Nebraska track and field wrapped up the Jim Click Shootout with the women bringing home the meet title and the men finishing third. Seven Huskers earned individual titles on Saturday at Arizona’s Drachman Stadium.
The Big Red swept the top-four spots in the women’s shot put, led by reigning national champion Axelina Johansson making her return. With a distance of 60-11 ¼ (18.57m), Johansson currently ranks first in the NCAA. Mine De Klerk finished second with a 57-4 ¾ (17.49m), moving up to fourth in school history and sixth in the NCAA. Amelia Flynt placed third with a 55-11 ¾ (17.06m), a week after throwing a personal-best 56-1 (17.09m) at the Pepsi Florida Relays. Kalynn Meyer added a fourth-place finish with a 53-8 ¼ (16.36m). In the men’s shot put, Kevin Shubert went 62-0 1/2 (18.91m) on his first attempt to win it. Cade Moran threw for 60-8 1/2 (18.50m) to place third.
Darius Luff claimed the 110m hurdles title with a season-best 13.42. That time is among the top-five times clocked in the NCAA so far this season. In the 100m hurdles, Johanna Ilves clocked a 13.56 to place fourth. Ilves added another top-five finish in the 100m, running an 11.88 to cross the line third.
Lishanna Ilves went far on her final long jump attempt to win the event with a 21-0 (6.40m). She led three Huskers in the top five, with Velecia Williams taking runner-up honors with a 20-9 1/4 (6.33m) and Darby Thomas finishing fifth with a 19-7 1/2 (5.98m). Bariborve Deebom added a sixth-place finish with a 19-2 ¾ (5.86m). In the men’s long jump, Kavian Kerr went 24-9 (7.54m) to place fourth.
Nebraska swept the triple jumps, with Ashley McElmurry taking the women’s side with a personal-best 43-8 3/4 (13.33m). That mark is the fifth-best in the NCAA this season. Terrol Wilson won the men’s triple jump with an outdoor personal-best of 51-9 (15.77m), ranking eighth in the NCAA.
Kavian Kerr brought home the 200m title, running a personal-best 20.76. Arianna Walker ran a 24.16 to finish sixth in the women’s 200m. Lorenzo Paissan took sixth in the 100m with a time of 10.76.
Freshman Mason Kooi continues to improve as the season goes on, as he hit a new personal-best with a 6-11 3/4 (2.13m) in the high jump. That mark put him in second among the field. Reid Nelson placed sixth with a 6-8 ¾ (2.05m).
De Klerk threw for 176-10 (53.91m) in the discus to claim third place, while Meyer took sixth with a 172-4 (52.54m). Tyler Brown placed sixth in the men’s discus with a 176-4 (53.75m).
Kylie Clark cleared a personal-best 12-11 3/4 (3.96m) in the pole vault to take fourth. Hannah Preissler added a seventh-place finish with a 12-8 (3.86m). Brooklyn Miller cleared 5-7 (1.70m) in the high jump to tie for fifth.
Cory Berg and Joseph Clifford each pitched in a top-five finish in the 400m hurdles, with Berg running a 53.14 (third) and Clifford running a 53.20 (fourth). Karlie Moore was Nebraska’s top finisher on the women’s side, with a 1:01.87 to finish 14th.
The Husker women (Williams, Arianna Walker, Deebom, Thomas) ran to second in the 4x100m relay with a 44.97. The women’s 4x400m relay team (Abrielle Artley, Meghan Walker, Lotavia Brown, Moore) placed fourth with a 3:44.59.
In the decathlon, Kolby Heinerikson finished 12th with 6,912 points. He ran a 15.68 in the 110m hurdles, threw 121-0 (36.89m) in the discus, cleared 14-3 ¼ (4.35m) in the pole vault, went 173-4 (52.85m) in the javelin and clocked a 4:52.94 in the 1500m today. In the heptathlon, Favour Wanjoku placed 13th with 4,934 points after going 18-7 ¾ (5.68m) in the long jump, 93-1 (28.39m) in the javelin and 2:34.85 in the 800m during the second day of action.
Next, the Huskers will travel to Azusa, Calif. for the Bryan Clay Invitational taking place April 11-13.
