Samford Hall of Fame Members
Biography
Karisa Nelson became Samford’s first NCAA Division I national champion when she won the title in the indoor mile in 2017. She won the championship with a school-record time of 4:31.24. In the spring of 2018, she finished third in the nation in the outdoor 1,500 meters, earning first team All-America honors. As a senior in 2019, she competed again in the indoor mile at the NCAA Championships, placing second in the nation, narrowly missing a second national title, and earning another first team All-America nod. Nelson holds school indoor records in the 800-meter run, the mile run and the 3,000-meter run. She also holds outdoor school marks in the 800-meter run, 1,500-meter run and the mile run. Additionally, Nelson holds the Southern Conference Championships record in the indoor mile run and the outdoor 1,500-meter run. After leaving Samford, Nelson has run professionally for Brooks and later for Atalanta NYC.
