NU Notches Four New NCAA Provisional Qualifiers

The Nebraska men’s and women’s track and field teams finished its weekend Saturday with four new NCAA provisional qualifiers and several personal-best marks. The Huskers competed on the road at the Iowa State Invitational in Ames, Iowa, and Tyson Invitational in Fayetteville, Ark.<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

 

Senior Authea Chambers set her second NCAA provisional-qualifying mark in as many days at the Iowa State Classic when she leaped a personal-best 42-6 1/4 to tie junior teammate Kwonya Ferguson for second place in the women’s triple jump. Chambers also hit the provisional standard in the long jump on Friday.

 

Junior Aaron Nasers battled a competitive field in the men’s 800-meter dash, but was still able to clock a season-low 1:49.21 for his first provisional-qualifying time, while the men’s 4x400-meter relay team accomplished the same feat after running 3:09.45.

 

Freshman Egle Uljas was NU’s final provisional qualifier of the weekend in the women’s 400-meter dash. Uljas’ third-place time of 54.13 was the 10th-fastest performance in NU women’s indoor history.

 

Huskers improving on already stellar marks at the ISU Classic included senior Richard Davidson, Jr. (7.80) and junior Courtney Jones (7.84) in the men’s 60-meter hurdles, sophomore Daniel Roper (50-7 ?) in the men’s triple jump, freshman Peter van der Westhuizen (4:04.22) in the men’s mile, as well as the women’s 4x400-meter relay (3:38.89).

 

Dusty Jonas, also had a big day at the high-profile Tyson Invitational to pace NU. Jonas set a new career-best mark of 7-3 ? to finish second in the men’s high jump. The freshman lost out on tiebreaker with Texas’ Andra Manson, who recorded the same height. Jonas finished only ? inch shy of reaching the NCAA automatic standard.

 

Junior Priscilla Lopes recorded a season-best and nation-leading time of 8.03 in winning the women’s 60-meter hurdles, while junior Ray Scotten matched his personal-best height of 18-0 ? to claim second (first collegiate) in the men’s pole vault. Senior Christi Lehman also performed well in the women’s pole vault, clearing a season-best mark of 13-4 ? to finish third.

 

“We have to continue to get better, but we’re still in pretty good shape,” Head Coach Gary Pepin said. “It is going to take a really good team effort on both (men’s and women’s) sides to do well in the conference meet.”

 

Nebraska will not compete next week as it trains for the Big 12 Indoor Championships, which will be held at the Bob Devaney Sports Center Track on Feb. 25-26. Tickets on sale by calling 800-8-BIGRED.