Gaffigan Breaks American Record in Steeplechase

Sacramento, Calif.

- Ann Gaffigan set an American Record in the 3,000-meter steeplechase with a first-place time of 9:39.35 on Thursday at the U.S. Olympic Trials. Gaffigan’s amazing race capped a busy day at the Trials, as four athletes with ties to the Nebraska track and field program competed for the right to represent their country at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece.

Gaffigan, the NU record holder in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, broke Elizabeth Jackson’s record time of 9:41.94 set in 2001. The Springfield, Ill., native shed more than 20 seconds off her previous best time of 9:59.75, set just last month during a fifth-place finish at the 2004 NCAA Outdoor Championships.

The 2004 Nebraska Female Student Athlete of the Year, Gaffigan recorded a total of three top-10 finishes in the event at the Big 12 Championships during her four-year, highlighted by a Big 12 Championship in 2004.

"The steeplechase is a great event," Gaffigan said after the race. "You can't be just holding on that last 800 meters because you have to clear the last barrier. It takes strong character and it's a very tough event."

The new American record holder would have qualified for the Olympic Games, however, the 3,000-meter steeplechase is not an event at the games.

In the shot put competition, Becky Breisch and Leann Boerema finished seventh and 12th, respectively, to qualify for the finals of the event. Breisch finished third in her flight with a toss of 53 - 4 1/4 feet, while Boerema finished sixth in the same flight with a throw of 51-9. Both will look to qualify for the Olympics in the finals of the event, scheduled for Friday at 9:45 p.m. (CDT). To qualify, each will need to finish in the top three of Friday’s finals and achieve the Olympic "A" qualifying Standard of 60-10 1/2 feet.

Breisch is looking to qualify in the shot put after a heartbreaking fourth-place performance in the discus left her one place shy of qualifying for Athens.

During her four-year career, Boerema recorded a top-five finish in the shot put at all eight of the Big 12 Championships in which she competed, highlighted by a gold medal-peformance in 2000 Big 12 Outdoor Championships.

In the men’s high jump, former Husker Shaun Kologinczak cleared 7-0 1/2 feet to finish ninth in his flight and 18th overall. His 18th-place finish was just three places shy of qualifying for the finals, as a leap of 7-2 1/2 advanced to the finals. During his five years (indoor and outdoor) at Nebraska, Kologinczak was a three-time All-American in the high jump and won the 2001 Big 12 indoor title in the event.

Former Husker Cory Lehman finished 10th in his flight and 17th overall with a throw of 220-3 in the javelin, narrowly missing the cut for the finals of the event. Lehman, who competed for NU from 1999-2000, finished sixth at the Big 12 Outdoor Championships in 1999 and third in 2000.

Tomorrow’s action from the Alex G. Spanos Sports Complex in Sacramento can be seen live on the USA Network from 10 p.m. until Midnight (CDT). For complete results from Thursday's action, please click on the above link.

Huskers in the 2004 Olympics
Priscilla Lopes (Canada)
Nenad Loncar (Yugoslavia)

Ex-Huskers in the 2004 Olympics
Ineta Radevica (Latvia)