Bekric Sets Serbian National Record

Ostrava, Czech Republic - The Nebraska track and field team added another national record to its resume on Saturday as incoming freshman Emir Bekric set the Serbian junior record in the 400-meter hurdles at the European U-23 Championships in Ostrava, Czech Republic. Four-time Big 12 champion Mara Griva was also at City Stadium on Saturday, as she competed in the long jump preliminaries.

Already signed for the 2012 season, Bekric set the Serbian national junior record with a third-place time of 49.61 in the 400-hurdle finals. The time came close to setting the country's overall record of 49.57, set by Branislav Karaulic in September of 1988. Bekric had previously run 50.96 in the prelims and 50.41 in yesterday's semifinals. Mark Jackson set NU's 400-meter hurdle record in 1992 with a time of 49.18.

After placing ninth in the triple jump on Friday, Griva advanced to Sunday's long jump finals with the fourth-best preliminary jump on Saturday. The Ventspils, Latvia, native cleared 20-9 ¾ on her first attempt, then scratched on her second try and passed on her final jump with a spot in the finals already secured.

Along with Griva on Sunday, Martina Barinova is also scheduled to compete at 9:35 a.m. (CT) in the 5,000 meters. After competing half-way around the globe as a redshirt-freshman in 2011, the meet is close to home for Barinova, as her home town of Prerov, Czech Republic, is roughly 60 miles from Ostrava.