Huskers Capture 15 Titles at Tune-Up

LINCOLN, Neb. - The Nebraska track and field team won 15 titles at the Nebraska Tune-Up, the final indoor home meet of the season, on Friday in front of a crowd of 1,929 at the Bob Devaney Sports Center Indoor Track.

The men's weight throw competition provided excitement, with three Huskers moving up on the NU top-10 list during the event. Alencar Pereira had the No. 2 throw in school history with a mark of 69-8 (21.23m) to finish as the top collegiate finisher. James Joycey was third with a toss of 68-7 (20.90m) to move into No. 4 all-time in the event, while Burger Lambrechts Jr. was fourth with a distance of 67-9 (20.65m) to move up to No. 5 in the event in NU history.

Nebraska began the day on the track, sweeping the 60-meter hurdles. Winsome Harris won the women's race with a time of 8.62 and Karlie Moore was the runner-up in 8.93. In the men's 60-meter hurdles, Darius Luff took the title with a personal-best time of 7.84, just missing an NU top-10 time by .03 seconds.

The Huskers had the 1-2 punch in both 60-meter dashes. Darby Thomas won the women's 60-meters in 7.60 and Taylor Johnson was second in a PR of 7.72. Matthew Brown claimed the men's title in 6.76 and was trailed by Lorenzo Paissan with a time of 6.85 to take second.

Nebraska also captured both 400-meter titles. Tony Nou won the men's title in 47.34, while Moore ran a PR of 57.50 to win the women's race. 

Members of the distance squad showed their quickness in the 600 and 800 meters. Jessi Smith took the women's 600 meters in a time of 1:34.16 and Emma Bresser was second in a time of 1:34.24. Elsa Forsberg won the 800-meter crown in a personal-best time of 2:13.22, while Judi Jones was the runner-up with a PR of 2:15.64. Daniel Mattern finished second in the men's 800 meters, clocking in at 1:55.55.

Grace Pagone wrapped up action on the track, winning the women's 3,000 meters with a personal-best time of 10:18.43.

Thomas claimed her second title of the day, winning the women's long jump with a leap of 19-2 3/4 (5.86m). LaQwasia Stepney was second in the event at 19-0 1/2 (5.80m), and Zionn Pearson finished third with a leap of 18-9 3/4 (5.73m). In the men's long jump, Luke Russell was the runner-up with a jump of 22-8 1/2 (6.92m) and Passmore Mudundulu was third in 22-6 1/2 (6.87m).

Zionn Pearson was also the top collegiate finisher in the triple jump with a personal-best mark of 38-5 1/2 (11.72m). Mudundulu was the runner-up in the men's triple jump with a distance of 44-9 1/2 (13.65m).

Kristina Insingo picked up her fourth shot put title of the season, capturing the title with a toss of 52-4 3/4 (15.97m). Maddie Harris was the runner-up in the women's shot put with a throw of 46-9 (14.25m). Kevin Shubert was also victorious in the shot put, winning the men's crown with a throw of 57-5 (17.50m).

Madi Scholl and Madison Yerigan both cleared 5-5 3/4 (1.67m) in the women's high jump to finish first and second, respectively.

One collegiate record went down on Friday. South Dakota pole vaulter Chris Nilsen, a three-time NCAA champion, destroyed his own Devaney Center record, clearing 19-5 1/2 (5.93m) and shredding his previous Devaney Center record of 19-0 3/4 (5.81m), set at the adidas Classic earlier this season. Nilsen's clearance was good for a new collegiate record, bettering Mondo Duplantis's record of 19-5 (5.92m) set in 2019.

The Huskers will head to Geneva, Ohio, next week for the Big Ten Indoor Championships. Competition begins on Friday, Feb. 28 at 9:50 a.m. (CT) and the meet will commence on Saturday, Feb. 29 at 10 a.m. (CT).