Nebraska track and field opened the Tyson Invitational on Friday with two titles, three athletes moving up on the all-time list and two marks ranking in the top-five of the NCAA.
Henry Zimmerman broke the weight throw school record for the fourth time this season, winning the event with a 75-2 (22.91m). That mark puts him at No. 2 in the conference and No. 4 in the NCAA this season. Josh Marcy added an eighth-place finish with a personal-best distance of 65-11 1/2 (20.10m). Cammy Garabian and Ariel Ammentorp posted fourth- and fifth-place finishes in the women’s weight throw with distances of 64-11 1/2 (19.80m) and 64-8 1/2 (19.72m). Ammentorp’s mark improved upon her distance that ranks ninth all-time.
Brynna McQuillen secured the 3000m title, shaving eight seconds off her previous personal-best. Her 9:26.46 moved her up to No. 6 in school history. Ali Bainbridge added a ninth-place finish with a personal-best 9:40.68.
Micaylon Moore went 23-11 3/4 (7.31m) in the men’s long jump, placing fourth. In the invitational section of the long jump, Kavian Kerr grabbed sixth with a distance of 24-9 3/4 (7.56m). Ashley McElmurry and Darby Thomas claimed eighth and ninth in the long jump with season-best marks of 19-6 3/4 (5.96m) and 19-0 3/4 (5.81m). Velecia Williams placed ninth in the invitational section of the long jump with a leap of 19-11 (6.07m).
Darius Luff punched his ticket to the 60m hurdles final, crossing the line at 7.65 in the prelim. His time is the fastest time in the Big Ten this season and the fifth-fastest time in the NCAA. In the final, Luff placed fifth with a time of 7.75.
Johanna Ilves moved on to the prelims after posting an 8.44 in the qualifier. In the prelims, Ilves placed 12th with a PR 8.35, moving up to seventh in school history.
In the 60m, Thomas ran a PR 7.49 to finish 10th in the qualifiers, while Jeremiah Smith was NU’s top finisher on the men’s side, clocking a personal-best 6.82.
Abrielle Artley won her heat of the women’s 400m, clocking a personal-best 55.10 to place 20th overall out of 15 heats. Nick Bryant was Nebraska’s top finisher in the men’s 400m, placing 25th out of over 60 runners with a time of 47.34.
The Tyson Invitational continues tomorrow with field events scheduled for 10:30 p.m. (CT) and running events beginning at 12:30 p.m. (CT).