Huskers Punch Four NCAA Tickets on Thursday

College Station, Texas - Nebraska track and field added four NCAA Championship bids on Thursday at the NCAA West Preliminary Round, increasing the Husker total to eight with two days remaining. 

Javelin throwers Maddie Harris and Eniko Sara were the first Huskers on Thursday to qualify for Eugune. Harris finished fourth, launching 56.82m (186-5), and Sara was seventh (54.73m, 179-6). Jenessa Ruder also competed for Nebraska, placing 39th and throwing 43.32m (142-1). 

Nebraska increased its qualifier count to eight throwers overall as Kalynn Meyer and Kellyn Kortemeyer finished in the top 12 of the women’s shot put. Meyer threw a personal-best and fourth-farthest mark in school history (17.96m, 58-11 ¼) to place second, while Kortemeyer finished 11th, throwing 16.71m (54-10). Amelia Flynt placed 23rd (15.67m, 51-5), and Sage Burbach was 35th (14.87m, 48-9 ½). 

Two Huskers ran personal-best marks to qualify for Saturday’s finals as Darby Thomas improved her second-fastest time in school history (11.26) to place 17th in the 100m and Kelsie Belquist moved on in the 400m, running 52.99 for 24th. Berlyn Schutz also advanced to Saturday’s 1500m finals, as she clocked a 4:20.79 for 24th place. 

In the women’s long jump, Lishanna Ilves jumped a season-best 6.35m (20-10) but it wasn’t quite enough as she finished 13th. Velecia Williams joined Ilves in the event, placing 27th and jumping 6.11m (20-0 ½). 

In the women's 10000m, Ali Bainbridge ran 34:39.70 but fell just short of the top 12 and was 14th. 

Two Huskers competed in the hammer throw with Cammy Garabian throwing 60.76m (199-4) for 19th and Hillevi Carlsson placing 27th (57.82m, 189-8). 

Jacelyn Neighbors and Kylie Clark-Fox competed in the pole vault, as Neighbors placed 25th (4.17m, 13-8 ¼) and Clark-Fox was 36th (4.02m, 13-2 ¼). 

The third day of competition is set to begin tomorrow at 1 p.m. (CT) with field events and 5 p.m. (CT) with running events.

NCAA West Preliminary Round Meet Information
Dates: May 28-31
Location: College Station, Texas (E.B. Cushing Stadium)
Remaining Times (CT): Friday - Field Events: 1 p.m. / Running Events: 5 p.m.; Saturday - Field Events: 1 p.m. / Running Events: 5 p.m.

NCAA West Prelims Results Day 2
Women’s Hammer Throw 
19. Cammy Garabian - 60.76m (199-4)
27. Hillevi Carlsson - 57.82m (189-8)

Women’s Javelin
4. Maddie Harris - 56.82m (186-5)
7. Eniko Sara - 54.73m (179-6)
39. Jenessa Ruder - 43.32m (142-1)

Women’s Long Jump
13. Lishanna Ilves - 6.35m (20-10)
27. Velecia Williams - 6.11m (20-0 ½)

Women’s Pole Vault
25. Jacelyn Neighbors - 4.17m (13-8 ¼)
36. Kylie Clark-Fox - 4.02m (13-2 ¼)

Women’s Shot Put
2. Kalynn Meyer - 17.96m (58-11 ¼)
11. Kellyn Kortemeyer - 16.71m (54-10)
23. Amelia Flynt - 15.67m (51-5)
35. Sage Burbach - 14.87m (48-9 ½)

Women’s 1500m
24. Berlyn Schutz - 4:20.79

Women’s 100m
17. Darby Thomas - 11.26

Women’s 400m
24. Kelsie Belquist - 52.99

Women's 10000m
14. Ali Bainbridge - 34:39.70