Huskers Prepare for adidas Classic

Lincoln - After many impressive showings at the Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational, the <?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Nebraska track and field team again is at home this weekend for the adidas Classic at the Bob Devaney Sports Center Indoor Track. As an extra bonus to fans, the first 250 fans through the Devaney Center doors on Saturday will be treated to a free adidas headband, courtesy of adidas.

29 teams will travel to Lincoln to compete in the two-day meet. Teams competing in the meet include: Alabama (women), Allen CC, Barton County CC, Butler County CC, Cloud County CC, Colorado State, Concordia University, Cowley College, Drake, Emporia State, Iowa State, Johnson County CC, Kansas, Lewis University, Midland Lutheran, North Dakota State, Nebraska-Omaha (women), Nebraska Wesleyan, Nebraska-Kearney, Neosho County CC, Oklahoma, Oklahoma Baptist, Ottawana, South Dakota State, Texas San Antonio, South Dakota, University of Northern Iowa, Wichita State and Wyoming.<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

Friday night's schedule will be light as there are only be four events scheduled. The women’s weight throw will start the night at 5 p.m., with the men’s weight throw to follow. At 7 p.m. the women will take the track to run the 5,000-meters, with the men’s race to follow right after.

Saturday will be packed full of action starting at 11 a.m. and running all day. The women’s 60-meter hurdle prelims and the long jump kick off the day.

Tickets for the meet can be purchased at Huskers.com, the Husker Athletic Ticket Office or the day of the meet at the DevaneyCenter. Reserved seats are $7 while general admission tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for children. University of Nebraska students get in free with a valid ID.

- Jonas Named Big 12 Track and Field Athlete of the Week
Senior team captain Dusty Jonas was honored as the Big 12 Men’s Track and Field Athlete of the Week for his performance last week at the Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational, the league office announced Tuesday.

The La Vernia, Texas, native won last week’s meet with a mark of 2.20m (7-2 1/2) in the high jump. Jonas has already posted an NCAA automatic qualifying mark in the high jump this year as his winning mark of 2.25m (7-4 1/2) at the 2008 Conference Challenge secured him a spot at the NCAA Indoor Championships in Fayetteville, Ark. Jonas’ mark at the Conference Challenge currently has him tied with Scott Sellers (Kansas State) for the No. 1 mark this year in the Big 12 and Division I.

In the Husker record books, Jonas currently is tied for fifth indoors. Outdoors he is tied for second at 7-5 3/4 with Shaun Kologinczak. Both trail Shane Lavy, who jumped 7-6 1/2 in 1999.

Jonas is a six-time NCAA All-American in the high jump, earning the honor three times each in the indoor and outdoor seasons. He also has won the U.S. Junior High Jump Championship, Pan American Junior High Jump Championship and has finished as high as second at the NCAA Championships.

- Wheatley is Automatic at Multi-Events
Sophomore Megan Wheatley (Perth, Australia) was the headliner of the Frank Sevigne meet on day one, destroying her personal best in the pentathlon by 511 points, as she posted an NCAA automatic qualifying mark of 4,122 points en route to a second-place finish. Wheatley only lost to first-place winner Shevell Quinley of Arizona by three points. On the way to her record setting day, she also set new personal bests in the 60-meter hurdles (8.69), high jump (1.64m; 5-4 1/2), long jump (5.93m; 19-5 1/2) and 800-meter run (2:18.46). Wheatley’s performance ranks sixth on NU’s all-time record book.

"My goal coming in was to make the automatic qualifying mark, with it out of the way now I can focus on the Big 12 Conference and NCAA Indoor Meets. I am very happy with my marks today, but I am not satisfied as my goal is to move even farther up on the all-time list," Wheatley said.

- Husker Trio Blows Away Competition
In the 60-meter hurdles at the Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational, freshman Karyn LaCour led a trio of Huskers to a 1-2-3 finish. LaCour continued to excel in the hurdles as she won the event with an NCAA provisional qualifying mark of 8.39. LaCour has won the hurdles in all three meets this year and increased her personal best at each. LaCour’s time moved her up to fifth all-time on the Husker chart. LaCour was followed by fellow freshman Arna Erega, who came in at 8.47, good enough for eighth all-time on the career indoor list. Nikita Eades rounded out the group of Husker hurdlers at 8.56. Eades, the veteran of the group, sees something special in the two freshmen.

"I believe they are both very outstanding athletes. I think they’re very competitive and we push each other a lot in practice. At least for me, I’m not very good at sprint speed and they have that. It’s really good to actually have somebody this year because last year I was by myself, " said Eades.

The two freshmen, along with Eades, have the same goal: to sweep the hurdles at the Big 12 indoor meet.

"I’m happy because every meet we’re running faster and faster; not just me, but each of us," said Erega. "The Big 12 is very competitive, but we have confidence. Our goal as a group is to sweep the hurdles at the Big 12 Meet," said LaCour.

- van der Westhuizen Rockets up Distance Charts
Senior distance runner Peter van der Westhuizen contiues to have an incredible start to his 2008 indoor season as he followed up his 5,000-meter run victory at the Conference Challenge with another oustanding win in the 3,000-meter run at the Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational. van der Westhuizen easily beat out the competition in both races as his time in each race moved him up to third all-time in the Husker indoor record book.

- Huskers Pull in Seven Wins at Frank Sevigne
On the final day of the 33rd Annual Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational, 2,227 track and field fans showed up to see the Husker men’s and women’s track teams win five events to bring their two-day total to seven wins. During the two-day meet the Huskers reached one NCAA automatic qualifying mark and eight NCAA provisional marks.

Jennifer Pancoast also pulled in a win for Nebraska with a time of 2:55.72 in the women’s 1,000 meter run. Pancoast’s time was only 5.33 seconds off the meet record.

Senior Sheryl Morgan’s time in the women’s 400-meters propelled her to the second-fastest time in Division I, with a new personal-best and NCAA provisional qualifying time of 53.79. Morgan was only beat out by Division II national leader, Pinar Saka of Nebraska-Omaha. Even with a runner-up finish, Morgan was very upbeat about her and her teammate’s performances.

"I’m very excited because this is my second race of the season and the first time I have ever run a 53 (seconds), so I am very happy. I think everybody did very well, especially the hurdlers. I think Nebraska is in good shape for the Big 12," said Morgan.

Freshmen pole vaulters Natalie Willer and Rachel Birtles continued to improve on the season as they moved into a tie for 10th all-time on the Husker indoor list. Each reached a new personal best and NCAA provisional qualifying mark with vaults of 3.95m (12-11 1/2). Willer was awarded second place over Birtles due less misses. Both finished behind defending champion Kate Sultanova of Kansas who was the Outstanding Women’s Performer of the meet and vaulted a nation’s best 4.20m (13-9 1/4).

The Husker men were led by No. 1 nationally ranked high jumper Dusty Jonas, distance runner Peter van der Westhuizen and sprinter Andrew Pearson. Jonas beat out teammate Paul Hamilton to win the high jump with Jonas jumping 2.20m (7-2 1/2) to beat out freshman teammate Paul Hamilton, who jumped 2.09m (6-10 1/4). Pearson ran a personal-best time of 1:10.37 to win the 600-yard run.

The final Husker winner was van der Westhuizen, who once again delivered an exciting performance as his time of 8:07.50 in the men’s 3,000-meters shot him up to third all-time on the Husker indoor list. Last week at the Conference Challenge, van der Westuizen ran an amazing race in the 5,000-meters at a time of 14:20.65, which also placed him third on the Husker indoor record book.

On Friday, Lara Crofford (Newville, Pa.) took home the title in the 5,000m run with a time of 16:43.43. Crofford blew away the competition as the crowd cheered her on as she reached an NCAA provisional qualifying mark that moved her into fourth all-time in the Husker record book.

Another Husker freshman with an impressive showing was Nicolas Gordon who continued to shine in the men’s long jump, winning the event for the second time this season with a personal-best leap of 7.57m (24-10). Fellow long jumper, sophomore Leandra McGruder finished in third place on the women’s side with a leap of 5.86m (19-2 3/4).

Following the meet, Head Coach Gary Pepin was pleased with his team’s performance, but knows improvement can be made.

"There were events where we expected to do better, but at the same time we had some very strong performances and reached a lot of personal bests," said Pepin.

"With us starting class a week later we are about one week behind everyone else in conference. The conference is very tough, but we have time and we have been very strong in certain events so hopefully we can build on that," said Pepin.

- Husker Women Vault up to No. 16 in USTFCCCA Rankings, Men Ranked No. 15
The second regular-season rankings released Wednesday, Feb. 6, by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association has the Husker women’s team ranked 16th in the nation. In the first rankings that came out, the Huskers were unranked in the top-81 teams. Last week at the Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational the Husker women produced seven NCAA provisional qualifying marks and one NCAA automatic qualifying mark.

The Husker men are currently ranked No. 15 in the nation after strong NCAA automatic qualifying marks so far this year by Dusty Jonas and NCAA provisional qualifying marks by Scott Wims, Lukas Hulett, Paul Hamilton and Nicholas Gordon.

- Jonas Jumps to Top of Rankings
Husker senior Dusty Jonas made a big impact during his first home meet of the year as he tied his personal best with a mark of 2.25 (7-4 1/2) in the high jump. Jonas’ jump not only was an NCAA automatic qualifying mark, but also boosted him to the top of the NCAA rankings as he is currently tied with conference rival Scott Sellers of Kansas State for the No. 1 spot in all of Division I in the high jump.

- Freshman LaCour Turns Heads
Freshman sensation Karyn LaCour continues to make noise this season as she has won the 60-meter hurdles in her first three collegiate meets. The Humble, Texas, native is a two-time Texas 5A state champion in the 100-meter hurdles and is adapting very well to the 60-meters. LaCour has bettered her time in each meet this year. Last week at the Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational she ran an NCAA provisional qualifying time of 8.39. LaCour’s time currently ranks her third in the Big 12.

- Husker Sophomores Push the Bar
A pair of young Huskers are making quite an impact this year on the high jump as sophomores Erin Hannon and Epley Bullock have combined to own two of the top three spots on the Big 12 performance list. Hannon and Bullock are currently tied for the top spot with Kelsey Erb of Kansas, as all three have jumped 1.75m (8-5 3/4). Hannon achieved the mark at the Conference Challenge, while Bullock reached the mark at last weekend’s Conference Challenge.

- Wims and Danns Battle for Top Spot
After three complete meets Scott Wims and Dax Danns each have one victory in the 60m dash. At the Holiday Inn Invitational Wims got the better of Danns in the prelims, but Danns came back with a vengeance in the finals as he beat out Wims with a time of 6.90. The following week at the Conference Challenge both would run their best times of the year with Wims returning to take his crown as he barely beat out Danns’ time of 6.80 with a time of 6.79. Last weekend at the Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational, Danns ran a personal-best time of 6.78 in the prelims and beat out Wims in the finals as Danns took 5th place with Wims finishing 6th.

- Freshmen Continue to Shine Early
So far this season 11 events have been won by Husker freshmen. Leading the pack for the men is Paul Hamilton of Sidney, Neb., Hamilton achieved a NCAA indoor provisional mark in the high jump with a leap of 2.19m (7-2 1/4) in his first collegiate meet. Other winners for the men include Adam Dailey (800m), David Adams (3000m) and Nicholas Gordon (long jump and triple jump)

The women are carried by NCAA provisional qualifier, Karyn LaCour, who has won the 60m hurdles in her first three collegiate meets, while Lara Crofford (mile run and 5,000m) and Natalie Willer (pole vault) each won events.

- Pepin Leads Husker Squad for Record Tying 28th Season
Nebraska Head Coach Gary Pepin is beginning his 28th year guiding the Husker women’s team and 25th year coaching the NU men's squad. With this year, Pepin will tie former Husker coach Frank Sevigne as the longest-tenured track and field coach in school history. Sevigne logged 28 seasons leading the NU men’s program from 1956 through 1983.

Pepin has helped the Husker women combine for 38 of their 40 conference titles, while also notching 20 of the program’s 21 top-five NCAA team finishes, including each of Nebraska’s three indoor national championships.

Pepin has led the men's team to 26 of its 58 indoor and outdoor conference crowns, while also notching two NCAA top-five placings. The Huskers' second-place finish at the 1996 NCAA Indoor Championships ranks as the squad's highest at an NCAA meet.

- Four NCAA All-Americans Back at it for Nebraska Men’s Squad
Four Husker men who have combined to win seven individual and one relay All-America awards return to power Nebraska in 2008. The group is led by Dusty Jonas, one of the premiere high jumpers in the country.

Jonas enters his final season with the Huskers in search of the one elusive element of his career, an individual national title. Jonas owns six All-America finishes in the last three years, including runner-up showings indoors in both 2005 and 2007. With one final chance for the gold, Jonas will be one of the Huskers to watch in 2008.

Three young Husker sprinters will compliment the seasoned veteran. Junior Dan Christensen and sophomores Lukas Hulett and Scott Wims were part of the 4 x 400-meter relay that earned All-America honors by virtue of their eighth-place performance at the 2007 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships. Wims also earned All-America recognition outdoors for his seventh place in the 200-meters at the outdoor championships. These three sprinters plus sophomore Dax Danns should form the core of the team.

- Two NCAA All-Americans Return for NU Women
The Huskers return two women for the 2008 season who have each earned NCAA All-America honors during their outstanding. Kayla Wilkinson returns for her second attempt at a senior season after redshirting in 2007 due to shoulder surgery, while Epley Bullock is back for her sophomore year following a remarkable debut campaign.

Wilkinson captured her All-America honor with a runner-up finish in the javelin at the 2006 NCAA Outdoor Championships with a toss of 177-7. Had it not been for an injury in 2007, she would have been poised to make a run for a national title in the event last year. That goal resurfaces this season, as well as Wilkinson’s attempt to reclaim the Big 12 javelin title, which she won in both 2005 and 2006.

While Wilkinson has years of collegiate experience under her belt, Bullock is the epitome of young stardom. She finished ninth in the high jump (eighth American) at the 2007 indoor championships with a career-high leap of 6-0, winning one of three freshman All-America honors for the Huskers last season. Bullock again qualified for the NCAA Championships in the high jump during the outdoor season, only to finish 24th. With continued improvement and increased collegiate experience, the Allen, Texas, native should be a serious contender to score in both high jumps this year.

- Huskers Live at Home in 2008
The Husker track and field team will not be leaving the state of Nebraska much during the 2008 indoor track season. The team only plans on leaving Lincoln four more times before the start of the outdoor season.

The team will travel to Ames, Iowa twice for the Iowa State Classic and the Iowa State Last Chance Meet; Nebraska will then make two trips to Fayetteville, Ark. for the Tyson Invite and the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships.

The Huskers will host four of their own meets, the Bob Devaney Sports Center Indoor Track will be the host site for this year’s Big 12 Conference Indoor Championships. The Huskers will also be attending the NWU Invite and the Prairie Wolf Invite, however, each of those meets is being held at the Devaney Center. All in all the Huskers will have the privilege of competing at the Devaney Center for seven of their 11 meets.