Loontjer, Conner Post Outdoor Bests in Wins at Illinois

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Nebraska senior pole vaulter Tyler Loontjer cleared 18 feet for the first time in his Husker career as four Huskers captured event wins on the final day of the Fighting Illini Big Ten Relays on Saturday.

Loontjer cleared 18-1 (5.51m), topping his previous personal best of 17-10 1/2 (5.45m), which he set at the first outdoor meet this season. The Big Ten leader improved on his No. 4 mark in NU outdoor history, and he cracked the top 10 in the NCAA this outdoor season at No. 9. Loontjer has won three pole vault titles in four meets this outdoor season.

Junior Mayson Conner had a breakout high jump performance, clearing 7-2 1/2 (2.20m) to capture first place. Conner won his first high jump title since February of 2020, and in doing so with an outdoor personal best he cracked Nebraska’s all-time top-10 chart in a tie for eighth. Conner’s clearance moved him up to No. 12 in the NCAA this outdoor season and No. 1 in the Big Ten.

Terrol Wilson claimed gold as well in the triple jump. His mark of 50-1 1/4 (15.27m) earned him his first title as a Husker. Madi Scholl was the champion in the women’s high jump after clearing up to 5-7 (1.70m) without a miss. It marked the fourth high jump title of her career and first this outdoor season.

The women’s 4×1600-meter relay came within half of a second of breaking the school record. Judi Jones, Elsa Forsberg, Emma Bresser and Lindsey Blehm ran a time of 19:42.47, good for No. 2 in school history and the silver medal at the Fighting Illini Big Ten Relays. The school record of 19:41.97 was set in 2009. 

Zach Morrison opened the day with a huge PR of 182-2 (55.53m), the top mark in the open hammer throw. Tyler Brown led the Huskers in the men’s discus invitational in fourth place at 158-10 (48.42m). Josh Marcy threw 153-9 (46.87m), making him the No. 2 finisher in the open section. Spencer Powell was the fourth-place finisher in the pole vault, clearing 15-7 1/4 (5.06m). Kristina Insingo placed fifth in the shot put with a throw of 50-10 (15.49m). 

In the triple jump won by Nebraska’s Wilson, Matthias Algarin rounded out the top five with a mark of 47-0 3/4 (14.34m). Madison Yerigan finished fifth in the women’s high jump, which Scholl won for the Big Red, at 5-5 (1.65m). Michael Hoffer followed Conner in the high jump in fifth place at 6-8 (2.03m). 

In other relay events, the men’s 4×100-meter relay squad comprising Noah Lukz, Alex Nelson, Lorenzo Paissan and Matthew Brown posted a season-best time of 40.31 to take the bronze medal. The men’s 4×400-meter relay team of Tyler Drew, Alex Nelson, Cory Berg and Cody Mroczek took fourth place with a season-best time of 3:14.16. 

The Huskers will compete at Indiana’s Billy Hayes Invitational next Friday and Saturday.