Huskers Hit Four NCAA Provisional Times in Ames

Ames, Iowa - The Husker track and field team left the Iowa State Classic on Saturday night with four NCAA provisional times. Peter van der Westhuizen and Natalja Zarcenko each set qualifying times in the one mile, while Sheryl Morgan and Lukas Hulett set times in the 400-meter dash.

For the second-straight week van der Westhuizen came very close to a four-minute mile. His second-place time of 4:01.49 increased his NCAA provisional-qualifying time in the one mile. van der Westhuizen currently ranks 16th in the nation and second in the Big 12.

Zarcenko ran very well on the women's side as her seventh-place time of 4:47.94 was good enough to earn her an NCAA provisional time in the one mile. The time was a new personal best for Zarcenko and gives her the third-best time in Husker indoor history when the one mile is ran on an oversized track.

Hulett bettered his NCAA provisional-qualifying time in the men's 400-meter dash with a fifth-place time of 46.83. Hulett's time currently ranks him second in the Big 12 and ties him for sixth nationally. Hulett was happy with his time, but knows he can run faster.

"I was happy to run a better time, but I know I can do better. Right now coach (Matt Martin) and I are experimenting with not going as hard at the beginning so I have more at the end. I'm used to starting fast, so it's an adjustment. My goal is to run a 46.5," said Hulett.

Morgan also clocked in at an NCAA provisional-qualifying time of 53.95 in the women's 400-meter run. Morgan's time placed her in second. Her time of 53.79 at the Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational remains her season best.

Freshman Lehann Fourie continued to run at a high caliber in the 60-meter hurdles as he placed second at 7.95. Sophomore Tyrell Ross also advanced to the finals and finished in seventh place at 8.12. The men's field started out with 62 participants.

For the first time all season freshman Karyn LaCour did not win the women's 60-meter hurdles. LaCour placed third overall with a time of 8.41. Natasha Ruddock of Essex County finished with the top time at a blazing 8.13.

In the men's triple jump, both Chris Nuttelman and Mauro Parnell each finished in the top ten. Nuttelman finished third with a new personal-best jump of 49-1 3/4 (14.98), Parnell finished tied for tenth at 46-6 1/4 (14.18).

Dax Danns showed his speed in the 60-meter dash as he finished in fifth out of 75 athletes with a time 6.80. Nick Makukutu placed 10th in the men's 600-yard run with a time of 1:12.13 and Joslyn Dalton placed 13th out of 35 athletes in the women's 3,000-meter run with a time of 9:50.54.

In the field events for the women, Zarinah Suluki-Drakes' triple jump of 40-1 1/2 (12.23) placed her sixth overall and fifth among college jumpers. Epley Bullock jumped seventh best overall and fifth best collegiately in the women's high jump with a jump of 5-7 (1.70).

The Huskers will be back in action on Friday, Feb. 22, when they will compete at the Prairie Wolf Invite in Lincoln. The meet is hosted by Nebraska Wesleyan at the Bob Devaney Sports Center Indoor Track. The meet is a one day meet, starting Friday at 1 p.m.