18m (17-00.00) with a +4.1 wind in long jump at the Kansas Relays Quadrangular.
2016 Season - Indoor: Competed unattached at six meets.
2016 Season - Outdoor: Competed unattached at four meets.
High School: A 2015 graduate of Rush City High School where she ran for coach Mike Vaughan and assistant coaches Erika Matzke, Mark Bingham, Kirsten Bjork and James Monson • nine-time All-Great River Conference honoree in the 100m (2014), 200m (2012, 2014, 2015), 400m (2012, 2014, 2015) and high jump (2012, 2014) • named two-time Great River Conference Track MVP (2012, 2014) • earned all-state honors in the 400m by placing third at the 2012 Minnesota Class A State Championship • five-time participant at the Minnesota Class A state meet, including qualifying in the 100m (13.10), 200m (27.36) and 400m (58.42 for fifth place) as a junior • member of Rush City’s 11th-place 4x800m relay team as a senior (9:53.07) and the school’s program-record holding 4x800m relay team at 9:48.05 • six-year letterwinner in track & field • three-time academic all-state honoree • a versatile competitor with high school personal-best marks in the 100m (12.78, 2014), 200m (26.64, 2014), 400m (58.33, 2014), high jump (4-10, 2012, 2014, 2015), shot put (29-6, 2013) and 800m (2:24, 2015) • a multi-sport athlete for Rush City HS who earned three letters in basketball and two in volleyball in addition to six in track & field • served as football statistician • played volleyball and basketball in summer leagues, JO volleyball, and fall league basketball.
Personal: Daughter of Mark and Carrie Nelson • is a triplet with brothers Kevin and Kyle • major is Earth Sciences • enjoys playing piano, cooking, traveling and hanging out with friends and family.
| Nelson's Indoor Career Bests (2018 Final) | ||
| Event | Mark | Meet (Date) |
| 400m | 1:00.62 (UA) | St. Thomas Showcase (2/12/16) |
| 600m | 1:39.61 | Minnesota-Wisconsin Dual (1/21/17) |
| 800m | 2:26.86 | SDSU Holiday Open (12/1/17) |
| 60m Hurdles | 9.38 | SDSU Holiday Open (12/1/17) |
| High Jump | 1.60m, 5-03.00 | SDSU Holiday Open (12/1/17) |
| Long Jump | 5.23m, 17-02.00 | Big Ten Championship (2/24/17) |
| Shot Put | 10.94m, 35-10.75 | SDSU Holiday Open (12/1/17) |
| Pentathlon | 3,473 | SDSU Holiday Open (12/1/17) |
| Nelson's Outdoor Career Bests (2018 Final) | ||
| Event | Mark | Meet (Date) |
| 200m | 25.26 | Kansas Relays (4/19/17) |
| 400m | 56.68 | Tommie Twilight (5/2/18) |
| 800m | 2:25.78 | Hamline Twilight (4/12/17) |
| 100m Hurdles | 15.45 | Kansas Relays (4/19/17) |
| Long Jump | 4.99m, 16-04.50 | Bulls Invitational (3/17/17) |
| High Jump | 1.60m, 5-03.00 | Bryan Clay Invite (4/18/18) |
| Shot Put | 10.87m, 35-08.00 | Bryan Clay Invite (4/18/18) |
| Javelin | 26.09m, 85-07 | Cougar Invite (3/15/18) |
| Heptathlon | 4,596 | Bryan Clay Invite (4/19/18) |
