Former Huskers Advance in Eugene

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Eugene, Ore. ? Former Nebraska track and field athletes Dusty Jonas, Anne Shadle, Melissa (Price) Myerscough, Ann Gaffigan and Jeni Steiner all competed at the US Olympic Trials on Thursday night in Eugene, Ore. Jonas, Shadle and Myerscough all moved one step closer to Beijing, China, while Gaffigan and Steiner’s season came to a close. While at Nebraska, the five Huskers combined to earn 15 NCAA All-America honors, nine Big 12 Conference titles and three national championships.<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

Jonas, now competing for Nike, only had to clear 7-2 1/2 (2.20) to reach the men’s high jump finals, which will be competed on Saturday, July 5, at 2:55 p.m. (Central). The mark was six inches lower than the indoor and outdoor school record holder’s world-leading jump of 7-8 3/4 (2.36) at the Big 12 Championship in Boulder, Colo., on May 18.

When asked about his mindset coming into the trials, Jonas responded, “It shouldn’t [change], but it did. A few butterflies, but I guess, all in all, I finally got myself together for my third attempt at 2.20 (7-2 1/2) which should never happened. I went real reserved on the jump and made sure I got over it. I got a few things to do before Saturday, a few tweaks, but nothing really big.”

Shadle, a native of South Sioux City, Neb., just squeaked into the 1,500-meter run semifinals on Friday at 10:25 p.m. A national champion in the indoor mile and outdoor 1,500 meters, Shadle finished 24th in the preliminaries with a time of 4:20.34. The time was just over two seconds faster than 25th-place finisher and Reebok teammate, Nikeya Green. The top time was run by Christin Wurth at 4:13.40. Shadle owns the school record in the indoor mile (4:38.23) and outdoor 1,500 meters (4:11.37).

"Not to great at all,” responded Shadle when asked about her race. “I got out well. I got in position well, and then I struggled to keep it. I just let some gaps open up on me that I shouldn't have. I let some people that came by me that I shouldn't have. It was kind of disappointing."

When asked about seeing fellow Huskers at the meet, Shadle said, “"It was cool to see Kayla [Wilkinson] in the javelin and Dusty [Jonas] in the high jump. Those guys were on the team with me when I was a senior so it is really cool to see them. It’s good to see Nebraska here."

Myerscough, like Shadle, barely made it to the next round. Myerscough finished with the 12th-best throw in the women’s hammer throw preliminaries. Her final toss of 212-3 (64.69) solidified her spot in the 3:10 p.m. finals on Saturday. Myerscough holds the school record in both the weight throw (66-8 1/2; 20.33) and hammer throw (219-2; 66.81). The four-time NCAA All-American finished runner-up in the hammer throw at the 2000 and 2002 NCAA Outdoor Championships.

Gaffigan finished 10th in the finals of the women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase with a time of 9:54.93. Gaffigan cut just under a second off her preliminary time from Monday, June 30, but was unable to finish in the top three and earn a trip to Beijing.

When asked about making the finals, Gaffigan responded, "I think I will be able to appreciate it at some point. Right now it is not good enough. I don't think I could have been more ready mentally. That was all I had today. That was all I could do. I don't have any regrets. The worst feeling in the world is to get done with the race and feel like you gave up, you did something wrong, you could have done better and I don't have those feelings."

"This could change, but right now I am going to take a little temporary retirement,” replied Gaffigan when asked what her future would hold. “It has been a long four years with a lot more downs than ups. It is time for me to take a little break."

Steiner, who was competing in her first Olympic Trials, was unable to advance to the finals of the women’s shot put. A Columbus, Neb., native, Steiner finished 20th with a throw of 48-3 1/2 (14.72).

Husker Athletes Still in the Olympic Trials (all times Central)
US Athletes
Dusty Jonas ? High Jump Finals: Saturday, July 5 (2:55 p.m.)
Anne Shadle ? 1,500-Meter Semis: Friday, July 4 (10:25 p.m.)
Melissa Price ? Hammer Throw Finals: Saturday, July 5 (3:10 p.m.)

Canadian Athletes
Priscilla Lopes-Schliep ? 100-Meter Hurdles: Prelims, Friday, July 4 (7:05 p.m.)
Adam Wolkins ? Javelin Finals: Saturday, July 5 (3 p.m.)