Nebraska track and field travels to Waco, Texas this weekend for the Michael Johnson Invitational. Field events start at 11 a.m. (CT) and running events start at 5:30 p.m. (CT) on Friday. Saturday’s action begins at the Clyde Hart Track and Field Stadium at 11 a.m. (CT) for field events and 1:30 p.m. (CT) for running events.
Michael Johnson Invitational Meet Information
Date: Friday-Saturday, April 19-20
Location: Waco, Texas (Clyde Hart Track & Field Stadium)
Start Times (CT): Friday – Field Events: 11 a.m. / Running Events: 5:30 p.m.; Saturday – Field Events: 11 a.m. / Running Events: 1:30 p.m.
Meet Schedule: Link
NCAA Leaders
Nebraska has 15 athletes that currently rank inside the top 20 of the NCAA in their respective events:
Rhema Otabor, Javelin, 191-10 (58.47m), No. 1 NCAA
Axelina Johansson, Shot Put, 60-11 ¼ (18.57m), No. 2 NCAA
Rhianna Phipps, Triple Jump, 43-10 (13.36m), No. 5 NCAA
Ashley McElmurry, Triple Jump, 43-9 (13.33m), No. 7 NCAA
Eniko Sara, Javelin, 177-11 (54.23m), No. 8 NCAA
Mine De Klerk, Shot Put, 57-4 ¾ (17.49m), No. 11 NCAA
Mirta Kulisic, Javelin, 175-3 (53.41m), No. 12 NCAA
Emanuela Casadei, Javelin, 175-0 (53.35m), No. 13 NCAA
Amelia Flynt, Shot Put, 56-1 (17.09m), No. 18 NCAA
Darius Luff, 110m Hurdles, 13.42, t-No. 8 NCAA
Micaylon Moore, Triple Jump, 52-1 (15.87m), No. 10 NCAA
Terrol Wilson, Triple Jump, 51-9 (15.77m), No. 13 NCAA
Niko Schultz, 800m, 1:47.40, No. 13 NCAA
Henry Zimmerman, Hammer Throw, 223-4 (68.07m), No. 18 NCAA
Kevin Shubert, Shot Put, 62-0 ½ (18.91m), No. 20 NCAA
All-Time Top-10 Performances
The following Huskers have either improved their marks or cracked the all-time top-10 outdoor charts at Nebraska this season:
Henry Zimmerman, Hammer Throw, 223-4 (68.07m), No. 2
Niko Schultz, 800m, 1:47.40, No. 6
Kavian Kerr, 200m, 20.76, t-No. 10
Brynna McQuillen, 5000m, 16:13.75, No. 2
Mine De Klerk, Shot Put, 57-4 ¾ (17.49m), No. 4
Amelia Flynt, Shot Put, 56-1 (17.09m), No. 6
Hillevi Carlsson, Hammer Throw, 206-3 (62.87m), No. 2
Mine De Klerk, Discus, 181-0 (55.17m), No. 6
Darby Thomas, 100m, 11.35, t-No.6
Berlyn Schutz, 1500m, 4:17.31, No. 7
Ali Bainbridge, 5000m, 16:29.39, No. 8
Eniko Sara, Javelin, 177-11 (54.23m), No. 9
Rhianna Phipps, Triple Jump, 43-10 (13.36m), No. 9
Ashley McElmurry, Triple Jump, 43-9 (13.33m), t-No. 10
Huskers in the Polls
Nebraska track and field moved up seven spots in the USTFCCCA week three women’s rankings, coming in at fourth. That marks the highest team ranking for the women’s program since being No. 4 in the 2006 final poll. After a majority of the team had a week off of competing, the women came in at No. 12 in the week four poll.
The NU women have posted nine marks inside the top-20 nationally, while adding 11 Nebraska all-time marks.
Rhema Otabor threw an NCAA-leading 191-10 (58.47m) in her javelin season debut last weekend, while Eniko Sara is eighth with a 177-11 (54.23m), Mirta Kulisic is ranked 12th with a 175-3 (53.41m) and Emanuela Casadei is at 13th in the event with a 175-0 (53.35m). Adding to the throws success, reigning national champion Axelina Johansson has the second-best shot put mark of the season 60-11 1/4 (18.57m), Mine De Klerk is 11th in the shot put (57-4 3/4, 17.49m) and Amelia Flynt is 18th (56-1, 17.09m). In the triple jump, Rhianna Phipps is fifth with a 43-10 (13.36m) and Ashley McElmurry is seventh with a 43-9 (13.33m).
In Tuesday’s polls, the Husker women were ranked first in the Big Ten Conference, while being named the top-ranked long jump, shot put and javelin event squads in the country.
On the men’s side, Darius Luff is tied for eighth in the NCAA with a 13.42 in the 110m hurdles, Niko Schultz is 13th in the 800m with a 1:47.40, Micaylon Moore is 10th in the triple jump with a 52-1 (15.87m), Terrol Wilson is 13th in the triple jump with a 51-9 (15.77m), Henry Zimmerman is 18th in the hammer throw with a 223-4 (68.07m) and Kevin Shubert is 20th in the shot put with a 62-0 ½ (18.91m).
Otabor Tabbed Big Ten Field Athlete of the Week
Nebraska track and field’s Rhema Otabor claimed the Big Ten Women’s Field Athlete of the Week honor, announced by the conference office on April 10.
Otabor threw an NCAA-leading mark in the javelin on Friday at the Jim Click Shootout to lead a Nebraska top-four sweep. The 191-10 (58.47m) is currently first in the NCAA and won her the title during her season debut. The senior from Nassau, Bahamas is the reigning NCAA Champion and Big Ten Champion in the javelin, while she also holds the No. 2 mark in school history.
This is Nebraska’s first conference weekly award during the outdoor season, but its sixth overall during 2024. The last time a Husker woman won a Big Ten weekly award was when Otabor brought in the same honor last season on April 26.
The next meets for the Huskers include the Bryan Clay Invitational April 11-13 in Azusa, Calif., and the Michael Johnson Invitational April 19-20 in Waco, Texas.
Nebraska’s 2024 Big Ten Track & Field Weekly Awards
Jan. 17: Henry Zimmerman, Men’s Field Athlete of the Week
Jan. 24: Henry Zimmerman, Men’s Field Athlete of the Week
Feb. 7: Till Steinforth, Men’s Field Athlete of the Week
Feb. 21: Brithton Senior, Men’s Track Athlete of the Week
Feb. 21: Micaylon Moore, Men’s Field Athlete of the Week
April 10: Rhema Otabor, Women’s Field Athlete of the Week
2024 Indoor Season Recap
The Husker men and women closed the indoor season inside the top 25, with the men tying for 12th and the women claiming 25th at the NCAA Championships. Out of 12 Husker entries, eight earned First-Team All-America honors by placing in the top eight.
Till Steinforth recorded his highest-career NCAA finish in the heptathlon to finish third, a day after becoming the first Husker to become a long jump First-Team All-American in the last decade with a seventh-place finish. The last Husker to place third or higher in the heptathlon at the NCAA Indoor Championships was Björn Barrefors in 2009. Tyus Wilson and Jenna Rogers each pitched in a top-eight finish in the high jump, while Micaylon Moore represented NU as a First-Team All-American in the triple jump. Rhianna Phipps placed fifth in the triple jump, Mine De Klerk took seventh in the shot put and Henry Zimmerman finished seventh in the weight throw to round out Nebraska’s First-Team All-Americans.
With Nebraska sending 11 athletes and 12 entries to the NCAA Championships, that marked the most athletes to qualify for the NCAA Indoor Championships since 2010 and the most entries since 2011.
At the Big Ten Championships, the Husker men finished second as a team, only four points behind Wisconsin. The women finished in eighth. Wilson (high jump), Moore (triple jump), Steinforth (long jump) and De Klerk (shot put) brought in Big Ten titles.
Zimmerman broke the weight throw school record on four occasions, while Berlyn Schutz broke the school record in the mile as a freshman. Altogether, 26 performances either broke into the all-time list for the first time or moved up the list during the indoor season.
2023 Outdoor Season Recap
Nebraska’s last outdoor season was marked by the men claiming the Big Ten title and the women finishing third. Both finishes were the best placements since the 2016 season. The team combined for 12 event titles throughout the meet. The women, powered by Axelina Johansson (shot put) and Rhema Otabor (javelin) bringing in NCAA titles, took eighth place at the NCAA Championships. That was the best finish since the 2006 season, when the Huskers tied for fourth. The men tied for 17th, their best team finish in seven years. The men and women combined for eight First-Team All-America honors, seven school records and 32 new top-10 marks throughout the outdoor season.
