Selig Returns to Husker Lineup at Stanford

Palo Alto, Calif.?The 2007 outdoor season officially began for the Nebraska men’s and women’s track and field teams Friday, as several Husker athletes competed against a solid national field at the Stanford Invitational. Among NU’s group was senior Ashley Selig, who saw her first official action in more than a year by appearing in the women’s 100-meter hurdles and long jump fields.

Selig posted a solid season-opening effort of 14.34 in the hurdles to place 13th during the preliminary round, while her leap of 19-2 in the long jump earned fifth place. The meet marked Selig’s first competition as a Husker since the 2006 indoor season. She was forced to sit out the 2006 outdoor season while rehabbing back and hip injuries, and she was ineligible to compete during this winter because of exhausted indoor eligibility.

Nebraska’s first-ever NCAA champion in the combined events (2005 indoor pentathlon champion), Selig was pleased with her initial performances of the season while still admitting that she has much to improve on for her final season as a Husker.

“I am just glad to be back competing,” Selig said. “Today was a good start to the season for me, but it is still not where I want to be. At the same time, it was encouraging to see how some of our younger athletes competed, and I think our team is on track for a good season.”

Another Husker making her 2007 season debut saw her first action in a Husker uniform in the women’s long jump. Freshman Chaunte McMillan, a highly touted prep prospect from Rolla, Mo., finished in second place with a mark of 19-10 ?, making her NU’s first qualifier this season for May’s NCAA Midwest Regional Championships. McMillan’s effort was quite impressive considering she has battled back from off-season ankle surgery. Her mark Friday was only fractions of an inch shy of her career-best leap of 19-11.

Joining McMillan on Nebraska’s regional qualifier roster was senior Sheryl Morgan, who claimed her own silver-medal finish by clocking in at 1:00.04 in the women’s 400-meter hurdles. The time marked the fastest for the Manchester, Jamaica, native while at NU since her sophomore season of 2005, while it also bested the top performance by a Husker from all of last season. Senior teammate Justine Roach opened her season by placing 10th (1:01.50).

In the men’s hurdles, junior Andrew Pearson fell just short of a regional berth after finishing sixth in 52.71, only 0.57 off his career best of 52.14. Redshirt freshman Tyrell Ross, who doubled up Friday by competing in both the 110- and 400-meter hurdle events, placed 14th in the 400 hurdles (54.47). While Ross was the last non-qualifier for the finals of the 110 hurdles in 10th (personal best 14.66), his older brother, senior Aaron Ross, did manage to reach the finals with the day’s No. 5 time of 14.45. Aaron Ross was making his 2007 Nebraska debut after sitting out the indoor campaign with exhausted eligibility.

Several Huskers put together personal-best efforts in other events Friday, including Kim and Jennifer Pancoast in the women’s 800-meter run. Kim Pancoast, a senior, earned seventh place in the “B” section of the event in a lifetime-best 2:11.40, while Jennifer Pancoast, a sophomore, claimed 16th in a career-low clocking of 2:12.83. Two men’s athletes also notched personal bests in the hammer throw “B” section, as junior Aaron Bozarth threw a fifth-place 174-10 and freshman Eric Petersen registered a top spin of 153-5 (16th place).

Freshman Ethan Luebbe (1:53.37) and junior Vince Sickler (1:55.33) added career bests to place 18th and 38th, respectively, in the men’s 800-meter run “B” section. Freshman Erwin Schmidt led NU in the 800 with a ninth-place time of 1:52.73, while freshman Andras Licsak (1:53.51) finished 21st. Both Luebbe and Sickler will double up this weekend by also competing in the 1,500 meters on Saturday.

Also opening outdoors seasons for NU Friday were: sophomore Joslyn Dalton, who placed ninth in section 5 of the women’s 5,000 meters; and junior Thorin Meyer (180-1; fifth place) and redshirt freshman Ryan Petrocchi (167-4; eighth place) in the “B” section of the men’s javelin.

A few other Huskers are still expected to compete Friday, as competition continues into the late evening hours, including: redshirt freshmen Kyle Custer and Brian Parr in the men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase; sophomore Ari Goldstein in the women’s steeplechase; junior Bryan Bell in the men’s discus “B” section; and senior Jeni Steiner and sophomore Kacie Sharp in the women’s discus “B” section.

The Stanford Invitational concludes Saturday, as several Nebraska athletes are expected to be in competition. The defending NCAA champion in the women’s discus, senior Dace Ruskule, leads NU’s final-day entries, while All-American Brysun Stately (women’s pole vault) will also be one of numerous Huskers to see action.

Stanford Invitational ? Results
Cobb Track and Angell Field
Palo Alto, Calif.

Women’s 800 Meters ? “B” Sect.
7. Kim Pancoast (2:11.40) PR
16. Jennifer Pancoast (2:12.83) PR

Women’s 5,000 Meters
9. Joslyn Dalton (17:31.06)

Women’s 100-Meter Hurdles - Prelims
13. Ashley Selig (14.34p)

Women’s 400-Meter Hurdles
2. Sheryl Morgan (1:00.04) RQ
10. Justine Roach (1:01.50)

Women’s Long Jump
2. Chaunte McMillan (19-10 ?) RQ
5. Ashley Selig (19-2)

Men’s 800 Meters ? “B” Sect.
9. Erwin Schmidt (1:52.73)
18. Ethan Luebbe (1:53.37) PR
21. Andras Licsak (1:53.51)
38. Vince Sickler (1:55.33) PR

Men’s 110-Meter Hurdles - Prelims
5. Aaron Ross (14.45p) Q
10. Tyrell Ross (14.66p)

Men’s 400-Meter Hurdles
6. Andrew Pearson (52.71)
14. Tyrell Ross (54.47)

Men’s Hammer ? “B” Sect.
5. Aaron Bozarth (174-10 ) PR
16. Eric Petersen (153-5) PR

Men’s Javelin ? “B” Sect.
5. Thorin Meyer (180-1)
8. Ryan Petrocchi (167-4)

RQ ? NCAA regional qualifier
Q ? finals qualifier (Saturday)
PR ? personal record mark