BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Over the next several weeks, we at SamfordSports.com will take a look back at some of the biggest wins by Samford teams throughout the years in a series sponsored by America's First Federal Credit Union. Today, we will continue the series by looking at one of the most impressive performances in the history of the track and field program.

On March 11, 2017,  track and field standout Karisa Nelson not only bested her career-record mark by over four seconds, but she won the national championship in the women's mile as she posted a thrilling title run of 4:31.24 at the 2017 NCAA Indoor National Championships.
 
Nelson turned in a tactical race, hanging in the second tier of runners for the first couple of laps before making her move on the final lap. Down the stretch, Samford's tall, athletic distance runner used her long stride and daring outside-lane tactic to surpass both Penn State's Danae Rivers and New Hampshire's Elinor Purrier for the championship title.
 
In the final 50 yards, the Bulldogs' Nelson pulled away from the competition and coasted to the national championship.
 
The previous day, Nelson posted a time of 4:35.31 in the women's mile during her heat of the preliminary rounds. Her mark proved to be the fastest of all 16 competitors in the event.
  
Nelson's historic title proved to be the first Division I NCAA championship in school history and capped off a brilliant performance from the Samford women's track and field teams in the indoor season. With her finish, the Bulldogs' women's squad finished the competition ranked No. 21 in the nation. Earlier that year, Samford earned its second straight Southern Conference championship.