Husker Throwers Kick Off Kansas Relays

LAWRENCE, Kan.?Nebraska’s men’s and women’s hammer throwers kicked off the 79th annual Kansas Relays Thursday at KU’s Memorial Stadium. Three Huskers reached the NCAA regional-qualifying standard for their respective events.

Senior Jamie Senkbile led a group of five NU women with a sixth-place finish in the women’s hammer throw (180-6) to reach the regional requirement for the second consecutive week. Sophomore Tamara Solari qualified for the first time in her career by claiming eighth place with a personal-best mark of 177-11. Senior Jeni Steiner finished 10th (166-5), while sophomore Amber Curtis (151-0) and redshirt freshman Kacie Sharp (141-9) placed 12th and 17th, respectively. Curtis’ mark was a lifetime best.

Sophomore Keith Lloyd led the Nebraska men by claiming fifth place (192-9) in the men’s hammer throw with a regional-qualifying mark. Redshirt freshman Aaron Bozarth (159-7) and Junior Adam Evans (159-1) also competed, grabbing respective placings of 15th and 16th.

Three Husker women participated in track events Thursday, with freshman Ari Goldstein leading the group with a fourth-place finish in the women’s 3,000-meter run in a time of 10:07.61. Junior Danute Ceika (2:15.01) earned seventh place in the women’s unseeded 800 meters, while freshman Jennifer Pancoast finished 15th (18:54.46) in the women’s 5,000 meters.

The Kansas Relays gets into full swing Friday, as nearly 30 Huskers are scheduled to compete. Action begins for NU at 10:05 a.m. with the women’s 4x100-meter shuttle hurdle relay.