Three Huskers Qualify for Regionals

Austin, Texas?Three Nebraska men’s track and field athletes posted their first regional-qualifying marks of the 2006 outdoor season Thursday during day two of the Texas Relays.

Sophomore Keith Lloyd led a group of eight Huskers in competition with a seventh-place finish in the men’s hammer throw. Lloyd easily surpassed his previous personal best with a toss of 195-9 to qualify for the NCAA Midwest Regional Championships, which will be held May 26-27 in Austin. He previously owned a lifetime best of 182-1, which he set last week at the Stanford Invitational.

Mark Harrison kicked off his senior season in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 51.91 during the preliminary rounds of the event. While the Philadelphia, Pa., native did not advance to Saturday’s final heats, he did manage to qualify for his third regional meet in four years. Senior Andy Nelson and Andrew Pearson added 33rd (53.76) and 42nd-place (54.68) finishes.

NU’s final regional qualifier, junior Nic Petersen, cleared 16-6 ? to tie for seventh place in Section B of the men’s pole vault.

Nebraska also had two entries in the women’s hammer throw, as sophomore Jeni Steiner (174-5) and senior Jamie Senkbile (173-9) finished 18th and 19th, respectively.

The Texas Relays continues Friday with 21 Huskers scheduled for competition. Included among the field will be the Nebraska men’s 4x100-meter relay, which will see its first action of the season. Senior Becky Breisch and junior Dace Ruskule, who rank first and third nationally in the women’s discus, also will compete.