The 2004 Nebraska women’s track and field team produced the program’s finest season on the national level in nearly two decades, posting identical third-place finishes at both the NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Championships. The Husker women collected four individual national titles, the most in a single season since 1984, and earned their first Big 12 indoor championship since the 2001 campaign.
While some key contributors to that success are gone in 2005, a deep and talented team returns to attempt to continue NU’s dominance of the Big 12 Conference. Sophomore Priscilla Lopes, the reigning NCAA indoor champion in the 60-meter hurdles, headlines a group of four returning All-Americans who will play a major role in the team’s success in 2005.
"We certainly had both the quality and number of athletes to be a force last year at the NCAA Championships, and I thought there were events where we could have done even better," Head Coach Gary Pepin said. "This year we have quality, too, but we have been hit hard by injuries to some of our high-quality athletes during fall training. A lot of our success will depend on the new athletes we have and how fast they develop."
Sprints/Hurdles
Lopes will anchor a deep group of sprinters/hurdlers that includes a wealth of fresh talent. The Whitby, Ontario, native competed for Canada in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. She will be Nebraska’s featured athlete in the 60-, 100- and 200-meter dashes, as well as the 60- and 100-meter hurdles.
"It was exciting to have someone in her first year of competition win a national championship," assistant coach Matt Martin said. "Equally exciting is the thought of her just getting started and what her future holds here."
Sophomore Justine Roach is another talented young hurdler who earned sixth place in the 400-meter hurdles at last year’s Big 12 Outdoor Championships. She appeared to be even better during the fall and could contend for a higher conference finish this season.
"Last year, she did some good things," assistant coach Billy Maxwell said. "Her progression has been one of the highlights during our fall training."
Besides Lopes and Roach, a group of new recruits will look to make an immediate impact. Sophomore Sheryl Morgan, a former Jamaican high school champion in both the 400-meter run and the 400-meter hurdles, should make her presence felt immediately in both events.
"Sheryl’s a very talented and versatile young woman," Martin said. "She will also help reinvigorate our 4x100 and 4x400-meter relays."
"She’s probably already as talented of a 400 runner as we’ve ever had at Nebraska," Maxwell added.
Freshman Frances Keating will also give NU another major force in the hurdles. Her respective personal-best times of 13.57 and 59.32 in the 100- and 400-meter hurdle events would rank fifth and sixth on the Huskers’ all-time charts.
"We hope she can help us in those areas for a long, long time," Martin said.
Two more freshmen, Diane Dietrich and Korey Hardiway, could also make an instant impact. Dietrich has posted times of 11.76 in the 100 and 24.23 in the 200, while Hardiway claimed a 2004 Colorado state high school title in the 300 hurdles last year.
"Hardiway and Dietrich come in with fine credentials," Martin said. "We hope they’ll be able to contribute right away, but they’re less experienced. We’ll have to see how they progress as the season moves along."
Middle Distance
Sophomore Danute Ceika is back for the Big Red following an outstanding season in the 800-meter run. Ceika finished fifth and sixth, respectively, at the outdoor and indoor conference meets, while also running in Nebraska’s school-record-setting distance medley relay that finished 11th at the NCAA Outdoor Championships.
"Danute had a good year," Maxwell said. "She had an adjustment to make to college. She should improve this year."
The Huskers were able to land one of the best ever in-state middle distance prospects last year in Elizabeth Lange. The former Lincoln Pius X standout staked claim to nine Nebraska Class A state high school championships in events ranging from the 400 to the 1,600 meters during her prep career. While Lange suffered a broken ankle during the summer prior to her senior season, she is fully recovered.
"As a junior, Liz was one of the best middle distance prospects in the country," Maxwell said. "She’s coming back from a broken ankle, but she did run cross country in the fall. We’re excited to see her future here."
Distance
The Huskers lost a key cog in their distance group with the graduation of Ann Gaffigan, who was a former American Record holder in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. NU will pin its hopes this year on a group featuring one proven competitor, a trio of up-and-coming performers and a highly regarded freshman.
Senior Anne Shadle returns as the defending Big 12 indoor champion in the 1,000-meter run. She also finished second outdoors in the steeplechase behind Gaffigan. An All-Big 12 cross country athlete in the fall, Shadle may also run the mile and distance medley relay events, the latter of which she participated in at last year’s indoor national meet.
"Anne has done a great job since she’s been here," Assistant Head Coach Jay Dirksen said. "She has had a knack of doing well when it counts. There’s no reason why she shouldn’t have a really good year."
One of NU’s biggest surprises last year was the performance of Kim Pancoast. The sophomore finished seventh in the 3,000-meter run at the indoor conference meet, as well as sixth in the 1,500 meters outdoors. She also could be a candidate to run in the distance medley relay, for which she helped the Huskers finish fourth at last year’s Big 12 Indoor Championships.
"I think Kim’s going to be very good this year," Dirksen said.
Senior Kayte Tranel will attempt to bounce back from a stress fracture that ended her 2004 outdoor season prematurely. Tranel should be the featured Husker in both the 5,000 and 10,000 this season.
"Last year, I think Kayte would have been able to score points for us at the outdoor conference meet," Dirksen said. "She’s someone you can’t overlook this season."
Following a breakout cross country season in the fall, sophomore Lindsey Finkner is a versatile candidate who may run in events ranging from 1,000 up to 3,000 meters.
"Lindsey has developed quite a bit," Dirksen said. "She had tremendous improvement in cross country, and I expect to see the same in track."
Freshman Joslyn Dalton, the lone newcomer to NU’s distance crew this year, is a potential future star. Dalton won Nebraska All-Class state high school championships in both the 1,600 and 3,200 during her senior year at Fremont High School.
"Joslyn is someone who can potentially have a big impact in the Big 12 someday," Dirksen said.
Throws
NU suffered a major loss in the fall when two-time national champion Becky Breisch was forced to undergo a season-ending surgery. The senior was expected to anchor both the shot put and discus events for the third straight year. While the absence of Breisch is a big blow to Nebraska’s throwers, assistant coach Mark Colligan still has a quality group to work with.
"I could be depressed about not having Becky this year," Colligan said, "but I’ve got a sneaky suspicion some personalities will develop and burst onto the scene."
Sophomore Jennifer Steiner will be the Huskers’ first option to fill the void left by Breisch in the shot put. Steiner earned respective finishes of eighth and 10th at last season’s indoor and outdoor conference meets. She should also be improved in the discus in 2005.
"We have good experience returning in Jennifer Steiner," Colligan said. "At minimum, I think she should be considered a candidate to qualify for the national championships in the shot put."
Nebraska’s top option for success in the throws could lie with sophomore newcomer Dace Ruskule’s ability in the discus. A world-class athlete from Latvia, Ruskule competed in the 2004 Olympics for her home country. Her career-best mark of 195-9 would have won last year’s Big 12 Outdoor Championships by nearly 26 feet.
"Dace is an incredible talent," Colligan said. "We don’t know of anyone returning in the NCAA that has as high of a lifetime best as her."
Junior Jamie Senkbile returns as NU’s top candidate in both the weight and hammer throws. While she has experienced more success in the weight throw, Colligan said Senkbile looked improved in the hammer during the fall.
NU possesses a special talent in the javelin with sophomore Kayla Wilkinson, who finished seventh as a freshman at last year’s outdoor conference meet.
"I’m excited about the progress Kayla’s made in the javelin," Colligan said. "I think only some unforeseen mishap can keep her out of the national meet this year."
Other athletes who could make their presence felt in several areas are redshirt freshmen Amber Curtis and Tamara Solari. Curtis will see time in the shot, discus, hammer and weight throws, while Solari will focus primarily on the weight and hammer.
"Amber is a versatile talent, and Tamara should help fortify our weight and hammer throws," Colligan said.
Along with Ruskule, the Huskers added two new faces this season in freshmen Kacie Sharp and Laura Wortmann. Both are athletes who could compete in a number of events.
Jumps
No area on Nebraska’s track and field team was hit harder by graduation than the jump events. Gone are three-time NCAA triple jump champion Ineta Radevica and two-time All-America high jumper Na’Tassia Vice. While a pair of experienced Big 12 scorers return for Pepin’s group, other untested athletes will need to step up for the Huskers in 2005.
Senior Authea Chambers will be the Huskers’ main weapon in the long and triple jumps during the indoor season, before her eligibility expires. Chambers earned 12th place in the long jump last year at the outdoor national meet, while also competing in the triple jump. In her career, she has placed as high as third in the Big 12 triple jump competition.
"I think Authea will do a good job for us indoors," Pepin said. "She has been pretty consistent, and I hope she can come back and really rack up some points for us."
Junior Ashlee Dickinson is the team’s best returning option in the high jump. She earned fourth place at last season’s indoor conference meet, and tied for ninth outdoors. Another junior, Sara Jane Baker, should also perform well on the conference level after claiming fifth indoors. Senior Nicole Kadyszewski, who missed the entire 2004 season due to injury, and Vanessa Maher, who missed her entire freshman year with a knee injury, could also contribute for NU.
"We probably have the least experienced high jump group returning that I’ve coached in a long time," Pepin said. "But I think someone from that group could emerge by conference time."
Talented junior transfer Kwonya Ferguson had an outstanding prep career at Barton County Community College, finishing as the runner-up in both the long jump and triple jump at the 2004 NJCAA Championships. Ferguson also has recorded a personal-best mark of 5-10 in the high jump. Pepin believes she could help the Huskers in 2005 in each of the jump events.
"Kwonya comes in with some high marks," Pepin said. "She just needs to improve her consistency."
Pole Vault
The pole vault holds the potential to be the strongest event for the 2005 Husker women. It could be argued that this year’s group of Nebraska women’s pole vaulters, which returns two All-Americans in senior Christi Lehman and sophomore Jenny Green, shapes up to be the finest in the county.
As a freshman, Green had the finest season ever in the brief history of the event at NU. The Grand Island, Neb., native captured both the indoor and outdoor Big 12 championships, while also earning bronze at both NCAA Championships. She has been preparing to compete in the multi-events this fall as well, but may be forced to miss a portion of the 2005 season with an injury.
"Jenny’s an amazing athlete and very focused," assistant coach Rick Attig said. "She just won’t stop. She went all summer before her freshman year competing, and then went to the World Junior Championships this year. I think she could also do extremely well in the multi-events."
Also a former conference champion vaulter, Lehman tied for ninth at last year’s NCAA Outdoor Championships, and is hoping to have an outstanding senior campaign.
"Christi is also one of the top vaulters in the country," Attig said.
Junior Jessie Graff appears primed to have her best season. The NU indoor record holder along with Green, Graff has made tremendous improvement since the beginning of 2004.
"Of the vaulters we have, I think Jessie is the most improved," Attig said. "I’m excited about how she’s going to do this year. I feel she will be one of the top vaulters in the country."
Newcomers this year include junior Jenna Blubaugh and freshman Lacey Baxter, who both look to have bright futures as Huskers.
Multi-Events
Junior Ashley Selig earned a pair of All-America honors last year and will lead a deep group of Huskers in the multi-events in 2005. Attig believes Selig has only scratched the surface in terms of her ability.
"Ashley did a tremendous job last year, and it seems like she’s already starting from where she left off," Attig said. "I think she’s gotten a lot stronger, and she’s been showing improvement in her weaker areas this fall."
Sara Jane Baker just missed earning All-America accolades when she finished ninth in the pentathlon at indoor nationals and the heptathlon outdoors.
"She kept improving as the year went on, and she’s looking very good now," Attig said.
One athlete who may emerge for the Huskers in 2005 is junior Casie Witte. Witte earned respective finishes of seventh and sixth in the Big 12 pentathlon and heptathlon competitions in her first attempts on the conference level.
"Casie should get a chance to place a little higher at the conference championships this year, and she has a chance to qualify for the NCAAs," Attig said.
Redshirt freshman Kim Shubert will also work with multi-events this season after switching her primary focus from the hurdles.