Huskers Win 16 Titles at Pac-12 vs. Big Ten Invite

Tempe, Ariz. - The Nebraska track and field team picked up 16 individual titles in the outdoor season-opening Pac-12 vs. Big Ten Invitational at Sun Angel Stadium. Nebraska, Michigan, Indiana, Arizona, Arizona State and UCLA all competed in the meet.

In addition to Will Lohman's hammer throw title from Friday night, the Huskers grabbed 15 more wins on Saturday night in the desert heat.

Both the Husker men and women finished first in the team standings. The men had 214 points, while the women had 190. The Pac-12 women defeated the Big Ten 372.0 - 353.0. The Big Ten men won against the Pac-12 men 363.5 - 356.7.

Brena Andrews won two sprints to lead the Huskers. Andrews captured the 100m title with a PR 11.79. She later added the 200m title in 23.91. Sarah Firestone won the women's javelin throw with a personal-best 178-1 (54.29m). Her mark was good for fourth in NU history. 

Sean Pille won the 110m hurdles in 14.08, edging out teammate Oladapo Akinmoladun in a photo finish, as Akinmoladun also finished in 14.08 but just behind Pille. Antoine Lloyd was fourth in the event at 15.00, while Andrew Neal was fifth at 15.05. Mate Koroknai won the 400m hurdles, leading a 1-2-3-4 Husker finish. Koroknai ran 51.07, and the Huskers following him in order were Pille (51.83), Drew Wiseman (52.63) and Neal (53.10).

Jazmin McCoy led a strong women's long jump for the Big Red. She finished first with an outdoor PR of 20-2 1/4 (6.15m). Tierra Williams was second at 19-6 3/4 (5.96m), while Kari Heck was fifth at 19-3 1/2 (5.88m). Nikita Pankins won the men's long jump with a leap of 24-2 1/4 (7.37m). Jerry Westerfield was third at 24-0 3/4 (7.33m). 

Malcolm White was the 200m champion, blitzing past the field to a time of 21.21. He also took fifth in the 100m. Levi Gipson won the 400 meters with a time of 46.51. Jake Bender was third with a PR 46.64. Shawnice Williams took home the women's 800m title in 2:07.51.

Steven Cahoy cleared 17-8 1/2 (5.40m) to win the pole vault. He led Beau Simmons (5.07m), Jed Fenske (4.92m) and Christian Sanderfer (4.92m) to a 1-2-3-4 finish. On the women's side, Paula Andrie won with a jump of 13-0 1/4 (3.97m). Tess Merrill was fourth (3.87m). 

Carlie Pinkelman was the shot put champion, throwing 51-2 3/4 (15.61m). Ellie Ewere (41-7 3/4, 12.69m) won the triple jump, leading Mollie Gribbin and Angela Mercurio to a 1-2-3 finish.

Bender, Gipson, Wiseman and Koroknai won the men's 4x400 relay in 3:08.12. 

Anna Peer ran a 16:35.34 to finish runner-up in the 5,000 meters. Her time was a PR by nearly 45 seconds and put her 10th in NU outdoor history. Cody Walton took second in the javelin, recording a 198-9 (60.59m). James White was second in the high jump (7-0 1/2, 2.15m), while Davon Clark placed second in the triple jump at 47-6 1/4 (14.48m). Marusa Cernjul was second in the women's high jump, clearing 5-8 3/4 (1.75m).

Jordan Stiens took third in the women's 100m hurdles with a time of 13.86. Lohman, champion of Friday's hammer throw with a new school record, was third in the shot put (61-9 1/2, 18.83m).

The Huskers placed second in both the men's and women's 4x100 relays. The women's team of Williams, Andrews, McCoy and Breunna McCarty notched a 45.50, while Akinmoladun, Lloyd, John Welk and Malcolm White finished in 40.79. The Husker men also had the third-place team in Pankins, Gipson, Clark and Sanderfer (40.88). 

The Huskers are off next week and return to action on Saturday, April 11 with the Husker Spring Invite at Ed Weir Stadium.