Huskers Grab Five Titles at Big Ten Invitational

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - The Nebraska track and field team earned five wins at the Simmons-Harvey Big Ten Invitational on Saturday at the U-M Indoor Track.

Getting a taste of the facility where the Big Ten Indoor Championships will be held in February, the Husker women's team won four individual events, while the men picked up a win in the 4x400-meter relay. 

Ieva Turke had a big day for the Huskers with a win in the long jump and a runner-up finish in the triple jump. She set an indoor personal best in the long jump with a mark of 19-7 (5.97m), and she also set an indoor PR in the triple jump at 41-7 3/4 (12.69m). That mark earned her second place behind only teammate Angela Mercurio, who was the triple jump winner for the second time this season with a season-best mark of 42-11 1/2 (13.09m), the best mark in the Big Ten and fourth-best nationally. 

Nebraska's women also recorded a 1-2 finish in the high jump, as Candice Dominguez picked up the title with a jump of 5-8 3/4 (1.75m). Lara Omerzu was the runner-up, clearing 5-7 (1.70m) without a miss. 

On the track, Lakyala Harris won the 60 meters with a time of 7.48, and she finished third in the 200 meters in 24.20. The men's 4x400-meter relay team of Tony Nou, Bryce Barrett, Givon Washington and Isaiah Hutchinson rallied with a strong anchor leg from Hutchinson to win their race in 3:13.38. Hutchinson's split was 45.55, and the men's relay now ranks eighth nationally.

In addition to the event winners, two Huskers joined NU's all-time top-10 lists. George Kusche ran the 3,000 meters in 8:08.89, the fifth-best time in school history. Kusche took second place in the race, and he now ranks third nationally in the event. Grady Leonard finished third in the shot put with a personal-best throw of 60-6 3/4 (18.46m), the No. 10 mark in NU indoor history. 

In the 60-meter hurdles, Jasmine Barge took second in 8.46, while Luke Siedhoff was second in the men's race in a season-best 8.00. Kierra Griggs was the 400 meters runner-up with a time of 55.60. Hutchinson placed second in the 200 meters with a time of 21.51. The women's 4x400-meter relay team of Griggs, Barge, Harris and Chelsea Jones ran 3:42.55 to finish second, and their time ranks 10th in the nation.  

In the field, Miles Griffith was second in the high jump with a PR of 7-0 1/2 (2.15m). Tyler Loontjer was second in the pole vault at 16-1 3/4 (4.92m), and Andy Jacobs took second in the women's pole vault at 13-0 3/4 (3.98m).

The Huskers will host the Mark Colligan Memorial next Saturday. North Dakota State, Oral Roberts and Texas State will join the Huskers in the quad meet that begins at 11:30 a.m.