NU Men Return Nine All-Americans in 2006

Following an outstanding 2005 season that saw the Huskers earn their 57th all-time conference title, the Nebraska men’s track and field team will feature a talented, deep and experienced squad in 2006. NU returns 22 scorers from the Big 12 Championships and 13 participants from last year’s NCAA Championships, including nine All-Americans, in its quest for even higher national and conference honors.

The squad is prepared to build on the foundation it laid last season despite the loss of two-time NCAA All-American Dusty Stamer and several other key seniors from 2005. The remarkable depth of the men’s team in certain areas, which in some cases runs three or four talented athletes deep, should give the squad a legitimate shot at its fifth sweep of the Big 12 Championships in the 10-year history of the conference.

"This men’s team should be good," Head Coach Gary Pepin said. "We have a lot of kids that who reached the national meet for the first time last year. There is a returning NCAA champion in the 800 meters (Dmitrijs Milkevics) and depth in several areas. We certainly have a goal to win the conference and finish in the top 10 at both national meets this season."

Sprints/Hurdles
NU has two capable athletes to build around in the short sprints with a pair of returning All-Americans in junior Nate Probasco and senior Oliver Williams Jr.

"Nate and Oliver give us some pretty good experience at high levels of competition," Assistant Coach Matt Martin said. "They’re the guys who we are going to rely on to carry a big share of the load, and I think they are up to the task."

Probasco continued his amazing development last season with a ninth-place finish at the national indoor meet before notching school records in the 200-meter dash and the 4x100-meter relay during the outdoor season. Probasco showed no signs of slowing his advancement during fall training, and he should only continue NU’s recent growth in both the 4x100 and 4x400-meter relays.

"Nate just seems to get better every day," Martin said. "He does everything the right way, all of the little things it takes to be a great athlete. He has only gotten stronger, his workouts have continued to improve and I’m truly optimistic about what this year holds for him. I think he will be one of the leading sprinters in the country this year."

Williams teamed with Probasco, Stamer and junior Arturs Abolins to form the top 4x100-meter relay team in school history during the last two seasons, and Martin believes that he also has a chance to take the next step to high-impact NCAA competitor.

"We know what Oliver brings to the table," Martin said. "We count on him to show up week-in and week-out and score points for us in the conference (meets). I think he is a guy who if things go well, he has a chance to make an impact nationally. He certainly has that kind of ability."

Returning Huskers who will be given a chance to fill the vacant spot on the sprint relay include junior Daniel Roper and sophomore Andrew Pearson, who each specialize in other events. Young sprinters in contention include freshmen Garrison Overstake, who owns a personal best of 10.6 in the 100, and Chase Weaver, a two-time Nebraska Class A relay state champion from Millard North High School.

Nebraska boasted what was arguably one of the deepest groups of high hurdlers in the nation last year with four quality athletes. While former Huskers Richard Davidson Jr. and Nenad Loncar are now gone, seniors Courtney Jones and Aaron Ross remain to give NU a formidable pair to contend for honors in the short hurdle events.

"We lost two really fine hurdlers last year, but we still have two fine ones in Courtney and Aaron," Assistant Coach Billy Maxwell said. "I think both of them have done a much better job in their overall preparation for the season, and they are definitely stronger."

Freshman Tyrell Ross joins his brother, Aaron, in Lincoln this year from the New Jersey prep ranks and looks to be a big addition to the hurdles group. Martin believes he will help to lessen the blow brought on by the loss of last year’s seniors.

NU is excited about its long sprints/intermediate hurdles group, which features three of four members of its 2004 NCAA-qualifying 4x400-meter relay with seniors Mark Harrison and Andy Nelson and sophomore Andrew Pearson. After finishing fourth in the 400 meters as a freshman at the 2004 Big 12 Indoor Championships, Pearson returns following a redshirt season while recovering from knee surgery.

"Andrew has run very well this fall," Maxwell said. "Along with the 400, he will probably run the intermediate hurdles this spring, which he only ran once as a freshman."

Another Husker competing in the intermediate hurdles this season is senior Mark Harrison, who only will compete outdoors after exhausting his indoor eligibility in 2005. Harrison competed in the 400-meter hurdles at the NCAA outdoor meet for the first time after notching a career-best time at the regional meet.

"Mark really ran well at the end of last year," said Volunteer Assistant Coach Mark Devenney, who will coach Harrison in 2006. "We are going to try to get him to peak at the right time again this season."

Other Huskers in the long sprints/hurdles include Nelson, who will get another shot in the 4x400-meter relay and hurdles this season, as well as sophomore Gatis Spunde, who Maxwell believes is ready to take a big step forward in the 400-meter hurdles. Sophomore Demea Carter and redshirt freshman Nathan Kumm will also compete in the area in 2006.

Middle Distance
The 2005 NCAA outdoor 800-meter champion, Dmitrijs Milkevics, returns after one of the greatest seasons for a middle distance runner in Nebraska history. Along with his national title, Milkevics set two school records and one collegiate record last season.

"Milkevics is as good as I’ve ever been around," said Maxwell, who has coached on the collegiate level for more than three decades. "He’s one of those guys with tremendous ability in the fact that he can always run faster. I’ve never seen him top out. He really is in a unique place."

Another returning Husker with an All-America pedigree is senior Aaron Nasers. After focusing mostly on the 800 during his career, the Kalamazoo, Mich., native will train to compete in the mile outdoors for 2006. Nasers should be well-suited to run longer distances, as he competed in cross country during the fall and owns a school-record time of 1:22.12 in the 1,000.

NU owns a young middle distance talent in sophomore Jack Lemke. The three-time Nebraska Class A state champ in the 800 as a prep could be a candidate for a breakthrough season.

"I expect Jack Lemke to make huge gains this year," Devenney said. "He trained hard this fall and is in very good shape."

Distance
Fresh off a national meet appearance as a sophomore last season in the 1,500 meters, Peter van der Westhuizen gives the Huskers their biggest threat in the distance area for 2006. The South African also earned second place in the mile at the Big 12 indoor meet, while he already ranks among NU’s top seven all-time performers for both events.

"Peter is one of the top mile athletes returning in the conference this year," Assistant Coach Jay Dirksen said. "He looked good during cross country season. He struggled with some injuries, but he will be ready for the start of the track season."

Other returnees in the long distance area include juniors Bryce Dickmeyer and Alec Maduza, both of whom will run the 5,000- and 10,000-meter events. Dickmeyer showed improvement during cross country, winning the Most Improved Runner Award, while Maduza returns to NU following a semester stint at Wisconsin.

"Bryce is looking a lot better," Dirksen said. "He made good progress during cross country, and Alec also had a great fall of training. It will be interesting to see where he fits in with those longer events."

Nebraska suffered a big loss in numbers for the distance area following the 2005 season. Three seniors departed, leaving Dirksen with several areas to fill. Last season’s recruiting class, which features three talented in-state prospects, will attempt to restock the area for NU.

Leading the group of freshmen will be Chris Clymer, a Lincoln native who claimed three all-class gold medals as a senior at North Star High School. While Clymer has the biggest chance to make an impact in the 800- through 1,500-meter events, he also could see time in the steeplechase outdoors.

"Chris ran well enough in high school to give me reason to believe he has a chance to be a factor this year," Dirksen said. "He has good speed, but his endurance has really improved this year."

The two other freshmen, Kyle Custer and Brian Parr, may be in line for a redshirt season indoors. Custer suffered a stress fracture in his foot during the cross country season, while Parr intends to train for the 5,000 meters and steeplechase events outdoors.

Throws
Nebraska’s hopes in the throwing events took a big hit when it was learned that sophomore Bubba Kramer would be unable to compete in 2006. Kramer, who ranks among NU’s top-eight all-time indoor shot put athletes, missed much of the 2005 outdoor season with an injured back, and he is expected to miss at least all of this coming season with the setback.

"Bubba is a great talent in the shot put and the best individual we have when healthy," Assistant Coach Mark Colligan said. "He is only one of two Huskers, besides (four-time NCAA champion) Carl Myerscough, to throw over 60 feet as a freshman. That is all that needs to be said about Bubba’s potential."

Since Kramer will be unavailable, sophomore Keith Lloyd will be looked to for production in each of the throwing events during his first season at Nebraska. Lloyd, who swept the shot put and discus in his senior year at the Nebraska Class A state meet, transferred to NU during the offseason after one year at Boise State.

"Keith is the healthiest, fittest body we have in the throws right now," Colligan said. "He should help us out in both the shot and discus."

Sophomore Chase Beideck should also be a key performer this season, and he appears to be the Husker most prepared to carry the load in the discus. He will also be a factor for NU in the shot put.

Junior Matt Senske, who spends his fall seasons as a fullback for the Cornhusker football team, will concentrate on the discus this fall after spending the previous two campaigns throwing the javelin. Senske was a standout in the event in high school, twice qualifying for the Nebraska Class A state meet.

"Football has really helped Matt improve his strength and size, and I think he will help us out in the discus after excelling in it in high school," Colligan said.

The weight and hammer throws are deeper areas for NU, although injuries still became a factor during fall training. Affected most has been junior Issar Yazhbin, the 2004 Big 12 hammer throw champion who qualified for the NCAA meet last season. A groin injury could force him into a redshirt season.

Senior Tom Donlin will attempt to pick up the slack, as he returns for his final year after a breakthrough season in 2005. Donlin placed at each Big 12 meet for the first time, including his first scoring spot in the hammer throw outdoors.

"Tom is ready to end his career with a big year," Colligan said. "He made that jump in the hammer throw to even his success in the weight, and he has been working hard to make that next jump."

Junior Adam Evans holds the possibility of giving the Huskers another conference scorer after finishing his 2005 season with a career best in the hammer throw at the Big 12 outdoor meet.

The javelin will be an uncertainty entering the season for the NU men, as only Senske and Thorin Meyer return with experience in the event. Freshman Ryan Petrocchi will also focus on the javelin, but likely will redshirt in his first season.

Jumps
Pepin returns one of the deepest areas on the men’s team with his talented jumps corps. Three NCAA All-Americans and five Big 12 Conference scorers return this season. Leading the way is the high jump group, which will feature sophomore Dusty Jonas and senior Aaron Plas.

Plas enters the season as the reigning outdoor Big 12 high jump champ, which Pepin said may well be the top conference in the nation for the event this season.

"I think Aaron can do it again," Pepin said. "He’s kind of a blue collar high jumper. He always seems to get it done for us, and he is a terrific competitor."

Jonas finished runner-up at the NCAA indoor meet as a freshman in 2005 and concluded his season with back-to-back wins at the U.S. Junior Championships and Pan American Games. He already ranks among the elite high jumpers in Nebraska history, and he will also compete in the triple jump for NU this season.

"Dusty is just a heck of a good athlete, and is only going to get better and better," Pepin said. "While he is one of the best in the nation in the high jump, I would say that right now he is probably our best triple jumper. He hasn’t worked on it much, and is going to, but he went pretty far in high school."

Clouding Nebraska’s triple jump outlook is the uncertain status of junior Daniel Roper, who finished seventh at the NCAA Indoor Championships last season. Pepin is unsure of when Roper will be able to return after undergoing ankle surgery during the summer. Other than Jonas, sophomores Demea Carter and LeRon Williams and freshman Jordan Bates will each be looked at to perform in the event.

Williams and Carter join junior Arturs Abolins and freshman Robert Rands to form one of the deepest long jump groups in the nation. Three of the four own personal bests over 24 feet, while Abolins and Rands have each soared past the 25-foot mark.

"This is the most long jumpers we’ve ever had, and it’s the best group of four long jumpers that I’ve ever had," Pepin said.

While Abolins leads the group with his personal best of 25-6 1/2, Pepin believes he can reach 26 feet. He also believes that while Williams and Carter showed gains near the end of last season, both still possess high ceilings.

"I think both can get better," Pepin said. "LeRon made really big improvements near the end of last season, but I think Demea can jump right up there with him."

Rands brings his Nebraska state-record leap of 25-1 3/4 to NU after competing for the football team during the fall. Rands won three Class A state titles in high school, and his talent should have no problem transferring to the collegiate runway.

"Any time you can jump over 25 feet in high school, you have the chance to become a very fine college jumper," Pepin said. "He certainly has the opportunity to be a conference-level scorer this season. I think he has the ability to be a NCAA-level guy if he continues to improve, and I believe he will."

Pole Vault
Next to the long jump, the deepest event area for the Nebraska men may be the pole vault. Stocked with high-end talent, the Huskers boast the 2005 NCAA indoor runner-up, as well as both of last year’s Big 12 champions.

Senior Ray Scotten enters his final year as a three-time All-American who ranks second on NU’s all-time indoor and outdoor performance lists. Junior Gable Baldwin is fresh off a breakthrough season that saw him win his first Big 12 title and surpass his previous career-best clearance by more than one foot.

"It’s an extraordinarily exciting group," said Assistant Coach Kris Grimes, who is beginning his first season with the Huskers. "Ray and Gabe will certainly lead the way again?they are contenders at the top of the Big 12 and in the top three at the NCAA meets. With solid improvement, both are capable of competing for a national championship."

Senior Nic Petersen also continued to make progress last season, closing in on the 17-foot mark and placing indoors in the conference for the second straight season.

"We have to expect three guys to score highly in the Big 12 this year, and Nic is a big part of that," Grimes said. "He should make improvements, surpass 17 feet and hopefully finish in the top five at the regional championships."

Three other returning vaulters who will add depth for NU in the area are seniors Patrick Southern and Danny Tylka and sophomore Zach Holoch. All three will fight for a spot on NU’s conference teams in 2005.

A pair of highly-touted newcomers will also factor in the equation in freshman Sam Ogden and Dustin Sommerville. Ogden, who was a two-time Nebraska all-class gold-medal winner as a prep, and Sommerville, the 2004 Colorado state champ, each should be players in Nebraska’s future Big 12 and NCAA title hopes.

"Both of them came in and just did a really good job this fall," Grimes said. "They are two extraordinarily talented kids, and both have the potential to jump very high."

Multi-Events
The Huskers will feature one of their deepest groups of men’s multi-eventers in years this season, led by junior Lee Martin, who placed sixth in the decathlon at last year’s Big 12 outdoor meet despite a nagging elbow injury. Martin should be healed and ready to challenge for a spot in the upper-half of the conference in 2006.

"Lee will be successful this season, and he has done a better job of managing his body at this point, which is always a tough balance in the multi-events," Grimes said. "His health is the key to his success at the Big 12 and NCAA meets. I think we will have him healthy, and hopefully he will be a factor at both championships."

Sophomore Ben Schutter brings a load of potential with him after transferring from Doane College during the off-season. An exceptional all-around athlete, Grimes believes Schutter could make a serious impact in his first year at Nebraska.

"Ben is very talented," Grimes said. "He can throw and run. He has great speed, and his hurdles are coming along well. He has already improved greatly in the vault and high jump in the short time he’s been with us. We expect him to be a big factor in the Big 12, and he also is a candidate for the NCAA Championships."

Adding depth to the multi-events group will be redshirt freshman Skyler Reising, junior Corlan Vonderschmidt and sophomore Pat Burke, who switches to the area after focusing solely on the high jump as a freshman.