Eastern Michigan Athletics
Former EMU All-American Lela Nelson, Wins Long Jump at Boston Indoor Games
1/28/2008 3:38:17 PM | Women's Track & Field
Nelson defeats Olympic Champion Carolina Kluft
BOSTON, Mass.-- Former Eastern Michigan University track and field standout, Lela V. Nelson, defeated the 2004 Olympic Champion Carolina Kluft of Sweden, at the Reebok Boston Indoor Games, held at the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center.
This was Nelson's first trip to the Boston Indoor Games, which boasts a 12-year history. Although Kluft was chosen to win the event, Nelson outdistanced her by 10-centimeters to take the win. The win qualifies her to compete at the U.S. Indoor Nationals to be held again at the Reggie Lewis Center in Boston where a winning jump will place her on the U.S. team to the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Valencia, Spain.
Nelson, a native of Detroit, Mich., competed for the Eagles between 2001 and 2005 and was the 2005 NCAA champion in the heptathlon. She won a total of three Mid-American Conference titles throughout her career at EMU, including the 2005 long jump and 100-meter hurdles, and the 2004 indoor long jump. She was named the 2004 MAC Most Valuable Performer. She still holds school records in the pentathlon, heptathlon, indoor long jump and 100-meter hurdles.
Nelson currently resides and trains in North Carolina and runs for Nike and is represented by Codrington Enterprises, a sports and entertainment marketing agency owned by former EMU standout Joseph Codrington.
