Huskers Add 34 for 2011 Season

Lincoln ? On Monday, July 12 the Nebraska track and field team announced the addition of 34 incoming student-athletes for the 2011 track and field season. The group will fit in well with the Huskers’ drive for success, as the newcomers combined to win 153 state medals in high school, including 51 state titles.<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

 

The group includes signees from nine states and five foreign countries. Multiple signees will come from Nebraska (17), Jamaica (3), Kansas (2) and California (2), while there is one addition from Iowa, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Oklahoma, New York, Germany, Great Britain, Czech Republic and Barbados. The 34 newcomers include the 17 previous signees that the Huskers announced in March.

 

The Nebraska men will add 21 student-athletes that combined to win 38 state titles, 95 state medals, two Jamaican junior championships, one Carifta Games title, one German U-20 national title and one British junior championship. The group is heavy in the track events with 17 newcomers hitting the oval, while the Huskers will also be adding two each in the throws and jumps.

 

The newcomers include Jack Green (Maidstone, U.K.) and Chad Wright (Kingston, Jamaica), who have each qualified for the 2010 IAAF World Junior Championships in Moncton, Canada, where Green will compete in the 400 hurdles and Wright will throw the shot and discus. Along with wins at the Carifta Games and Penn Relays, Wright has set the Jamaican national junior record in both the shot (61-1) and discus (179-4).

 

The Husker women will welcome 13 newcomers who combined to win 13 state championships, 58 state medals, two Barbados junior national titles and two Czech Republic junior national titles. The well-rounded group includes seven track athletes and six field athletes, including multiple athletes that help the Huskers in both the sprints and jumps.

 

On that national stage, Ellen Dougherty (Moville, Iowa) and Ellie Grooters (Fargo, N.D.) have each competed at the past two USA Junior Championships. Internationally, Martina Barinova (Prerov, Czech Republic) has competed at the Czech Republic Junior Nationals and Mara Weeks (Bridgetown, Barbados) has run at the Carifta Games, World Youth Championships, World Junior Championships and Barbados National Championships.

 

Overall, the 2011 class looks to be well prepared for the high level of competition at both the Big 12 and NCAA Championships, as they have competed at the IAAF World Youth Championships, IAAF World Junior Championships, European Championships, USA Junior Championships, British Junior Championships, Jamaican Championships, Barbados Championships and the Carifta Games.

 

Bios for each newcomer can be found below and any other additions will be added to the list.

List updated - 7/14/10

Women's Athletes

Name

Event

Hometown (School)

Isabel Andrade Distance Petaluma, Calif. (Petaluma)Martina Barinova Distance Prerov, Czech Republic (Gymnazium Jana Blahoslava)

Ellen Dougherty

Middle Distance

Moville, Iowa (Sioux City East)

Ellie Grooters

Hurdles

Fargo, N.D. (West Fargo)

Melissa Hilgenkamp Throws Arlington, Neb. (Arlington)

Sam Morabe

Distance

Temecula, Calif. (Great Oak)

Kara Mostoller Jumps Fredonia, Pa. (Reynolds)Carlie Pinkelman Throws Cozad, Neb. (Cozad)Sarah Plambeck Middle Distance Lincoln, Neb. (Christian)Jillanna Scanlan Jumps Plattsmouth, Neb. (Plattsmouth)Jordan Stiens Hurdles Maryville, Mo. (Maryville)Mara Weekes Sprints Bridgetown, Barbados (Ricards Lodge)Lauren Welch Pole Vault Papillion, Neb. (Papillion-Lavista)

Men's Athletes

Name

Event

Hometown (School)

Alex Adams Distance York, Neb. (York)Ethan Baker Sprints Moore, Okla. (Southmoore)Jodi-Rae Blackwood Hurdles St. Elizabeth, Jamaica (Munro College)

Connor Gibson

Middle Distance Blair, Neb. (Blair)

Jack Green

Sprints

Maidstone, U.K. (Midkent College)

Jacob Griess Throws Grand Island, Neb. (Northwest)Brant Haupt Hurdles Kearney, Neb. (Kearney/Nebraska-Omaha)Mark Hilderbrand Hurdles Gothenburg, Neb. (Gothenburg)

Jarren Heng

Distance

Norfolk, Neb. (Catholic)

Devandrew Johnson Jumps Evanston, Ill. (Evanston Township)Jared Kenney Middle Distance Omaha, Neb. (Millard West)Dexter McKenzie Sprints St. Elizabeth, Jamaica (Munro College)Zach Morris Sprints Blair, Neb. (Blair)Kurt Pauly Sprints Cheney, Kan. (Garden Plain)Anthony Pittman Distance Omaha, Neb. (Millard West)Patrick R?dler Jumps Baiersbronn-Obertal, Germany
(Heinrich-Schickhardt-Schule)Parker Schoen Distance Lincoln, Neb. (Southwest)Tim Thompson Sprints Boys Town, Neb. (Boys Town)Alney Tobias Middle Distance Troy, N.Y. (Lansingburgh)Miles Ukaoma Sprints Maize, Kan. (Maize)Seth Wiedel Jumps Hebron, Neb. (Thayer County)Chad Wright Throws Kingston, Jamaica (Calabar)