Huskers Open Holiday Inn Invite With Five Titles

Lincoln, Neb. - The Nebraska track and field team began the 2016 season with five individual titles on the first night of the Holiday Inn Invitational before 1,608 fans at the Bob Devaney Sports Center Indoor Track on Friday night. 

Katrina Santiago won the 3,000-meter race by shattering her previous personal best by 17 seconds with a time of 10:13.81. She led a strong night for the Husker distance runners, as fellow sophomore Bonnie Smith finished third with a time of 10:16.99. In the men's race, Matt Gilbert finished second in 8:24.81, a personal best, while Alec Sery finished fourth with a time of 8:33.97, also a personal best.

Tierra Williams led a 1-2-3 Husker finish in the women's long jump, winning the event with an indoor PR of 20-1 1/2 (6.13m). Reka Czuth was second with a leap of 19-6 3/4 (5.96m), while Jazmin McCoy was third at 19-4 (5.89m). In the men's long jump, Nikita Pankins won with a leap of 24-0 1/4 (7.32m) on his first attempt. 

Tristen Sharp won the women's weight throw with a toss of 57-5 1/2 (17.51m), while Nick Percy won the men's weight throw with a heave of 60-6 3/4 (18.46m).

Edgar Propst finished second in the 800-meter race with a time of 1:54.02. Freshman Ty Moss finished third in his first collegiate race with a time of 2:28.46 in the 1,000-meter race.

Freshman Chanel Freeman posted the top qualifying mark for the Husker women in the 60-meter hurdles, clocking in at 8.69. Antoine Lloyd led all men's qualifiers with a PR of 7.95. 

Junior Davon Clark ran a personal-best time of 6.87 in the 60-meter dash to finish as the top collegiate runner in the men's qualifying round behind two professionals, Diondre Batson (6.65) and Brijesh Lawrence (6.73). The 60-meter hurdles and 60-meter dash will run preliminary and final rounds on Saturday. 

The meet resumes on Saturday at Noon.