Huskers Sweep adidas Classic Team Titles

Lincoln - The Nebraska track and field team swept the meet titles at the adidas Classic for the fourth straight year on Saturday at the Devaney Center Indoor Track. The Husker women dominated the field with 203 points, while Houston finished second with 117 points. The men's race was a bit tighter, but the Huskers held off Iowa 175-133. The afternoon was highlighted by a record-breaking performance by Ashley Miller and a NCAA automatic-qualifying performance by Luke Pinkelman.  

Miller etched her name into the Husker record books in the 3,000 meters with a personal-best time of 9:21.59 in the event, placing her second all-time among top 3,000 meter performers at Nebraska. Jessica Furlan came in third, with a personal-best mark of 9:29.20, giving her the fourth-best time in 3,000 meter history at Nebraska. Martina Barinova finished fourth, recording a mark of 9:51.67.

Pinkelman provided a show for Husker fans as well, with a NCAA-qualifying performance and a season-best throw of 63-7 1/2 (19.39) in the shot put to take top honors. Tyler Hitchler finished second with a personal-best throw of 60-10 (18.54), while Chad Wright finished third with a personal-best mark of 59-11 1/4 (18.27).

Annie Jackson claimed her first shot put title of the season with a throw of 50-1 1/4 (15.27). Veronica Grizzle finished second with a mark of 48-1 3/4 (14.98), while Morgan Wilken (47-3) and Carlie Pinkelman (46-11 1/2) finished fourth and fifth, respectively.

Taylor Jensen notched another weight throw victory on the season, taking first with a personal-best throw of 61-8 1/2 (18.81). Victoria Zimmerman came in fourth, notching a mark of 56-4 1/2 (17.18), while Jade Siegel came in sixth with a mark of 55-7 3/4 (16.91). Carter Wasem improved in the weight throw over last week's performance, recording a toss of 60-5 (18.41) and finishing second, while Matt Giesselmann notched a throw of 55-7 3/4 (16.96).

Carlos Hernandez bettered his personal best of 6-10 1/4 (2.10) in the high jump, with a mark of 6-10 3/4 along with a second-place finish. Jeffery Herron from Iowa narrowly edged Hernandez out as the two competed in a jump-off to decide the winner.

Nate Polacek earned his second-straight pole vault title with a mark of 17-1 3/4 (5.23) to finish first. Erik Sutterfield came in third with a vault of 16-2 (4.93), while Jay Kilpatrick took fifth with a mark of 15-8 1/4 (4.78). Cami Jiskra recorded the second pole vault title of her senior season with a vault of 12-8 3/4 (3.88). Breanna Bussel recorded a vault of 12-8 3/4 (3.88) for third.

Chris Phipps earned the second long jump title of his senior season, hitting a mark of 25-2 (7.67) to tie his long jump mark at the Holiday Inn Invitational. Phipps led the Huskers in a sweep of the event as Bobby Carter finished second with a season-best leap of 24-3 (7.39) and Seth Wiedel took third with a season-best leap of 24-00 3/4 (7.33).  Mara Griva recorded a jump of 41-4 1/2 (12.61) in the triple jump to finish in first-place as Ellie Ewere notched a mark of 39-2 1/4 (11.94) for third, and Jeanelle Facey came in fourth with a leap of 38-9 1/2 (11.82).

Phipps completed a successful day with the triple jump crown on a leap of 51-6 1/2 (15.71). Patrick Raedler finished second, recording a mark of 49-10 (15.19), and Corey Winston came in fourth with a jump of 46-11 (14.30). Mara Griva notched the long jump title with a leap of 19-11 3/4 (6.09), as Anne Martin came in third with a jump of 18-6 1/2 (5.65).

Marusa Cernjul recorded the second high jump title of her Husker career with a jump-off victory over Khanishah Williams of Iowa. Cernjul recorded a mark of 5-9 1/4 (1.76) to earn the title. Jillanna Scanlan also took third with a jump of 5-6 (1.68).

In the 60-meter hurdles the Husker women saw Mila Andric finish fourth with a time of 8.70. Husker newcomer Greta Kerekes took fifth with a time of 8.74, as Jordan Stiens finished sixth with a personal-best time of 8.78. Miles Ukaoma finished second in the men's 60-meter hurdles, recording a personal-best time of 7.91.

Tim Thompson finished fourth in the 60-meter dash after posting a time of 6.84 in the finals, while John Welk came in seventh, notching a personal-best mark of 6.94. Mara Weekes and Breunna McCarty came in seventh and eighth, respectively, in the 60-meter dash.  Weekes recorded a mark of 7.70, while McCarty finished with a personal-best time of 7.74.

Weekes went on to claim the 400-meter dash title with a time of 55.69. Andric finished in third-place, recording a time of 56.63. Ricco Hall placed second in the men's 400-meter dash, recording a time of 47.32, while Miles Ukaoma came in fifth with a mark of 47.95.

Blaire Dinsdale recorded a personal-best time of 1:34.90 in the 600 meters, finishing second, while Brooke Dinsdale took fifth with a time of 1:36.64. Tommy Brinn took second in the men's 600 meters, recording a personal-best mark of 1:18.45. The Husker women finished first and second in the 800 meters as Ellie Grooters took the top spot on a personal-best time of 2:13.62. Erica Hamik came in second with a mark of 2:13.98.

Katie White provided early highlights for the Huskers as she came in under the 17-minute mark in the 5,000 meters. She shattered her personal-best of 17:39.63 with a new record of 16:59.68 to finish first and give Nebraska its first win of the day.

The Husker women came in first in the 4x400 meter relay, guided by Andric, Weekes, Jelena Anjelkovic and Grooters who combined for a season-best time of 3:46.67.

Nebraska returns home next weekend to host the Mark Colligan Memorial on Saturday, Jan. 28 at the Devaney Center Indoor Track. Competition is slated to begin at 12:30 p.m.