Bullock, Hulett Grab All-America Finishes

<?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Fayetteville, Ark.?The NCAA Indoor Championships opened up Friday at the University of Arkansas’ RandalTysonTrackCenter, as Nebraska had five individual athletes in action. A pair of Husker freshmen?Epley Bullock and Lukas Hulett?garnered All-America honors by placing among the top eight American-born athletes in their respective events.<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

Bullock became the first Husker to claim All-America honors during the weekend by placing ninth in the women’s high jump after tying her career-best height of 6-0. A native of Allen, Texas, Bullock was one of only nine individuals to reach the height, and she accomplished the feat on the last of her three attempts. She was unsuccessful on each of her three tries at 6-1 ?.

The lone freshman among the high jump field, Bullock registered Nebraska's second All-America finish in the event in as many years by placing as the sixth American. She is the first Husker freshman to become an All-American in her first opportunity since Angela Dies, Jenny Green and Priscilla Lopes in 2004.

“(To become an All-American) was my goal,” Bullock said following her performance. ”Going into that last jump (at 6-0) I was thinking ?I have to get this, I have to get this,’ and I did.” I thought I was getting over (6-1 ?) and that I had a good chance at it, but at least I was still able to finish as an All-American.”

Hulett joined Bullock as an All-American despite not advancing out of the prelims of the men’s 400-meter dash. He finished with the competition's No. 11 time of 47.28, which was good for third place in his heat, but claimed national honors as the eighth-place American.

The Bellevue, Neb., native entered the meet as the final of 17 entries, including one of four freshmen, but his improvement in standing allowed him to become NU's first All-American in the 400 since the late Mark Graham finished seventh in 1994. Hulett, only the fourth Husker ever to claim national honors in the men’s 400 indoors, is also the first Husker freshman to pull off the feat in any event since Dusty Jonas in 2005.

Despite not moving on in the 400, the Bellevue, Neb., native is far from finished this weekend, as he will anchor Nebraska's 4x400-meter relay on Saturday evening to close out the meet.

Neither senior Nate Probasco nor freshman Scott Wims advanced to the finals of the men's 200-meter dash, although Probasco did manage to post a season-best time of 21.02 to finish 10th. He was only two spots short of the last finals spot. Wims, one of five freshmen to compete in the event, timed in at 21.37 to earn 16th place.

Both Huskers will have one more opportunity to earn an NCAA scoring position, as they will join Hulett and redshirt freshman Daniel Christensen Saturday for the 4x400-meter relay.

Friday started off with an unfortunate injury to junior Ben Schutter in the men’s heptathlon that forced him to withdraw from the competition after the first event. Schutter suffered a strained hamstring midway through the 60-meter dash that did not allow him to continue on with the heptathlon. He did finish the 60 with the race’s 10th-best time of 7.21, but his goal of becoming the first-ever Husker to earn a placing position in the event at the NCAA indoor meet was put on hold until next season.

Nebraska will aim for its first team points of the 2007 NCAA Indoor Championships Saturday, as the meet closes out at the TysonTrackCenter. Huskers Dusty Jonas (men’s high jump) and Brysun Stately (women’s pole vault) each will battle for their first career national titles, while the men’s 4x400-meter relay will look to become the first NU relay to place at the NCAA indoor meet since 1996.

Men’s Heptathlon:

-- Ben Schutter, Did Not Finish

Women’s High Jump:

9. Epley Bullock, 6-0 (8th American)

 

Men’s 400-Meter Dash:

11. Lukas Hulett, 47.28p (8th American)

 

Men’s 200-Meter Dash:

10. Nate Probasco, 21.02p
16. Scott Wims, 21.37p