Huskers Total Nine Wins in First Day of 2008 Holiday Inn Invitational

<?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Lincoln ? TheNebraska track and field team kicked off its home season Friday at the Bob Devaney Sports Center Indoor Track by winning nine events on Day One of the 2008 Holiday Inn Invitational. With 20 more events going final Saturday, the Huskers look to wrap up a mutitude of wins in the two-day event.

On the women's side, freshman Natalie Willer of Elkhorn, Neb. made her mark as she took home the women's pole vault title with a vault of 3.75m (12-3 1/2), a mark that tied for 14th all-time on the Husker indoor list. Also in the field events, the Huskers went 1-2 in the women's long jump as Leandra McGruder improved on her runner-up finish from last year to take home the win with a jump of 5.77m (18-11 1/4), while freshman Arna Erega finished in second place with a leap of 5.68m (18-7 3/4).  

In the running events, the NU women's team also fared well as it saw Huskers take home the 800m, one mile and 5000m crowns.

Joslyn Dalton led the distance runners as she moved into 11th place on the Husker 5000m indoor list with a time of 17:29.35, while freshman Jennifer Webers finished second to Dalton with a time of 18:10.67. The Husker women also took home the gold and silver in the one mile as Lara Crofford barely beat out teammate Ari Goldstein with a time of 5:06.08, Goldstein finished right behind at 5:06.42.

Rounding out the women's winners was Natalja Zarcenko, who beat the competition in the 800m run. Zarcenko finished with a time of 2:17.43.

On the men's side Robert Rands continued his assault on the long jump as he finished first with a leap of 7.22m (23-8 1/4), improving on his runner-up finish last year to teammate Dusty Jonas. Like the women's squad, the Husker men did well in the distance races as they won both the one mile and the 3000m run, as well as the 800m.

Kyle Custer, a sophomore from Cambridge, Neb., took the victory in the one mile and set a new personal best with a time of 4:17.30. Husker freshmen continued to make their mark in their first meet as David Adams won the 3000m run with a time of 8:37.34. The Husker winners were rounded out by Adam Dailey, who took the title in the 800m run with a time of 1:54.41. NU's Nick Makukutu finished in a close third with a time of 1:54.56.

The Huskers contiue to try to stack up even more victories Saturday when the 2008 Holiday Inn Invitational continues at Noon. Tickets to the event can be purchased at the Bob Devaney Center Indoor Track for $7 for reserved seats while adult general admission is  $5 and $3 for children. Students with a valid ID are admitted for free.