Merickel, Wasserman Win Dr. Rick McGuire Titles on Day One

Nebraska track and field opened the Dr. Rick McGuire Invitational on Friday with four titles, as Cami Merickel and Grant Wasserman won the 5000m and the Huskers swept the distance medley relay. 

In the 5000m, Merickel ran the sixth fastest time in school history, 16:38.46 to finish first, while Wasserman clocked a 14:31.48 to take the win. Liem Chot placed second (14:53.83) and Trevor Acton ran 15:06.86 for fourth. 

Nebraska also claimed the titles on both the men’s and women’s sides of the distance medley relay. The men’s squad of Sam Kirchner, Niko Schultz, Pradeep Senthilkumar and Jack Witte ran 9:48.71 to get the win, and the women’s team of Brynna McQuillen, Luciana Medina, Alea Hardie and Berlyn Schutz finished first with 11:16.82. 

In the men’s long jump, Kavian Kerr finished second with 7.51m (24-7 ¾) and Balvin Israel jumped 7.36m (24-1 ¾) for third. Velecia Williams placed third on the women’s side (6.21m, 20-4 ½), while Darby Thomas earned fifth (6.00m, 19-8 ¼) and Bariborve Deebom finished sixth (5.85m, 19-2 ½). 

In the women’s weight throw, Cammy Garabian finished second (19.70m, 64-7 ¾), Hillevi Carlsson threw a personal best 19.50m (63-11 ¾) for fourth and Kellyn Kortemeyer placed sixth with her own personal best 19.24m, 63-1 ½. On the men’s side, Henry Zimmerman threw 21.53m (70-7 ¾) for third, and Maxwell Otterdahl placed ninth with 19.47m (63-10 ½). 

In the women’s pole vault, Kylie Clark-Fox cleared the fourth-highest mark in Husker history, a personal best 4.22m (13-10). Arina Razina and Jacelyn Neighbors tied for seventh, clearing 3.92m (12-10 ¼). 

Competition at the Dr. Rick McGuire Invitational continues tomorrow with running events starting at 11:15 a.m. (CT) and field events beginning at 12 p.m. (CT).