Huskers Improve NCAA Qualifying Marks at ISU Last Chance

Ames, Iowa - The Husker track and field team traveled to Ames, Iowa, on Saturday with the goal of qualifying more athletes for next weekend's NCAA Indoor Championships in Fayetteville, Ark. The Huskers achieved their goal, as five Huskers and the men's 4x400-meter relay improved their NCAA provisional-qualifying marks.

Sheryl Morgan waited until her final chance of the indoor season to run her best 400 meters. The Big 12 indoor 600-yard champion ran a time of 53.08 on the 300-meter oversized track. Coming into the meet, Morgan was ranked No. 16 in Division I with a time of 53.79. She now ranks No. 7 in Division I and has almost certainly guaranteed herself a spot in Fayetteville.

Returning indoor All-American Lukas Hulett also improved his 400-meter time, running in a time of 46.71. The sophomore from Bellevue East had previously run 46.83 at the Iowa State Classic on Feb. 16. His time currently moves him up from No. 15 in Division I to No. 9 and drastically improves his chances of making the trip to the indoor championships.

Lehann Fourie knocked 1/10 of a second off his time in the 60-meter hurdles, as the freshman from South Africa ran a 7.80. The time moves Fourie into a tie for No. 16 in Division I and he now sits on the bubble to get into the national meet. The men's 4x400-meter relay team also moved onto the bubble, as their time of 3:08.06 ranks them No. 13 in Division I.

Freshman Nicholas Gordon turned in his best leap of the year in the long jump, finishing with a mark of  25-2 1/2 (7.68). The mark is a new personal best for Gordon and improves his NCAA provisional-qualifying mark. However, the jump currently ranks Gordon No. 20 in Division I and will most likely not get him into the national meet.

Other Huskers who did not compete today in Ames, but are guaranteed to be in Fayetteville with NCAA automatic-qualifying marks are Dusty Jonas (high jump), Megan Wheatley (pentathlon) and Peter van der Westhuizen (one mile). Other Huskers who are expected to be in Fayetteville with NCAA provisional-qualifying marks include high jumpers Paul Hamilton and Epley Bullock

The final list of competitors for the NCAA Indoor Championships will be released on Monday, March 10. Check Huskers.com for a full release on Nebraska's NCAA qualifiers 

The 2008 NCAA Indoor Championships are host by the University of Arkansas at the Randal Tyson Track Center. The meet starts on Friday, March 14, at 9:45 a.m. and continues on Saturday, March 15, at 11 a.m. Check Huskers.com for live results and a recap following the completion of each day.