NU Sprint-Hurdlers Qualify for Texas Relays Finals

AUSTIN, Texas ? The Texas Relays continued Friday with several Nebraska track and field athletes competing against some of the nation’s elite talent. NU’s short sprint and hurdle groups took the main stage while attempting to advance to Sunday’s final heats.

Courtney Jones led a group of four Huskers in the men’s 110-meter hurdles with a third-place finish in 13.91. While the mark broke Jones’ previous personal best of 13.98, it also helped him earn his first regional qualification of the season. Nenad Loncar joined Jones in qualifying for Sunday’s event final with a fifth-place and season-best time of 13.98.

On the women’s side, Priscilla Lopes cruised to a fourth-place overall finish during the 100-meter hurdles preliminary round in 13.51. While qualifying for Sunday, Lopes also reached her first regional-qualifying mark in her first outdoor race of the year.

Dusty Stamer became the final Husker to qualify for an event final when he posted the fourth-fastest time (10.43) during the men’s 100-meter dash competition. Similar to Lopes’ performance, Stamer also qualified for next month’s NCAA Midwest Regional in his only race to date during the outdoor season.

In other action, the Nebraska women’s 4x400-meter relay improved its season-best regional-qualifying mark by nearly three seconds to 3:41.02 while earning 13th place in the preliminaries. Sara Jane Baker tied for third in Section B of the women’s high jump with a height of 5-7, and Ashley Selig (19-1 ?) claimed fifth place in Section B of the women’s long jump.

For complete results from the Texas Relays, please visit the following link:

http://www.texassports.com/results/tr2005/index.htm

The Texas Relays continue Saturday with a lone Husker slated for action, Dace Ruskule in Section A of the women’s discus, which is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. A large group of 45 Nebraska athletes will also travel to Emporia, Kan., to compete in the one-day Emporia State Relays, beginning at 10 a.m.