Huskers Post Two Top-Eight Finishes at USA Championships

Des Moines, Iowa ? The Nebraska track and field had two former and two future Huskers in competition on Friday during the third day of the USA Championships at Drake Stadium.

 

Incoming freshman and former Sioux City East standout Ellen Dougherty started the day with an eight-place time of 2:12.29 in the junior division final of the 800 meters. It marked the second straight year that Dougherty has placed in the top eight at the USA Championships, after she finished fifth as last season’s meet in Eugene, Ore.

 

Fellow newcomer Ellie Grooters took to the track next for the preliminaries of the 400-meter hurdles. A native of Fargo, N.D., Grooters posted the fourth-best time in the prelims at 59.82, a time that qualifies her for the IAAF World Junior Championships if earns a spot on Team USA. She will now run in the finals on Saturday at 3:35 p.m.

 

Later in the night, former three-time Big 12 champion Kayla Wilkinson-Colgrove took to the javelin runway, where she placed fifth with a throw of 178-8. The Nebraska school-record holder in the event at 182-10, Wilkinson-Colgrove improved on her finish from a year ago, when she came in seventh with a toss of 171-10.

 

Former two-time long jump national champion Angee Henry capped the night in the 400-meter semifinals with the fifth-best time at 51.73. The time was an improvement over Henry’s prelim time of 52.23 and she will now run in the finals on Saturday at 2:35 p.m.

 

The meet will start up again tomorrow at 8 a.m. with the men’s junior 10K race walk. Four Huskers will be in completion, including Grooters, Epley Bullock (high jump), Kirkland Thornton (110 hurdles) and Henry.