Throwers Highlight Outdoor Season Opener

TEMPE, Ariz. - The Nebraska track and field team kicked off the outdoor season with the first day of action at the Pac-12 vs. Big Ten Invitational on Friday night at Sun Angel Stadium. 

Throwers Nick Percy and Brittni Wolczyk won event titles, and Cody Walton turned in a lifetime best in the javelin to highlight the first day of competition. The Nebraska women lead the competition with 32 points. The Husker men are tied with Penn State for first place with 24 points. 

Percy, the reigning national champion in the discus and school-record holder in the hammer throw, won the hammer throw with a toss of 220-4 (67.16m), just two feet shy of his school record. 

Walton, a junior who won the Big Ten heptathlon title at the conference indoor meet, launched the javelin a personal-best 231-1 (70.44m) to finish second in the event. His mark was a personal best by 10 feet and put him at No. 5 in NU history. Seth Derr finished fifth in the event with a throw of 221-5 3/4 (67.51m). 

Wolczyk claimed the women's javelin title with a mark of 170-10 1/4 (52.08m). Sarah Firestone was just behind her in second place with a throw of 163-7 3/4 (49.88m). Freshman Sydney Otto took fifth at 149-9 (45.65m) and Chase Wolinski was eighth (141-2 1/4, 43.04m).  

Bonnie Smith finished third in the 5,000 meters with an outdoor PR of 17:44.75. Anna Peer was fifth at 18:22.38. 

The meet continues on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. (CT) with the discus. Running events begin at 8:15 p.m. (CT).

Live results can be found at FinishedResults.com. A free live stream will be provided by the Pac-12 Network for the running events.