Huskers Earn 12 Event Titles at Nebraska Tune-Up

Lincoln, Neb. – The Nebraska track and field team closed the 2014 indoor home slate with the Nebraska Tune-Up on Friday at the Devaney Center Indoor Track. The Huskers, who are preparing for next weekend’s Big Ten Indoor Championships, captured 12 event wins on the day.

Kari Heck earned the victory in the women’s long jump as the top collegiate finisher. She posted a leap of 18-11 ¾ (5.78). Anna Weigandt helped the Huskers sweep the horizontal jumps titles for the women as she tallied the top collegiate mark in the triple jump with a season-best leap of 40-0 ¾ (12.21). Davon Clark won the men’s triple jump with a season-best leap of 47-6 ¼ (14.48).

In the women’s weight throw, Veronica Grizzle notched another win on the year as she finished first with a throw of 64-9 ¼ (19.74). Finishing second was Tristen Sharp, as she posted a throw of 55-3 (16.48). Jake Pinion won the men’s weight throw with a personal-best throw of 55-9 (16.99), while Josh Jochim was third with a personal-best mark of 50-8 ¾ (15.46).

The Huskers came out with the top two marks in the women’s pole vault, with Paula Andrie winning the event as she tallied a vault of 12-10 ¾ (3.93). Tess Merrill finished second with a vault of 12-2 ¾ (3.73) and Maggie Maher was fourth with a season-best mark of 12-2 ¾ (3.73). Christian Sanderfer helped the Huskers sweep the pole vault titles with a mark of 17-1 ½ (5.22) and Craig Driver finished second with a vault of 16-9 ½ (5.12).

A season-best leap of 6-6 ¾ (2.00) propelled Mitchell Westberry to a first-place finish in the men’s high jump. He led Gus Gehlen, who finished second with the same mark, while Lucas Kasson was fourth with a jump of 6-4 ¾ (1.95).  Marusa Cernjul used a season and team-best leap of 5-9 ¾ (1.77) to finish second in the women’s high jump.  Her jump ranks third in the Big Ten.

Miles Ukaoma was the top collegiate finisher in the men’s 60-meter hurdles with a season-best time of 8.01. Tibor Koroknai crossed the finish line in 8.06, finishing fourth, while Sean Pille was fifth with a time of 8.11. Melissa-Maree Farrington tallied a second-place finish in the women’s 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.61. Mila Andric finished fourth with a season-best-tying time of 8.73.

In the women’s 400 meters, Ellie Grooters finished with a personal-best time of 54.71 to come in second. Her time ranks ninth in the Big Ten. Shawnice Williams crossed the finish line in 1:29.70 to win the women’s 600 meters, maintaining her second-place standing in the Big Ten. Ellen Dougherty tallied a second-place finish with a personal-best time of 1:31.93. Big Ten leader Levi Gipson notched the top time in the men’s 600 meters with a time of 1:18.54, while Jodi-Rae Blackwood was third with a time of 1:19.43.

Matt Gilbert came across the finish line first in the men’s 1,000 meters. He posted a time of 2:28.79 to win the event. In the women’s 3,000 meters Isabel Andrade notched a personal-best 10:09.30 to come in second.

The Huskers will travel to the 2014 Big Ten Indoor Championships in Geneva, Ohio this weekend, as Nebraska will look to add to its 105 conference team titles.