Jonas Honored by Big 12 ConferenceJonas Honored by Big 12 Conference
Track and Field

Jonas Honored by Big 12 Conference

DALLAS, Texas?Nebraska sophomore Dusty Jonas was named Big 12 Conference Men’s Track and Field Athlete of the Week on Tuesday for his outstanding performance in the high jump last weekend at the Kansas Relays in Lawrence, Kan. He is the third Husker, and the first NU men’s athlete, to be honored during the 2006 outdoor season, joining seniors Sara Jane Baker and Becky Breisch. Ychlindria Spears (Texas) earned the women’s award this week.

Jonas continued his phenomenal sophomore campaign with a victory in the Invitational section of the men’s high jump Saturday at Kansas. The La Vernia, Texas, native became the first Husker to win a Kansas Relays men’s high jump title since Steve Krebs in 1968 after recording a winning leap of 7-5 ? on his final attempt at the height. The jump marked the third consecutive meet with a personal best for Jonas, who entered the outdoor season with a career best of 7-4 ?. He moved from fourth place on NU’s all-time outdoor high jump chart into a tie for second with fellow Texan Shaun Kologinczak (2003).

A three-time NCAA All-American, Jonas has started his Husker career on the fast track to success. He has competed in every NCAA Championships meet since his arrival in Lincoln for the 2005 season and finished no lower than sixth. The Husker earned runner-up honors at the 2005 NCAA indoor meet as a freshman in his first career national championships appearance. Jonas’ 2006 outdoor season is shaping up to be his most successful campaign yet, as his career-best leap currently leads the Big 12 and ranks No. 2 nationally behind three-time NCAA champion Jesse Williams (USC).

Nebraska continues its busy outdoor season this weekend, as Huskers are scheduled to compete at three separate locales. The featured meets for this weekend are the Penn Relays in Philadelphia, Pa., and the Drake Relays in Des Moines, Iowa. NU also will field several competitors at the Nebraska Wesleyan Twilight, hosted by the Prairie Wolves at their Woody Greeno Track Facility.