Six Huskers Compete in Beijing

Lincoln ? The Nebraska track and field team will be well represented in Beijing, China, for the 2008 Olympic Games. Four former and one current Husker will compete in track and field while one former Husker will compete in cycling.<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

The list of former Huskers includes Dusty Jonas (USA; high jump), Priscilla Lopes-Schliep (Canada; 100-meter hurdles), Ineta Radevica (Latvia; long jump) and Dmitrijs Milkevics (Latvia; 800 meters).  Incoming x, Pieter Smith, will represent his home country of South Africa in the 4x400-meter relay.

The former Huskers were all key contributors to the storied history of Nebraska track and field. They combined to win five individual national championships and bring 16 conference titles back to Lincoln. Lopes-Schliep, Radevica, and Milkevics are all Olympic veterans as each competed at the 2004 Games in Athens, Greece.

Former Husker Amber (Parkinson) Neben will also compete in Beijing for Team USA’s cycling team in the women’s road race.  Parkinson was a distance runner from 1993-1995, but had to give up competitive running after her sophomore year due to a stress fracture.

Husker Track and Field Olympic Schedule (Updated 8/19/08)
Date     Time (Central)     Athlete                            Event
8/17      6 a.m.                  Priscilla Lopes-Schliep     Women’s 100 Hurdles (Prelims)
8/17      7:20 a.m.             Dusty Jonas                    Men’s High Jump (Qualifying)
8/18      6:40 a.m.             Priscilla Lopes-Schliep     Women’s 100 Hurdles (Semis)
8/19      9:30 a.m.             Priscilla Lopes-Schliep     Women’s 100 Hurdles (Finals)
8/20      6 a.m.                  Dmitrijs Milkevics             Men’s 800 Meters (Prelims)
8/22      7:10 a.m.             Pieter Smith                     Men’s 4x400-Meter Relay (Prelims)
8/23      7:05 a.m.             Pieter Smith                     Men’s 4x400-Meter Relay (Finals)

Husker Cycling Olympic Schedule
Date     Time (Central)     Athlete                            Event
8/10      1 a.m.                  Amber Neben                   Women’s Road Race