Future Husker Ruskule Places 28th in Discus Qualifier

Athens, Greece -- Dace Ruskule, an incoming freshman on the Nebraska track & field team, recorded the 28th-best overall throw in the women’s discus qualifying round at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, Friday.

 

Ruskule, competing for her home nation of Latvia, earned 14th-place in the second of two qualifying heats with a throw of 188-5 (57.43m). Only the top-12 overall individual throws advanced to Saturday’s final.

 

Dace Ruskule comes to Nebraska as an established discus thrower from Vecumnieku Pagasts, Latvia. Ruskule’s previous Olympic throw would have won the 2004 Big 12 Championships by more than 18 feet, and would have earned fourth place at last season’s NCAA Championships.

 

Ruskule took sixth place in the 2003 European Junior Championships with a throw of 171-7. She also competed in the 2000 World Junior Championships and the 2001 European Junior Championships, but did not advance to the finals at either event.