Story by NU Athletic Communications
Nebraska men’s track and field won the Big Ten Outdoor Championship on Sunday at the U-M Track and Field Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich. with 136 total points. The team victory gives the Husker men their first back-to-back outdoor conference team wins since the 2009 and 2010 seasons. Powered by Darius Luff and Tyus Wilson titles, the men finished exactly 50 points ahead of the second-place team.
The women placed second with 115.33 total points, earning their highest outdoor finish since 2015.
Tyus Wilson won the high jump, clearing a personal-best 7-6 (2.29m). That mark leads the NCAA and moves him to third on the all-time list. Freshman Mason Kooi improved his personal-best, jumping 7-0 ¼ (2.14m) to finish third and Reid Nelson placed eighth with a height of 6-11 (2.11m).
Rhianna Phipps brought home her first Big Ten title, going a personal-best 43-11 3/4 (13.40m) in the triple jump. That moved her up to eighth in school history, while Ashley McElmurry posted the ninth-best triple jump mark in school history. She finished as runner-up with her 43-10 1/2 (13.37m). Lotavia Brown made it three Huskers in the top five, jumping 42-7 1/2 (12.99m) to grab fifth place.
Darius Luff evened his lifetime best to earn his third Big Ten title. The time of 13.25 in the 110m hurdles is second in the NCAA and sixth in the world right now. The senior from Lincoln, Neb. first ran that time at the Drake Relays, where he broke the school record. Brithton Senior added a top-five finish, clocking a 13.81 to place fourth. Johanna Ilves ran a personal-best 13.42 in the 100m hurdles to cross the line seventh and move to eighth on the all-time list.
In the men’s triple jump, the Big Red put three in the top six, with Terrol Wilson exploding for a big 53-10 ¼ (16.41m) on his third attempt. That mark earned Wilson his highest Big Ten meet finish, moved him to fourth on the all-time list and put him at seventh in the NCAA so far this season. Micaylon Moore added a solid performance, going a personal-best 53-6 ¼ (16.31m) to claim bronze and take over the No. 5 spot on the all-time list. Jeremiah Charles jumped 51-10 (15.80m) on his first attempt to place sixth.
Cade Moran went far on his final discus attempt, hitting a personal-best of 196-9 (59.96m) to take silver. The freshman also climbed to seventh all-time with that distance. Brett Schwartz joined Moran in the final, throwing 178-3 (54.35m) to finish ninth. Nebraska combined for 10 points in the women’s discus, with Kalynn Meyer launching a 179-1 (54.60m) to place fourth for the second-straight year. Amelia Flynt added a fifth-place finish with a 174-9 (53.26m) and Kellyn Kortemeyer finished eighth with a 163-1 (49.72m). This marks Kortemeyer’s first conference meet competing and Flynt’s highest placement at a Big Ten meet.
Garrett Kaalund broke his own school record in the men’s 200m final, cruising to a wind-aided 20.33 to take fourth. The sophomore ran the fastest wind-legal time in Nebraska history in the prelims, with a 20.50. In the women’s 400m hurdles final, freshman Abrielle Artley earned crucial team points with a personal-best 58.14. That time made her the fourth-fastest finisher and was the ninth-fastest in school history.
Niko Schultz claimed his highest individual Big Ten meet finish in the 800m, running a 1:48.62 to bring in three team points. Berlyn Schutz covered the track in 4:17.94 in the women’s 1500m to finish sixth. The freshman from Lincoln, Neb. was the bronze medalist in the mile at the indoor conference meet. She also holds the school record in the mile.
Nick Bryant ran a 47.11 in the men’s 400m final to finish fifth and Tyrell Pierce finished in a time of 47.55 to take ninth. In the men’s 100m final, Jeremiah Smith placed ninth.
In the women’s 5000m, freshman Ali Bainbridge was NU’s top finisher, placing 14th with a 16:40.02. Sadio Fenner finished 21st in the men’s 5000m with a time of 14:49.66.
Luff, Kavian Kerr, Kaalund and Smith teamed up to clock the fourth-fastest 4x100m relay time in school history with a 39.31 to finish second. The women (Velecia Williams, Arianna Walker, Seven Hicks, Bariborve Deebom) placed ninth with a 45.10.
The men’s 4x400m relay (Pierce, Schultz, Jacob Hyde, Bryant) teamed up for a sixth-place finish with a 3:08.14. The NU women (Artley, Arianna Walker, Ilves, Meghan Walker) clocked a 3:39.98 to finish 10th.
Next, select Huskers will take on the NCAA West Preliminary Round, hosted in Fayetteville, Ark. May 22-25. Athletes in the top 48 of their respective event will qualify for the meet at John McDonnell Field. Additionally, the best 24 relay times advance to the NCAA preliminaries. Athletes with the top 12 times/marks and the best 12 relay teams at both the East and West First Rounds sites will qualify for the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Oregon.Nebraska's 2024 Big Ten Outdoor ChampionsTyus Wilson, High Jump, 7-6 (2.29m)Darius Luff, 110m Hurdles, 13.25Rhianna Phipps, Triple Jump, 43-11 3/4 (13.40m)Axelina Johansson, Shot Put, 60-8 (18.49m)Rhema Otabor, Javelin, 189-5 (57.75m)