Huskers Collect Top Finishes on First Day in Waco

Nebraska track and field completed its first day at the Michael Johnson Invitational in Waco, Texas on Friday, highlighted by three runner-up finishes and 10 personal-best performances. 

A trio of Huskers claimed top-five placements in the women’s discus. Kalynn Meyer hit a personal-best mark (175-9, 53.58m) to earn the runner-up finish. That is the eighth-best mark in school history. Betty Rosvold took third with a 172-2 (52.48m) and Taylor Latimer placed fourth with a personal-best 171-10 (52.37m).

Maxwell Otterdahl (188-2, 57.35m) and Jonah Wilson (183-6, 55.94m) each pitched in season-best marks in the men’s discus, placing fourth and fifth. 

Latimer led the Big Red in the women’s hammer throw, finishing third with a personal-best distance of 202-4 (61.68m). That mark moves Latimer up to fourth on the all-time list. Tanessa Morris and Hillevi Carlsson added top-five placements with marks of 200-8 (61.16m) and 196-10 (60.00m), respectively.

In the men’s hammer throw, Otterdahl claimed the runner-up finish with a personal-best 197-2 (60.11m). Nick Ronnfeldt posted a personal-best 188.07 (57.50m) to place sixth, while Josh Marcy finished eighth with a personal-best 184-4 (56.18m).

Kavian Kerr brought in runner-up honors with a 25-3 1/4 (7.70m) in the men’s long jump. Michael Hoffer leaped 24-1 3/4 (7.36m) to take fourth.

Ashley McElmurry set a wind-aided personal-best mark in the women’s long jump, placing third with a 20-6 1/4 (6.25m). Zionn Pearson finished fifth with a 20-4 1/2 (6.21m).

Taya Skelton ran a personal-best 4:35.14 in the 1500m, finishing third. Cami Merickel added a sixth-place finish with a 4:35.96. In the 5000m, Emma Ralston clocked a 17:31.12 to place fifth.

Omar Rodgers crossed the line at 52.43 in the men’s 400m hurdles to take fifth, while Joseph Clifford placed ninth with a personal-best 52.90. Karlie Moore clocked a personal-best 1:01.19 in the women’s 400m hurdles to finish 10th.

Nebraska is set to return to action tomorrow at 11 a.m. (CT) for field events and 12 p.m. (CT) for running events.