Seven student-athletes on the Nebraska track and field team have qualified in a combined eight events for the NCAA Indoor Championships set for Friday-Saturday, March 11-12 at Birmingham CrossPlex in Birmingham, Ala.
The eight entries are the most for the Huskers at the NCAA Indoor Championships since qualifying eight in 2015.
Nebraska's qualifiers are Darius Luff (60m hurdles), Mayson Conner (high jump), Jenna Rogers (high jump), Darby Thomas (long jump), Burger Lambrechts Jr. (shot put), Alex Talley (shot put, weight throw) and Axelina Johansson (shot put).
Talley is the first men's thrower to qualify for the NCAA Indoor Championships in the shot put and weight throw in school history. Janis Leitis and Mara Griva are the last Huskers to compete in multiple field events at the NCAA Indoor Championships, with both competing in the long jump and triple jump in 2013.
Talley ranks ninth nationally in the shot put and weight throw. The Big Ten champion in the weight throw set a school record this season with a throw of 73-3 1/2 (22.34m) at the K-State Winter Invitational. Talley placed second in the shot put at the Big Ten Indoor Championships and sits fifth all-time in program history with a mark of 65-7 (19.99m) in his win at the K-State Winter Invitational.
Lambrechts Jr. ranks seventh nationally in the shot put after his season-best throw of 65-3 (20.19m) won him the Big Ten title for the second consecutive season. In 2021, Lambrechts Jr. was a USTFCCCA First-Team All-American with a fifth-place finish at the NCAA Indoor Championships, the best finish by a Husker male in the shot put at the NCAA Indoor Championships since 2004.
Conner sits eighth in the country in the high jump after clearing a season-best height of 7-3 1/4 (2.22m) to win the Tyson Invitational this season. Conner won the Big Ten title with a clearance of 7-2 1/2 (2.20m) and has led the Big Ten in the high jump all season.
Luff is tied for ninth nationally in the 60m hurdles with a personal-best time of 7.67. The Lincoln native leads the Big Ten this year and moved into a tie for third all-time in program history after clocking the 7.67 at the Tyson Invitational.
Johansson is ranked third nationally in the shot put after throwing a season-best 59-9 3/4 (18.23m) at the Frank Sevigne Husker Invite, which ranks her second in program history. Johansson finished third at the Big Ten Indoor Championships in her first season at Nebraska.
Thomas is tied for eighth nationally in the long jump with a personal-best leap of 21-5 1/2 (6.54m) at the Nebraska Tune-Up. Thomas took home the Big Ten title in the long jump with a jump of 20-11 3/4 at the Big Ten Indoor Championships and currently ranks No. 3 all-time in program history in the long jump.
Rogers is tied for 10th nationally in the high jump with a clearance of 6-0 3/4 (1.85m) at the Tyson Invitational this season. Rogers is currently tied for eighth in program history and is the highest ranked Big Ten high jumper this season, while winning the Big Ten title at the Big Ten Indoor Championships with a height of 5-11 1/4 (1.81m).
