Wilkinson Wins Third Big 12 Javelin Title

Boulder, Colo. ? With sunny skies and the Rocky Mountains in the background, Kayla Wilkinson won the javelin by setting a new Big 12 Outdoor Championship meet record and breaking her own school record with a throw of 182-10 (55.73). The Big 12 title was the third of Wilkinson's career, as she became the first women's three-time conference champion in the event in the history of Nebraska track and field.

 

With her winning throw Wilkinson joined Herbert Grote on the men's side as the only two individuals to ever win three conference titles in the javelin. Grote won Big Six titles in 1940, 1941, 1946 and 1947. Wilkinson is also one of only eight student-athletes in the rich history of Nebraska track and field to win three or more outdoor conference titles.

 

Wilkinson's third conference title continued her storybook senior season. The Deshler, Neb., native returned to competition for the Big Red for the 2008 season after sitting out the 2007 campaign due to a shoulder injury. After winning titles in 2005 and 2006, Wilkinson returned to the Big 12 Meet with nothing less than a Big 12 title in mind.

 

“After winning the (Big 12) conference title in 2005 and 2006 it was really hard to have to sit and watch at home last year with my shoulder injury,” Wilkinson said following the meet. “It is an indescribable feeling to be a three-time conference champion. It’s been an honor to wear the Husker jersey.”

 

“Kayla (Wilkinson) is a relentless worker and it’s great to see her come back the way she has,” said Throw Coach Mark Colligan. “Winning three conference javelin titles is something really special.”

 

In the women's 10,000-meter run freshman Lara Crofford finished second to two-time conference champion Lisa Koll of IowaState. The Newville, Pa., native stayed with Koll until there was roughly five laps left in the race, when Koll pulled away. Koll, the American collegiate record holder in the 10,000 meters at 32:11.13, finished at 35:59.28 while Crofford finished just under 17 seconds behind at 36:16.18 with Grace Kemmey of IowaState finishing just over 17 seconds behind Crofford at 36:33.34 for third.

 

In other action, redshirt freshman Megan Wheatley tore up the first day of the women’s heptathlon after finishing as the runner-up in the pentathlon at the 2008 Big 12 Indoor Championships. Wheatley and teammates Chantae McMillan and Rachel Butler own the top three spots in the standings. Wheatley posted the top mark in three of the four events on day one, finishing second to McMillan in the 100-meter hurdles. Wheatley finished the day with 3,407 points with personal bests in the shot put with a throw of 43-5 1/4 (13.24) and 200 meters with a time of 24.75. With a win on Saturday, Wheatley would bring the Big 12 heptathlon title back to Lincoln for the fourth straight year after Ashley Selig won in 2005 and 2007 while Sara Jane Baker won in 2006.

 

“I am really happy with how I did today,” said Wheatley. “I am not going to get too excited though as there is a lot that can happen tomorrow."

 

McMillan sits second with 3,185 points with Butler in third at 3,071 points. McMillan recorded two personal best on the day in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 14.46 and the 200 meters at 24.90. Butler recorded a personal best in the shot put with a toss of 33-3 3/4 (10.15).

 

With day one of the men’s decathlon in the book, junior Skyler Reising is right in the thick of things as he stands third with 4,117 points. On the day Reising set new personal bests in the 100 meters with a wind-aided time of 11.05 and recorded a wind-aided jump of 24-5 1/2 (7.45) in the long jump.

 

Keith Lloyd and Bryan Bell each scored for the Huskers in the men’s hammer throw as Lloyd finished fourth with a throw of 200-9 (61.20) and Bell finished seventh with a personal-best throw of 194-5 (59.25). Lloyd, along with the three throwers that finished in front of him, all threw farther then the previous stadium record.

 

For the first time during the 12-year history of the Big 12 Outdoor Track and Field Championships the best athletes from across the conference embarked on Potts Field in Boulder, Colo., for the three-day conference championship. The last time that the outdoor conference championships were held in the RockyMountain state was in 1993 for the Big Eight Championships, where the Husker women won the team title and the men finished second to IowaState.

 

The Huskers will return to Potts Field on Saturday for day two of the Big 12 Championships. Action will begin at 11 a.m. (Central) with the women’s heptathlon long jump. Field events will start at 1 p.m. with the women’s shot put while the running events get started at 5 p.m. with the preliminaries of the 1,500-meter run.