Huskers Take On Drake Relays

Nebraska track and field heads to the Drake Relays in Des Moines, Iowa, this week. Events begin on the blue oval at Drake Stadium at 11:30 a.m. (CT) on Wednesday, 10 a.m. (CT) on Thursday, 8:30 a.m. (CT) on Friday and 8:10 a.m. (CT) on Saturday.

Drake Relays Meet Information
Date: Wednesday-Saturday, April 22-25
Location: Des Moines, Iowa (Drake Stadium)
Start Times (CT): Wednesday - Multi Events: 11:30 a.m.; Thursday - Multi Events: 10 a.m. / Field Events: 2:30 p.m. / Running Events: 4:15 p.m.; Friday - Running Events: 8:35 a.m. / Field Events: 8:30 a.m.; Saturday - Running Events: 8:10 a.m. / Field Events: 10 a.m.
Meet Schedule: Link
Watch: Link

NCAA Leaders
Nebraska has 16 athletes currently ranked inside the top 15 of the NCAA in their respective events

Keyshawn Strachan, Javelin, 81.86m (268-7), No. 2 NCAA 
Dash Sirmon, Javelin, 74.92m (245-10), No. 9 NCAA
Mason Kooi, High Jump, 2.20m (7-2 ½), No. 6 NCAA
Dyson Wicker, Pole Vault, 5.65m (18-6 ½), No. 7 NCAA
Cade Moran, Shot Put, 20.21m (66-3 ¾), No. 3 NCAA
Hencu Lamberts, Shot Put, 19.78m (64-10 ¾), No. 5 NCAA
Brett Schwartz, Discus, 61.75m (202-7), No. 6 NCAA
Berlyn Schutz, 1500m, 4:08.88, No. 15 NCAA
Taysha Stubbs, Javelin, 56.34m (184-10), No. 8 NCAA
Jana Lowka, Javelin, 56.33m (184-10), No. 9 NCAA
Jolina Lange, Shot Put, 17.30m (56-9 ¼), No. 12 NCAA
Mine De Klerk, Shot Put, 17.87m (58-7 ½), No. 7 NCAA
Axelina Johansson, Shot Put, 19.62m (64-4 ½) No. 1 NCAA
Ela Velepec, High Jump, 1.83m (6-0), No. 11 NCAA
Karsyn Leeling, High Jump, 1.89m (6-2 ¼) No. 3 NCAA
Kelsie Belquist, 400m Hurdles, 55.96, No. 10 NCAA

Big Red Classic Recap
The Nebraska track and field team wrapped up day two of the Big Red Classic, claiming 17 event titles over the two days of competition. 

In the final event of the day, Axelina Johansson threw an outdoor school record mark of 19.62m (64-4 ½) with her final shot put throw of the meet. The indoor national champion now holds the facility record and the best mark in the NCAA this season. 

For an outdoor personal record, Cade Moran threw 20.21m (66-3 ¾) for the fourth-best mark in outdoor school history for men’s shot put. 

Brett Schwartz began the final day of the Big Red Classic by throwing the discus for a length enough for fourth in school history. His throw of 61.75m (202-7) marked a personal best for the junior from Carbondale, Kan. 

Mason Kooi harnessed second-place in the men’s high jump, clearing 2.10m (6-10 ¾). 

In the women’s 4x100, the quad of Elo Blessing Okpah, Rajer Gurode, Victoria Aransiola, and Timeke-Jade Coetzee notched a title with a time of 46.39. 

Finishing after the relay was Nebraska’s Ashmika Korala in the men’s triple jump with a winning mark of 14.92m (48-11 ½). Winning the women’s triple jump was true freshman Whitney Robinson with a 12.47m (40-11) mark. 

The freshman Dennis Chapman from Omaha, Neb., competed in the 1500m for a time of 3:53.04. His first time in the event gave him a winning time over eight other runners. 

With a mark of 53.82m (176-7), Amelia Flynt took first in the women’s discus.

In a wind-aided 100m hurdle race, Grace Parsons raced to an event title with an unofficial personal best time of 13.98.

In the men’s 110m hurdles, Luke Noland crossed the finish line in 14.52 for his first event-winning place of the weekend. 

Okpah and Gurode took first and second in the 100m sprint with times of 11.61 and 11.67, respectively. 

The men’s and women’s 4x400m relay teams both notched first-place finishes in their respective events, with the men running a season-best 3:10.52 and the women running 3:48.15.