Husker Throwers Post Two Wins at Stanford

Palo Alto, Calif. - The Huskers distance and throws groups got there first taste of the outdoor season yesterday at the Stanford Invitational at Cobb Track and Angell Field.

Freshman Chad Wright made a splash with his first throw of the outdoor season as he won the invitational division of the men's discus with a throw of 184-4. Wright was the only thrower in the field to clear 180 feet, while teammate Tyler Hitchler took second with a toss of 177-7.

Moving to the javelin, junior Roxi Grizzle opened the season with a win in the invitational division. Grizzle tossed 150-5 on her first throw and the mark held up over 10 other competitors. On the men's side, 2010 All-American Adam Wolkins took fifth with a throw of 204-3 in the invitational division. Austin Braman also got back on the runway for the first time in nearly two years with a 10th-place toss of 189-3. Braman missed the entire 2010 season while due to elbow surgery.

The Husker hammer throwers posted four top-10 finishes, as Jade Siegel and Samantha Musil finished sixth and seventh, respectively, in the women's invitational division. While in the men's collegiate division, Matt Giesselmann finished second with a toss of 177-8 and Cole Ingram shattered his previous best of 147-11 by over 15 feet with a throw of 164-0.

Amanda Latsch was two-and-one-half inches short of a victory in the invitational division of the women's shot put with a throw of 48-0, as Erica Chaney of Eastern Washington edged out the Husker senior with a throw of 48-2 ½. NU's Annie Jackson was right behind Latsch in the standing as she improved on her previous best of 45-3 ½ with a throw of 47-1.

On the track Friday, Ashley Miller opened the day with a 11th-place finish in the top section of the 1,500 meters with a time of 4:26.49, while Erica Hamik won section No. 6 with a time of 4:36.66. On the men's side, David Adams broke his previous best of 3:51.27 in section No. 2 with a fourth-place time of 3:51.16.

The Husker long-distance runners wrapped up the night in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters. Freshman Martina Barinova cut nearly 20 seconds off her previous 5K best of 16:47.06 with a second-place time of 16:27.94 in section No. 3. Lara Crofford then finished day one of the meet at 11 p.m. (CT) with a time of 34:19.77 in section No. 1 of the 10,000 meters.

The Huskers will be back at Cobb Track and Angell Field today for the second day of the Stanford Invitational. Jackson and Mary Morales will be the first NU athletes to compete when the women's hammer throw starts at 11 a.m. (CT). The Huskers' 800-meter runners are set to hit the track at 3:30 p.m.