Long Jump Paces Huskers at Iowa

The Nebraska track and field team began competition on day one of the Larry Wieczorek Invitational in Iowa City, Iowa on Friday. The Huskers took the track against fellow Big Ten foes Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

The Husker women dominated the long jump with six Huskers taking the top eight spots in the 20-person field. Lishanna Ilves won the individual title with a mark of 20-9 (6.32m), tied for the eighth-best mark in school history. A true freshman, Ilves was competing in her first ever meet as a Husker. 

Darby Thomas took second in the event with an indoor personal-best jump of 20-2 1/4 (6.15m). Johanna Ilves, Lishanna’s older sister, finished fourth with an indoor personal-best jump of 19-8 (5.99m). Ieva Turke jumped 19-5 1/4 (5.92m) and LaQwasia Stepney went 19-4 3/4 (5.91m) finished fifth and sixth, respectively. Ashley McElmurry came in at eighth at 19-0 (5.79m). Stepney and McElmurry also recorded indoor personal bests.

Kevin Shubert won the shot put title with a personal best for the second straight week. Shubert threw a new PR 63-2 3/4 (19.27m) to move up to No. 6 in school history in the event. 

Michael Hoffer was also victorious in the high jump for the second week in a row. Hoffer cleared 6-10 3/4 (2.10m) to edge teammate Lincoln McPhillips (6-6 3/4, 2.00m) for the second time in as many weeks. Cory Berg finished fourth at 6-4 3/4 (1.95m). On the women’s side, Madi Scholl was the runner-up at 5-7 (1.70m), while Petra Luteran cleared the same height and finished fourth. Riley Masten set a personal best of 5-5 (1.65m) to finish fifth. 

In the men’s long jump, Bennet Vinken took second place at 23-10 3/4 (7.28m). Matthias Algarin was fourth at 22-10 3/4 (6.98m). Marika Spencer finished fourth in the women’s weight throw with a mark of 61-0 1/4 (18.60m). Zach Morrison took eighth for the men with a PR of 60-5 1/4 (18.42m).

On the track, Emma Algarin was third in the 200m (24.65) and Alex Nelson was fourth for the men in the 200m (21.96m). 

The Larry Wieczorek Invitational continues on Saturday at Noon. The action will be live streamed at BTNPlus.com.