Drake Relays Conclude Under Wet Conditions

DES MOINES, Iowa?A wet and cool final day of the Drake Relays forced several Nebraska track and field athletes either indoors or out of competition Saturday. Six Huskers were also in action at the Penn Relays in Philadelphia, Pa.

Four Huskers competed in field events moved inside Drake Stadium’s adjacent fieldhouse due to the harsh elements, including Sara Jane Baker and Ashlee Dickinson, who participated in the women’s high jump. Baker produced her best performance of the outdoor season in the high jump with a leap of 5-8 ? to finish third. While her height was good enough to meet the NCAA regional-qualifying standard, the mark will not count due to the event’s indoor location. Dickinson tied for 10th with eight other athletes after clearing 5-5.

The NU pole vault pair of Gable Baldwin and Ray Scotten also competed indoors in the men’s Special Invitational section. Baldwin cleared the competition’s opening height of 16-8 ? before bowing out in 12th place. Scotten was unable to meet the opening height.

Nebraska did have a few athletes compete outdoors through the steady rain. Natalja Zarcenko posted a time of 4:32.82 during the women’s 1,500-meter run to finish eighth with a season-best time. Keith Lloyd managed to record a spin of 190-5 to earn 11th place during a strong men’s hammer throw competition featuring six athletes who surpassed the 200-foot barrier. Jamie Senkbile (168-4) and Tamara Solari (161-4), who were entered in the women’s hammer throw, finished 13th and 20th, respectively.

Among those athletes electing not to participate at Drake on Saturday included Priscilla Lopes (women’s 100-meter dash and hurdles), Dusty Jonas (men’s high jump) and Aaron Plas (men’s high jump). Each of the three decided against risking injury by competing after already owning spots in next month’s NCAA Midwest Regional Championships.

Meanwhile, Courtney Jones placed seventh in a talented final heat of the men’s 110-meter hurdles at the Penn Relays. He qualified for the final spot in the heat on Friday before clocking a time of 14.32 on Saturday. The NU men’s 4x400-meter relay team of Andrew Pearson, Nate Probasco, Andy Nelson and Mark Harrison placed eighth in the college men’s 4x400-meter final after suffering a dropped baton during the race.

Nebraska gears up for the Big 12 Outdoor Championships next weekend by traveling to Manhattan, Kan., for Saturday’s Ward Haylett Invitational.