Johansson Sets Big Ten Meet Record to Win Shot Put Gold

On the second day of the Big Ten Championships, Axelina Johansson highlighted the day with her record-setting throw in the women’s shot put as the Husker women sit in fourth with 46 points after nine events. The Nebraska men ended the day in third with 28 points after six events. 

Johansson, the six-time NCAA shot put champion, launched a throw of 19.97m (65-6 ¼) to cement her name in the Big Ten record books. Setting a Big Ten meet record, Johannson cleared the competition by nearly two meters. 

In fourth, Mine De Klerk recorded 17.36m (56-11 ½) on her second throw and earned the Big Red five team points. Amelia Flynt used a season best of 16.84m (55-3) for sixth and Jolina Lange marked 16.58m (54-4 ¾) to complete the podium for Nebraska in eighth. 

In women’s high jump, sophomore Karsyn Leeling cleared 1.80m (5-10 ¾) for fourth. Fellow sophomore, Ela Velepec, tied for seventh with a mark of 1.77m (5-9 ¾). 

In the men’s 400m dash qualifier, Logan Lebo broke his career best by 0.13 seconds, running 47.21 in the first heat. Freshman Richard Simpson nearly hit a career-best time (46.08) in the race, but marked a 46.09 in the event.

Gabe Nash ran 1:46.95 in the qualifying section of the men’s 800m to position himself in fifth in school history. Kaleb Sharp ran a personal best of his own, crossing the line in 1:47.39 to move into a tie for seventh all-time for NU. 

Kael Miedema led the way for the Big Red in the men’s discus, claiming fourth with a throw of 58.27m (191-2). Brett Schwartz followed just behind in fifth, throwing 58.07m (190-6) and Cade Moran rounded out the NU finishers in sixth with a mark of 57.93m (190-0). 

Brayden Bergkamp cleared 4.30m (14-1 ¼) in pole vault to earn fifth and a fourth-place mark of 53.77m (176-5) in javelin. Bergkamp pushed to sixth with 6962 points overall, with Luke Noland following in seventh. Noland tied his personal best in the men’s 110mH, clocking 14.44 in the first event of the day. He captured his season-best total of 6942. 

Ava Goetz and Grace Parsons both set overall personal bests in the women’s heptathlon. Goetz used five personal bests, including a final time of 2:23.86 in the 800m to move her to a finish of sixth with 5265 points. Her points combined for tenth in school history. Parsons amassed 5041 total points, coming in at ninth for the best score she’s accomplished. 

The final day will begin with the women's triple jump at 10:10 a.m. (CT) and men’s high jump at 10:45 a.m. (CT) on Sunday. Track finals will begin with the women’s 4x100 relay starting at 12:34 p.m. (CT).