Late Surge Gives White the Win at Husker Intrasquad

<?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Lincoln ? Three top finishes in the final three events of the evening gave the White team the push it needed to top the Red, 116-112, at the annual Nebraska track and field intrasquad on Friday at the DevaneyCenter.<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

 

After trailing most of the meet, the White team had nearly evened things up 93-94 heading into the final three events. While the outcome could have gone either way, the fact that six-time All-American Dusty Jonas was still to compete in the high jump and triple jump quickly put things in White’s favor.

 

Jonas proved to be the difference-maker in the intrasquad, nearly tying his intrasquad high jump record of 7-3, which he set last season, with a winning leap of 7-2. Just moments later, the La Vernia, Texas, native made his way back to the triple jump pit and notched a 48-10 1/4 for his second win of the night. Had the mark been during regular-season competition, it would have set a new career-best for Jonas, whose current best is 47-8.

 

Head Coach Gary Pepin’s jumpers were particularly impressive throughout the night, as intrasquad records were set in both the men’s and women’s long jump. Freshman Nicholas Gordon was the first to land a meet record, shattering former NCAA champion Arturs Abolins’ record of 24-1 1/2 with a new mark of 24-10. Senior LeRon Williams also surpassed Abolins’ jump to finish second (24-5 1/2).

 

In the women’s long jump, sophomore multi-event athlete Megan Wheatley set an intrasquad record of 19-10 3/4, bettering the long-held record of 19-9 1/4 set by Dalhia Ingram in 1999.

 

Setting the final intrasquad record of the night was All-American Scott Wims in the 200-meter dash. Wims raced to a time of 21.21, which tops Brad Perry’s time of 21.4 in 2001. Wims also tied for top honors in the 60-meter dash with fellow sophomore Dax Danns (6.76), while newcomer Anthony Blue, who recently finished his first season with the Husker football team, came in third with a solid time of 7.09.

 

On the women’s side of the sprints, true freshmen Deiddra Rogers and Karyn LaCour came in one and two in the 60-meters, with Rogers posting a time of 7.70 and LaCour a 7.82. LaCour went on to grab the title in the 60 hurdles (8.63).

 

Other newcomers making their presence known included Ashley Miller in the women’s 600 (1:26.13) and Natalie Willer in the pole vault (12-2). Willer was the final competitor of the night, solidifying the win for the White team.

 

In the throws, senior Keith Lloyd made a dramatic comeback with wins in both the weight throw (62-2 1/2) and shot put (52-5 1/2) after sitting most of the 2007 season due to injury.

 

Friday’s intrasquad was a brief warm-up for the Huskers as they prepare for the 2008 season, which officially gets underway Jan. 18-19 at the annual Holiday Inn Invitational at the Devaney Center Indoor Track in Lincoln.