Johansson, Moran Throw Record Marks to Complete Big Red Classic

The Nebraska track and field team wrapped up day two of the Big Red Classic, claiming 17 event titles over the two days of competition. 

In the final event of the day, Axelina Johansson threw an outdoor school record mark of 19.62m (64-4 ½) with her final shot put throw of the meet. The indoor national champion now holds the facility record and the best mark in the NCAA this season. 

For an outdoor personal record, Cade Moran threw 20.21m (66-3 ¾) for the fourth-best mark in outdoor school history for men’s shot put. Hencu Lamberts used a strong throw of 19.75m (64-9 ¾) to earn a third-place finish. 

Brett Schwartz began the final day of the Big Red Classic by throwing the discus for a length enough for fourth in school history. His throw of 61.75m (202-7) marked a personal best for the junior from Carbondale, Kan. Taking third with a mark of 57.69m (189-3) was Kael Miedema. 

Mason Kooi harnessed second-place in the men’s high jump, clearing 2.10m (6-10 ¾). Ela Velepec claimed second in the women’s high jump, clearing 1.75m (5-8 ¾). EJ Brown finished in third, clearing 1.75m (5-8 ¾) on her last attempt.

In the women’s 4x100, the quad of Elo Blessing Okpah, Rajer Gurode, Victoria Aransiola, and Timeke-Jade Coetzee notched a title with a time of 46.39. The men’s team of Jacorric Allen, Richard Simpson, Ashriel Dixon, and Xavier Bogan took second for a time of 41.67. 

Finishing after the relay was Nebraska’s Ashmika Korala in the men’s triple jump with a winning mark of 14.92m (48-11 ½). Winning the women’s triple jump was true freshman Whitney Robinson with a 12.47m (40-11) mark. 

The freshman Dennis Chapman from Omaha, Neb., competed in the 1500m for a time of 3:53.04. His first time in the event gave him a winning time over eight other runners. On the women’s side, Alea Hardie finished in second, running a new personal best of 4:30.55 and Cami Merickel claimed third with a time of 4:37.71.

With a mark of 53.82m (176-7), Amelia Flynt took first in the women’s discus.

In a wind-aided 100m hurdle race, Grace Parsons raced to an event title with an unofficial personal best time of 13.98. Ava Goetz took third with a time of 14.59.

In the men’s 110m hurdles, Luke Noland crossed the finish line in 14.52 for his first event-winning place of the weekend. 

Picking up personal bests in the 400m, James Ledbetter ran 47.69, earning second. William McDavid circled the track in 50.22, claiming sixth.  

Okpah and Gurode took first and second in the 100m sprint with times of 11.61 and 11.67, respectively. With an unofficial personal best, Ashriel Dixon came in at second for the men with a time of 10.41. 

The men’s and women’s 4x400m relay teams both notched first-place finishes in their respective events, with the men running a season-best 3:10.52 and the women running 3:48.15.

The Huskers are back in action starting on Wednesday at the Drake Relays, hosted by Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. Competition will run from Wednesday, April 22, through Saturday, April 25.