Huskers Finish With Nine Titles at Graduate Classic

The Nebraska track and field team combined for four individual titles and relay victories on the second day of the Graduate Classic at the Devaney Center Indoor Track on Saturday. The Huskers finished the two-day meet with nine event victories. 

Mayson Conner won the men’s high jump with the best clearance in the Big Ten this season of 7-2 1/2 (2.20m). That height is tied for second in the NCAA this season. Tyus Wilson and Ashriel Dixon both cleared 6-8 3/4 (2.05m) to place third and fifth, respectively.

Taylor Latimer won the women’s shot put title with a mark of 53-10 1/2 (16.42m), which puts her at No. 9 all-time in Nebraska indoor history. Latimer’s throw was also the third-best in the Big Ten this season so far and a top-10 throw nationally. Kalynn Meyer was the runner-up with a personal-best throw of 53-3 3/4 (16.25m), which put her at No. 10 in school history. 

Kevin Shubert won the men’s shot put with a distance of 63-2 1/4 (19.26m) on his first attempt. That mark is now second in the Big Ten and sixth in the nation this season. It’s also only half an inch off his previous personal best that he set last year. Combined with Maxwell Otterdahl’s and Latimer’s wins in the weight throw on Friday night, the Huskers swept all four throwing events in the meet. 

Hannah Preissler was crowned the women’s pole vault champion, clearing a personal-best 12-9 1/2 (3.90m). Jessica Gardner finished third with a height of 12-3 1/2 (3.75m).

Ashley McElmurry was the women’s triple jump runner-up with a jump of 38-7 (11.76m), while Zionn Pearson took third place at 38-6 3/4 (11.75m). 

Johanna Ilves clocked an 8.51 in the women’s 60m hurdles to finish as runner-up. In the men’s 60m, Chris Ramsey finished second with a 6.88. Lorenzo Paissan clocked a 21.71 in the men’s 200m to place third.

The Husker men (Omar Rodgers, Nick Bryant, Julian Watson, Terrol Wilson) took second place in the 4x400m relay with a time of 3:16.17. In the women’s 4×400 relay, Nebraska finished third (Lotavia Brown, Karlie Moore, Ilves, Meghan Walker) with a time of 3:53.79.

The Huskers return to action next weekend with two events. Nebraska will compete in the Prairie Wolf Invitational on Friday, Jan. 20 and is set to host the Mark Colligan Memorial on Saturday, Jan. 21 at the Devaney Center Indoor Track. Azusa Pacific, Colorado State, Missouri and Utah State are set to compete against the Huskers at this year’s Mark Colligan Memorial.