FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Norfolk State star sprinter Kiara Grant notched the highest national finish of her illustrious college career Saturday night, finishing third in the 60-meter dash at the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships at the University of Arkansas.

Grant, who posted a school-record time of 7.11 in winning her preliminary heat Friday, clocked a time of 7.16 seconds in Saturday's final. Oregon's Kemba Nelson won the race in a collegiate record 7.05 seconds, and Twanisha Terry of USC was second in 7.14.

Both of Grant's times this week topped her previous personal-best of 7.20 entering the meet.

The third-place finish is the second-highest finish ever for a Spartan women's track athlete at a Division I national championship meet. Only Debbie Dunn, who was NCAA indoor runner-up in the 200m in 2000, placed higher.

"Kiara is very consistent and has really matured," NSU Director of Track & Field Kenneth Giles said. "She's just very coachable and we're very proud of the meet she had this weekend."

By virtue of advancing to the finals, Grant will be deemed a first-team All-American. It's the second first-team All-America honor and fifth All-America honor total in her NSU career – most of any Spartan track athlete in the Division I era.