A former NCAA Division I champion in the heptathlon, Lela Nelson is entering her third year as a volunteer assistant with the Deacs. Nelson recently had the top performance of the women's long jump at the 2008 Reebok Boston Indoor Games, with a 6.50 meter mark, surpassing the Swedish champion by 10 centimeters. She also qualified for the Olympic Trials in the both the long jump and the heptathlon. As a student-athlete at Eastern Michigan, Nelson finished as a long jump All-American. She also placed fifth at the USA Outdoor Championships in the heptathlon. Nelson also won the 2005 MAC championship titles in the 100-meter hurdles and the long jump and finished that meet as the MVP. She left EMU with eight school records, including seven that still stand. 2006 was another stellar year for the Detroit native, winning the USA Indoor Pentathlon Championship and placing sixth in the long jump at the same meet. Nelson also placed fourth in the heptathlon at the 2006 USA Outdoor Championships. Nelson graduated from Eastern Michigan University in 2005 with a double major in English and technical writing. |
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