Huskers Compete in Drake Multi-Events

DES MOINES, <?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Iowa ? The Nebraska track and field team featured three athletes during the conclusion of the Drake Relays multi-event festival Thursday. Lee Martin and Kyle Goerl finished fourth and seventh, respectively, in the men’s decathlon, while Casie Witte earned fifth in the women’s heptathlon.<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

 

Witte accumulated a score of 5,056 after recording three season-best marks during the two-day competition. The Lincoln, Neb., native won the javelin throw portion of the competition with a heave of 125-5, while her times of 15.02 in the 100-meter hurdles and 2:31.31 were each season bests. Her long jump of 17-9 1/2 was also a season long.          

                                    

Martin had one of his best ever performances in the decathlon, despite an injured right elbow. The Waverly, Neb., native recorded career-best marks in four of the ten events on his way to a score of 6,653. He reached 13-3 1/2 in the pole vault to shatter his previous best by one foot, while his time of 15.97 in the 110-meter hurdles erased his former career-low time of 16.20 (wind aided). Martin also set personal-best marks of 22-1 3/4 in the long jump and 50.35 in the 400 meters.

 

Due to the injured elbow, Martin was forced to throw the javelin left-handed. He still managed to record a 91-8 throw, but it paled in comparison to his personal best of 183-3. Martin sat in third place before the javelin, and was within striking distance of his first NCAA provisional qualifying mark.

 

Goerl’s total of 5,424 points was a season-high score, even though he no-heighted in the high jump portion of the competition. He set season-best marks in three of Thursday’s five events (pole vault-12-7 1/2; javelin-131-2; 1,500 meters-4:46.87), while doing the same twice on Wednesday (100 meters-11.67; 400 meters-53.03).

 

While Nebraska’s multi athletes were off and running at Drake, two Husker hurdlers and one relay team were in action Thursday at the Penn Relays in Philadelphia, Pa.

 

Justine Roach and Frances Keating each set career-low times in the college section of the women’s 400-meter hurdles to get things started for NU. Roach was the runner-up finisher in her heat with a time of 59.18, while Keating’s clocking of 59.00 earned her fifth.

 

The Nebraska women’s 4x400-meter relay team of Keating, Roach, Sheryl Morgan and Egle Uljas finished fourth in the fifth of 14 heats with a time of 3:44.96. The group did not qualify for Saturday’s finals.

 

The Huskers continue competition at both the Drake and Penn Relays on Friday. The men’s 400-meter hurdlers begin NU’s day at Penn at 8 a.m. Central time. Action at Drake for Nebraska starts with the women’s discus at 11:30 a.m.

                                         

Note: For Thursday results from the Drake Relays, visit www.drakerelays.org. Results from the Penn Relays may be found at www.flashresults.com.