Story by NU Athletic Communications
Nebraska track and field is set to compete at the Bryan Clay Invitational in Azusa, Calif. this weekend. Running events start at Cougar Athletic Stadium on Thursday at 6:45 p.m. (CT), while picking back up Friday at 9 a.m. (CT) and Saturday at 9:30 a.m. (CT).
Bryan Clay Invitational Meet InformationDate: Thursday-Saturday, April 11-13Location: Azusa, Calif. (Cougar Athletic Stadium)Start Times (CT): Thursday - Running Events: 6:45 p.m.; Friday - Running Events: 9 a.m.; Saturday - Running Events: 9:30 a.m.Meet Schedule: LinkLive Results: LinkWatch: Link
NCAA LeadersNebraska has 17 athletes that currently rank inside the top 20 of the NCAA in their respective events:
Rhema Otabor, Javelin, 191-10 (58.47m), No. 1 NCAAAxelina Johansson, Shot Put, 60-11 ¼ (18.57m), No. 2 NCAARhianna Phipps, Triple Jump, 43-10 (13.36m), No. 4 NCAAAshley McElmurry, Triple Jump, 43-9 (13.33m), No. 5 NCAAEniko Sara, Javelin, 177-11 (54.23m), No. 8 NCAAMine De Klerk, Shot Put, 57-4 ¾ (17.49m), No. 10 NCAAMirta Kulisic, Javelin, 175-3 (53.41m), No. 12 NCAAEmanuela Casadei, Javelin, 175-0 (53.35m), No. 13 NCAAAmelia Flynt, Shot Put, 56-1 (17.09m), No. 14 NCAALishanna Ilves, Long Jump, 21-0 (6.40m), No. 18 NCAAHillevi Carlsson, Hammer Throw, 206-3 (62.87m), No. 18 NCAADarius Luff, 110m Hurdles, 13.42, t-No. 4 NCAANiko Schultz, 800m, 1:47.40, No. 8 NCAAMicaylon Moore, Triple Jump, 52-1 (15.87m), No. 7 NCAATerrol Wilson, Triple Jump, 51-9 (15.77m), No. 11 NCAAKevin Shubert, Shot Put, 62-0 ½ (18.91m), No. 15 NCAAHenry Zimmerman, Hammer Throw, 223-4 (68.07m), No. 16 NCAA
All-Time Top-10 PerformancesThe 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. 2Niko Schultz, 800m, 1:47.40, No. 6Kavian Kerr, 200m, 20.76, t-No. 10Mine De Klerk, Shot Put, 57-4 ¾ (17.49m), No. 4Amelia Flynt, Shot Put, 56-1 (17.09m), No. 6Hillevi Carlsson, Hammer Throw, 206-3 (62.87m), No. 2Mine De Klerk, Discus, 181-0 (55.17m), No. 6Darby Thomas, 100m, 11.35, t-No.6Berlyn Schutz, 1500m, 4:19.94, No. 8Eniko Sara, Javelin, 177-11 (54.23m), No. 9Rhianna Phipps, Triple Jump, 43-10 (13.36m), No. 9Ashley McElmurry, Triple Jump, 43-9 (13.33m), t-No. 10
Huskers in the PollsNebraska 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.
The NU women have posted eight marks inside the top-20 nationally, while adding nine Nebraska all-time marks.
Rhema Otabor threw an NCAA-leading 191-10 (58.47m) in her javelin season debut last weekend, while Mirta Kulisic is ranked 12th (175-3, 53.41m) and Emanuela Casadei (175-0, 53.35m) is at 13th in the event. 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 10th in the shot put (57-4 3/4, 17.49m) and Hillevi Carlsson is 18th in the hammer throw (206-3, 62.87m). In the jumps, Ashley McElmurry posted a 43-9 (13.33m) in the triple jump over the weekend to move up to fifth in the NCAA and Lishanna Ilves ranks 18th in the long jump with a 21-0 (6.40m).
In Tuesday's polls, the Husker women were also 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 fourth in the NCAA with a 13.42 in the 110m hurdles, Niko Schultz is eighth in the 800m with a 1:47.40, Micaylon Moore is ninth in the triple jump with a 52-1 (15.87m), Terrol Wilson is 11th in the triple jump with a 51-9 (15.77m) and Kevin Shubert is 15th in the shot put with a 62-0 ½ (18.91m).
Otabor Tabbed Big Ten Field Athlete of the WeekNebraska track and field's Rhema Otabor claimed the Big Ten Women's Field Athlete of the Week honor, announced by the conference office on Wednesday.
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 AwardsJan. 17: Henry Zimmerman, Men's Field Athlete of the WeekJan. 24: Henry Zimmerman, Men's Field Athlete of the WeekFeb. 7: Till Steinforth, Men's Field Athlete of the WeekFeb. 21: Brithton Senior, Men’s Track Athlete of the WeekFeb. 21: Micaylon Moore, Men’s Field Athlete of the WeekApril 10: Rhema Otabor, Women's Field Athlete of the Week
2024 Indoor Season RecapThe 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 RecapNebraska’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.