Wilkinson Finishes Third in USA Javelin

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind.?Junior Kayla Wilkinson led a contingent of eight current, future and former Nebraska track and field athletes with a bronze-medal finish in the women’s javelin Friday at the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships at the IU Michael A. Carroll Track and Soccer Stadium.

Wilkinson, who earned runner-up honors earlier this month in the javelin at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, launched a throw of 171-7 on her second attempt of the competition in her first career appearance at the USA Championships. Nike’s Kim Kreiner won the event with a mark of 204-10, while Air Force’s Dana Pounds (183-9), who won the NCAA title, finished second.

Senior Sara Jane Baker, who recently concluded her Husker career with a seventh-place finish in the women’s heptathlon at the NCAA Championships, sits in 12th place after the heptathlon’s first day with 3,096 points. Baker recorded individual event marks of 14.99 in the 100-meter hurdles, 5-6 ? in the high jump, 36-10 ? in the shot put and 25.96 in the 200-meter dash. The heptathlon concludes Saturday with the long jump, javelin and 800-meter run still to be contested.

Freshman Sam Ogden, who redshirted during his first season at NU, added a ninth-place finish (tie) in the junior men’s pole vault with a clearance of 15-7.

In addition to Wilkinson, Baker and Ogden, five signed Husker recruits competed Friday in USA Junior Championships events.

Tim Grier (Stone Mountain, Ga.), who ran the fifth-best time during qualifying rounds of the junior men’s 400-meter hurdles on Thursday, finished the finals with a fourth-place time of 51.34 on Friday. Future teammate Nikita Eades (Aurora, Colo.) earned eight place in the women’s final with a mark of 1:02.08.

Scott Wims (Ft. Wayne, Ind.) and Sara Lyons (Omaha, Neb.) concluded their weeks during the semifinals of the junior men’s and women’s 200-meter dash events, respectively. Wims posted a time of 21.56 to earn 14th place, while Lyons’ clocking of 24.59 was good for 22nd overall.

Erin Hannon (Bradford, Pa.) began her week by tying for ninth in the junior women’s high jump (5-5). Hannon also earned 13th place in the junior women’s triple jump (38-1 ?).

The USA Outdoor Championships continue Saturday, as current Husker Gable Baldwin will compete in the men’s pole vault, while former NU standouts Baker (women’s heptathlon) and Becky Breisch (women’s discus) also will be in action.