Husker Men Win New Mexico Collegiate Invitational

Albuquerque, N.M.-  The Nebraska track and field team was away from home for the first time in 2014 as the Huskers were competing at the New Mexico Collegiate Invitational at the Albuquerque Convention Center on Saturday. The Husker men were propelled to the team victory with 138.50 total points, while the women finished second with 121 points.

Nebraska came away with four individual event wins on the day. Numerous Huskers tallied season and personal-bests, in addition to continuing to post some of the top marks in the Big Ten Conference.

Leading the way for the Huskers on the track was sophomore Oladapo Akinmoladun as he won the men’s 60-meter hurdles with a personal-best time of 7.69. His mark is the second-best time in Husker history, with Lehann Fourie holding the Nebraska record at 7.67. Akinmoladun’s time is also second in the NCAA and second in the Big Ten entering today.

Kadecia Baird led the women on the track as she tallied a win in the 400 meters. She posted a time of 53.59 to earn the victory. Her time ranks first in the Big Ten and is 12th in the nation entering today. Mara Weekes came in fourth with a personal-best time of 54.97.

Patrick Raedler remains undefeated in the long jump on the season as he finished first on Saturday with a season-best leap of 24- 11 (7.59). His jump continues to lead all Big Ten competitors.  Seth Wiedel finished fourth with a leap of 23-10 ¾ (7.28). In the triple jump, Devandrew Johnson tallied a runner-up finish with a mark of 50-0 (15.24).

The women’s 4x400-meter relay team of Chantal Duncan, Mara Weekes, Shawnice Williams and Kadecia Baird finished first, tallying a season-best time of 3:38.59. That time is second in the Big Ten.

In the throws, Will Lohman posted a second-place finish in the men’s weight throw with a personal-best mark of 63-3 ½ (19.29) that ranks 10th in the conference and 10th all-time at Nebraska. Veronica Grizzle was third on the women’s side with a season-best throw of 63-3 ¼ (19.28).

Lohman continued an impressive day as the Husker newcomer finished third in the men’s shot put, posting a personal-best throw of 60-6 ½ (18.45). His mark is good for 10th in the Husker record books and fifth in the Big Ten. Chad Wright finished close behind with a fourth-place standing and a mark of 60-6 (18.44). Carlie Pinkelman continued to improve on the season in the women’s shot put as she finished second with a personal-best throw of 52-8 ¼ (16.06), cementing her spot at third in the Big Ten.

Marusa Cernjul came in second in the women’s high jump with a mark of 5-8 (1.73), while Travis Englund tallied a third-place finish for the men with a jump of 6-10 ¾ (2.10). Ellie Ewere came in fourth in the women’s triple jump with a mark of 40-11 ¾ (12.49), while Tierra Williams was third in the long jump, notching a leap of 19-4 ¾ (5.91).

Paula Andrie finished fourth in the women’s pole vault with a vault of 12-8 ¼ (3.87), while Tess Merrill was fifth with the same mark. On the men’s side, Craig Driver finished sixth overall, clearing 16-10 ¾ (5.15).

On the track, Tim Thompson finished eighth in the men’s 60 meters, posting a time of 6.80. In the B section, Dexter McKenzie was third with a season-best mark of 6.86. McKenzie then came in with a season-best time of 21.19 in the men’s 200 meters to finish third overall. His time is third in the Big Ten.

Chantal Duncan finished second overall in the women’s 600 meters with a personal-best time of 1:30.53 to keep her at third in the Big Ten. London Hawk was third for the men with a time of 1:19.38.

Coming in second in the mile was Trevor Vidlak as he recorded a season-best time of 4:06.07 for sixth in the conference. Jacob Holtmeier used an impressive personal-best time of 1:51.39 in the men’s 800 meters to come in second. His time ranks seventh in the Big Ten.  On the women’s side of the 800 meters, Shawince Williams was third with a season-best time of 2:12.94 and Ellen Dougherty finished fourth with a time of 2:13.88.

The men’s 4x400-meter relay team of Ricco Hall, Levi Gipson, Jake Bender and Cody Rush finished second with a season-best time of 3:07.97. LSU won the event with a time of 3:07.85.

Nebraska returns home next weekend as the Huskers host the Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational on Friday and Saturday the Devaney Center Indoor Track.