Tag: Nebraska Track and Field

Husker qualifies for South African Olympic Team

Mine De Klerk finished second in the shotput with a throw of 17.09 meters and will now head to Paris for the Summer Games. 

A Nebraska Track and Field Athlete has finished as a runner-up at the African Athletic Championships and is now an Olympic qualifier. Mine de Klerk finished second in the shotput with a throw of 17.09 meters and will now head to Paris for the Summer Games.

De Klerk started her career at Oregon, where she spent two years (2022-2023) before transferring to Nebraska. While at Oregon, the Ducks won back-to-back Pac-12 Outdoor Team Championships.

In her first season at Nebraska, she won the Big Ten Indoor shotput title and qualified for the NCAA Indoor Championships, where she finished seventh and was named a first-team all-American.

De Klerk also finished third at the Big Ten Outdoor Championships.

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Johansson wins Swedish National Championship and qualifies for Summer Olympics

Axelina Johansson threw the shotput 18.97m to win the Swedish National Championship and qualify for the Swedish Olympic Team in the upcoming Paris Games this summer. 

Another Nebraska Track and Field athlete has qualified for the upcoming Summer Olympics. Axelina Johansson threw the shotput 18.97m to win the Swedish National Championship and qualify for the Swedish Olympic Team in the upcoming Paris Games this summer.

Johansson is an accomplished athlete for the Cornhuskers. She has finished in third place twice (2022 and 2024) and won the title in 2023  at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

She also finished as a bronze medalist in the shot put in the 2023 European Athletic Team Championship. Johansson finished 13th at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest in August 2023.

The women’s shot put qualifications at the 2024 Paris Olympics on August 8th.

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Otabor wins Bahamian Championship and qualifies for Paris Olympics

Rhema Otabor won the javelin at the Bahamian Championship in the javelin with a throw of 58.18 meters and will head to Paris later this summer.

A Nebraska Track and Field athlete has qualified for the summer Olympics. Rhema Otabor won the javelin at the Bahamian Championship with a throw of 58.18 meters and will head to Paris later this summer.

Otabor has had a successful year. She won her second consecutive NCAA title. Her throw of 64.19 meters broke the collegiate record, the NCAA Championship meet record, the Nebraska school record, and the Bahamian record.

With the title, Otabor ended her Nebraska career as a three-time First-Team All-American, a two-time NCAA Champion, and a two-time Big Ten Champion. Otabor is also the first Husker to win back-to-back titles since 2003-04.

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Nebraska track and field sends nine athletes to the Olympic Trials

The Trials will take place in Eugene, Oregon, from June 21-30. 

Nebraska track and field is sending nine athletes to the United States Olympic Trials. The Trials will take place in Eugene, Oregon, from June 21-30.

The Cornhuskers have 49 Olympians in school history and will look to add to the number over the eight days of the event.

Schedule for Nebraska athletes (all times central):
Friday, June 21
Men’s Javelin Qualifying Round (5:30 p.m.) – Dash Sirmon
Men’s Shot Put Qualifying Round (8:15 p.m.) – Kevin Shubert
Women’s Triple Jump Qualifying Round (8:50 p.m.) – Ashley McElmurry

Saturday, June 22
Women’s High Jump Qualifying Round (7 p.m.) – Jenna Rogers
Women’s Triple Jump Final (8:20 p.m.) – Ashley McElmurry
Men’s Shot Put Final (8:40 p.m.) – Kevin Shubert

Sunday, June 23
Men’s Javelin Final (6:40 p.m.) – Dash Sirmon

Monday, June 24
Men’s 110m Hurdles Round One (7:05 p.m.) – Darius Luff
Women’s High Jump Final (7:15 p.m.) – Jenna Rogers

Thursday, June 27
Men’s High Jump Qualifying Round (7 p.m.) – Tyus Wilson
Men’s 110m Hurdles Semifinal (7:01 p.m.) – Darius Luff
Men’s 200m Round One (9:33 p.m.) – Garrett Kaalund

Friday, June 28
Women’s Javelin Qualifying Round (6 p.m.) – Maddie Harris
Men’s Triple Jump Qualifying Round (8:20 p.m.) – Micaylon Moore
Men’s 200m Semifinal (9:28 p.m.) – Garrett Kaalund
Men’s 110m Final (9:50 p.m.) – Darius Luff

Saturday, June 29
Men’s 200m Final (8:49 p.m.) – Garrett Kaalund

Sunday, June 30
Men’s High Jump Final (5:30 p.m.) – Tyus Wilson
Men’s Triple Jump Final (5:55 p.m.) – Micaylon Moore
Women’s Javelin Final (6:10 p.m.) – Maddie Harris

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Otabor named semifinalist for The Bowerman

Rhema Otabor was one of ten athletes across the NCAA named semifinalist for The 2024 Bowerman. 

A Nebraska track and field athlete has been named a semifinalist for one of the sport’s top awards. Rhema Otabor was one of ten athletes across the NCAA named semifinalist for The 2024 Bowerman.

The Bowerman, presented by the USTFCCA, is considered the highest accolade given to outstanding college male and female track and field athletes. For the second straight year, Otabor won the NCAA Javelin Championship.

Otabor is Nebraska’s first semifinalist for the award in program history. Three women and three men will be announced as finalists on June 24.

The Bowerman winners are announced on Dec. 19 at the USTFCCCA Convention in Orlando, Florida.

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Lincoln Mayor declares June 7 Darius Luff Day

Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird has declared June 7 to be Darius Luff Day in honor of the 2024 NCAA 110m Hurdles Champion. 

A Nebraska athlete has received a special honor from the city of Lincoln. Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird has declared June 7 to be Darius Luff Day in honor of the 2024 NCAA 110m Hurdles Champion.

“Darius Luff’s journey from Lincoln High School to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and onto national victory is an inspiration to us all. We celebrate his outstanding contributions and wish him the best as he competes in the Olympic Trials, embodying the spirit of perseverance and excellence that can inspire us to clear hurdles on our path to success, both in sport and in life. Go, Darius, go, Links, and go Big Red!”

The Lincoln native won the 110 m hurdles at the NCAA Outdoor Championship on June 7, clocking 13.19 seconds. With this win, he became the first 110m hurdles national champion in school history.

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Tyus Wilson named Big Ten Field Athlete of the Year

Nebraska high jumper Tyus Wilson was named the Big Ten Men’s Field Athlete of the Year on Thursday. 

Nebraska high jumper Tyus Wilson was named the Big Ten Men’s Field Athlete of the Year on Thursday. Wilson becomes the first Husker to win the conference award since current coach and former Olympian Dusty Jonas in 2008.

Wilson hit a personal-best height of 7-6 (2.29m) to win the Big Ten title. That height is also the best clearance in the NCAA this season.

He was the NCAA Outdoor runner-up in the high jump, clearing 7-3 3/4. The junior is a three-time First-Team All-American and a two-time Big Ten Champion.

Big Ten Outdoor Track and Field Awards
Men’s Track Athlete of the Year: Cheickna Traore, Penn State
Men’s Field Athlete of the Year: Tyus Wilson, Nebraska
Men’s Freshman of the Year: Angelos Mantzouranis, Minnesota
Women’s Track Athlete of the Year: Savannah Sutherland, Michigan
Women’s Field Athlete of the Year: Rose Yeboah, Illinois
Women’s Freshman of the Year: Zoie Dundon, Minnesota

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Rhema Otabor sets collegiate record in javelin with her second-straight championship

For the second year in a row, a Nebraska track and field athlete has won the national championship in the javelin.

For the second year in a row, a Nebraska track and field athlete has won the national championship in the javelin. This time, however, they also set a new collegiate record.

Rhema Otabor secured her second-consecutive NCAA title on Thursday night, launching the javelin 210 feet, 7 inches (64.19 meters), a record-breaking mark. That distance broke the collegiate record, the NCAA Championship meet record, the Nebraska school record, and the Bahamian record.

With the title, Otabor closes out her collegiate career as a three-time First-Team All-American, a two-time NCAA Champion, and a two-time Big Ten Champion. Otabor is also the first Husker to win back-to-back titles since 2003-04.

Nebraska sent three female throwers to nationals in the javelin along with Otabor. Eniko Sara added to the Huskers javelin success, tossing a personal-best 182 feet, 7 inches (55.66 meters) to finish fifth, earning First-Team All-America honors at her first-career NCAA Championship meet. This is also the fifth-best javelin mark in school history.

Mirta Kulisic finished 15th with a distance of 170 feet (51.82 meters), and Emanuela Casadei took 19th place with a throw of 164 feet, 10 inches (50.24 meters).

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Darius Luff wins NCAA 110-meter Hurdles Championship

The Nebraska track and field team won another title at the NCAA Championship on Friday night.

On Friday night, the Nebraska track and field team won another title at the NCAA Championships. Darius Luff took home the gold in the 110-meter hurdles, concluding his collegiate career on a high note.

Luff is the second Husker to secure a title, joining Rhema Otabor, who won the women’s javelin on Thursday night. Luff took the gold in the race with a personal best run of 13.19 seconds.

Luff completed the outdoor season after finishing 14th in the NCAA Indoor Championship in March. He also won the Big Ten Outdoor Championship in the 110-meter hurdles, running a 13.25 to earn the win.

He concluded his collegiate career at Nebraska with four First Team USTFCCCA All-America honors, two in the 60-meter hurdles and two in the 110-meter hurdles.

The champion will now compete in the USA Olympic Trials for a chance to represent Team USA in the 2024 Paris Olympics. The trials are set to begin on June 21. The men’s 110-meter hurdles is set to run on June 24 at 5:05 p.m. PST.

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Zimmerman breaks the school record in weight throw

The Nebraska track and field team opened its 2024 season by making school history.

The Nebraska track and field team opened its 2024 season by making school history. Henry Zimmerman began his season by breaking the school record in the men’s weight throw.

Zimmerman broke the record with a toss of 73 feet, 6 inches (22.40 meters), surpassing Alex Talley’s throw of 73 feet, 3 1/2 inches (22.34 meters), which he set back in December 2021. Zimmerman took it further by topping his record-setting throw with a launch of 73 feet and 6 3/4 inches (22.42 meters).

Zimmerman’s throw also places him first in the nation in the event this season. The second-best throw as of Jan. 12 is by Alabama’s Ruben Banks, with a heave of 73 feet, 2 1/2 inches (22.31 meters). After spending his freshman year at Penn State, Zimmerman is in his second season at Nebraska.

Last year, as a sophomore, Zimmerman sat third in school history for the weight throw with a toss of 71 feet and 3 1/4 inches (21.72 meters). Zimmerman’s throw placed him third in the Big Ten Indoor Championship last season.

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