Seven Huskers Advance to NCAA Finals

SACRAMENTO, Calif.?Eight Nebraska athletes were in action Wednesday during the first day of the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Sacramento State’s Alex G. Spanos Sports Complex. The day’s competition consisted only of preliminary action, as seven of eight Huskers survived qualifying rounds to reach event finals.

Junior Kayla Wilkinson started the meet off right for Nebraska by advancing through the qualifying round of the women’s javelin. The two-time Big 12 champion finished fifth in the first of two preliminary heats to reach Friday’s final, her first career spot in the NCAA finals, after launching a throw of 162-5 on her second of three attempts. Wilkinson, who placed sixth overall, will compete for her first All-America finish on Friday at 1:15 p.m. Pacific. She will have the opportunity to become NU’s first NCAA champion in the javelin since Denise Thiemard in 1983.

Nebraska had a pair of entries advance in the men’s pole vault, as both senior Ray Scotten and junior Gable Baldwin reached the final height of 17-4 ? to finish among the competition’s top 12. Baldwin had few troubles on the afternoon, as he missed only his first attempt of the day before clearing the bar on next three tries, while Scotten had to survive a third attempt at the first height before clearing each of the next two marks on second attempts. The two All-Americans will compete in the event final Friday at 4:30 p.m.

Junior Priscilla Lopes breezed into Friday’s women’s 100-meter hurdles final by posting the day’s second-fastest time during both the qualifying and semifinal rounds. Lopes’ clocking of 12.76 during the semis set up a clash between the world’s top two competitors on Friday, as USC’s Virginia Powell, who ranks first in the world, set a new collegiate record with a mark of 12.55. The two athletes posted respective marks of 12.93 (Powell) and 12.95 (Lopes) during the first round.

"I felt good, but I nicked two hurdles," Lopes said of her semifinal run. "Whoever is the cleanest technically (on Friday) will be the winner."

The Husker women gained a second thrower to qualify for an event final when junior Dace Ruskule earned fifth place in the women’s discus. Ruskule recorded a spin of 168-9 on her first attempt to finish sixth overall among the competition’s two flights. She will compete again against the 12 discus finalists on Friday at 3:45 p.m.

Of the men’s high jump pair of junior Dusty Jonas and senior Aaron Plas, only Jonas was able to continue through the qualifying round in to Friday’s 6:30 p.m. final. Jonas was one of 13 athletes to clear the competition’s final height 7-1 1/2, as well as one of only three individuals to clear each of the four heights on the first attempt. Plas was only able to clear the first bar of 6-8 ? before bowing out at 6-10 ?. One of seven Husker seniors competing this week, Plas ended his collegiate career with a total of three NCAA All-America finishes and one individual Big 12 Conference title.

Junior Arturs Abolins also advanced in the men’s long jump with a leap of 24-11. Abolins will attempt to defend his 2006 NCAA indoor championship on Thursday at 6:30 p.m.

"You have to get through the first rounds to do well, and with the exception of Aaron Plas we did that today," NU Head Coach Gary Pepin said. "That was really disappointing to see that happen to him as a senior. He has worked so hard and gone through so many injuries this year, that to not get in (the final) is hard to take and very surprising. But those things happen."

The NCAA Outdoor Championships continue Thursday, beginning with the conclusion of the men’s decathlon at 10 a.m. Five Huskers are scheduled to be in action, including the NU women’s pole vault pair of senior Jenna Blubaugh and sophomore Jenny Green, as well as senior Mark Harrison in the men’s 400-meter hurdles first round. Abolins also will compete in the men’s long jump final, while senior Kayte Tranel will vie for All-America honors in the women's 10,000-meter run.