NU Notes: Luff Sets School Record on Final Day at Texas
The Nebraska track and field team closed its weekend at the Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays and the Bobcat Invitational on Saturday with a pair of titles and a school record.
Darius Luff highlighted the day, breaking the 110m hurdles school record to claim the title in 13.39. That is the second-fastest time clocked in the nation this season. The Lincoln-native is coming off of a successful indoor season, where he topped the all-time list in the 60m hurdles at the NCAA Indoor Championships and went on to take the bronze.
In the men's shot put, Maxwell Otterdahl placed third with a mark of 63-11 (19.48m), while Kevin Shubert took eighth with a distance of 61-9 3/4 (18.84m).
Jenna Rogers cleared 5-10 1/2 (1.79m) in the high jump to claim fifth place. Velecia Williams placed ninth in the women's long jump, leaping 19-9 (6.02m).
The Husker men (Jacob Hyde, Garrett Kaalund, Lorenzo Paissan, Kavian Kerr) raced to a seventh-place finish in the 4x200m relay with a 1:23.98.
At the Bobcat Invitational, Sadio Fenner won the 3000m steeplechase with a personal-best time of 9:20.42.
Madi Scholl set a new personal-best mark in the high jump, clearing 5-9 1/4 (1.76m) to finish as runner-up. Brooklyn Miller joined Scholl in the top five, placing fifth with a height of 5-7 1/4 (1.71m).
Terrol Wilson added a runner-up finish with a mark of 49-1 1/4 (14.97m) in the triple jump. Lotavia Brown set a big triple jump personal-best with a distance of 41-1 1/4 (12.53m) to place seventh.
Johanna Ilves clocked a 13.88 in the women's 100m hurdles to place ninth. Sam Easley was NU's top finisher in the men's 400m, clocking a 48.73 to place 27th.
Nick Bryant, Easley, Cortez Ruiz and Niko Schultz teamed up to clock a 3:09.68 in the 4x400m relay and finish second.
Nebraska is set to return to competition April 6-8 at the Jim Click Shootout in Tucson, Ariz.
Huskers Respond with Run-Rule Victory Over Wolverines
The Nebraska softball team (25-11, 5-2 Big Ten) responded with an 8-0 run-rule victory in five innings over Michigan on Saturday afternoon at Bowlin Stadium to even the series at 1-1. A two-out six-run inning powered the Huskers past the Wolverines (16-14, 2-3 Big Ten).
Brooke Andrews and Ava Bredwell both recorded two-run homers in the fifth while Katelyn Caneda, Abbie Squier and Caitlynn Neal each added two hits on the day.
Courtney Wallace (16-7) held Michigan to one-hit while recording her fourth shutout of the season. Wallace went the distance, pitching the complete game and striking out three batters. Jessica LeBeau (6-8) recorded the lost for the Wolverines. LeBeau pitched 4.2 innings, giving up four hits and four runs.
The Huskers got on the board early with a two-run second inning. Sydney Gray led off with a walk, advancing to second after Brooke Andrews was hit by a pitch. Abbie Squier grounded out, advancing the runners to second and third. Caitlynn Neal drove in the first run of the day with a single up the middle. Ava Bredwell drove in the second run, reaching on a fielder's choice, scoring Andrews. Nebraska went ahead, 2-0.
The Wolverines recorded their only hit of the day during the fifth inning. Ellie Sieler led off with a single up the middle. Two strikeouts and a ground out got the Big Red out of the inning.
A two-out six-run fifth inning helped secure the run-rule victory. Katelyn Caneda led off with a single to center field. With two outs, Brooke Andrews homered to left center, scoring two. Abbie Squier followed with a single through the right side. Squier reached third after a wild pitch and a passed ball. Neal drove in Squier with a single to right center. Bredwell added the second homer of the inning with a two-run shot to left center. Wallace reached after being walked, advancing to second after Billie Andrews was hit by a pitch. Caneda singled up the middle to load the bases. Mya Felder singled to left center, driving in the winning run, as NU secured the run-rule 8-0 victory.
The Huskers return to action Sunday, April 2 for the final game of the series against Michigan. First pitch is set for 12 p.m. (CT). Fans can listen to the action live on the Huskers Radio Network and Huskers.com with the call from Nate Rohr. The game will also be broadcasted live on Nebraska Public Media.
Game Notes
- The Huskers recorded their ninth shutout of the season, matching last year's season total in shutouts.
- Brooke Andrews recorded her ninth homer of the season, a career-best for homers in season for the junior.
- Brooke Andrews and Ava Bredwell both hit homers in the fifth inning, this marked the second time this season two Huskers have hit home runs in the same inning this season.
Christopulos Claims Gold on Big Ten Vault Finals
Columbus, Ohio- Taylor Christopulos highlighted three Nebraska men gymnasts who collected medals at the 2023 Big Ten Championships on Saturday night. Christopulos claimed the vault title, NU's first event champion since Anton Stephenson claimed the vault title in 2019. Freshman Nathan York claimed the bronze on floor (14.325) for the Huskers, and Donte McKinney earned the bronze on high bar (14.475), a career-high for the two-time All-American.
Christopulos was also named a first-team All-Big Ten selection while York and McKinney earned second-team All-Big Ten honors.
Pommel Horse
Christopulos jump started the meet for the Huskers registering a 12.95 on pommel horse. Cooper Giles followed, scoring a 12.725. Travis Wong capped the rotation for NU after putting up a 13.425, finishing in sixth-place.
Floor
Transitioning to floor, Moritz Mueller led off for the Nebraska competitors collecting a 13.875. Not far behind, Christopulos earned a score of 13.85. York anchored the lineup with an impressive score of 14.325, claiming third place overall to collect the bronze medal on floor.
Rings
Freshman Asher Cohen led the third rotation for the Huskers, putting up a 13.75 and claiming a sixth-place finish. Sophomore Chris Hiser notched a 13.65, and captain Liam Doherty-Herwitz scored a 13.875 for Nebraska, finishing in fifth place.
Vault
After a brief touch period, the competition transitioned into the three final events of the night. Christopulos opened the Huskers' lineup where he showed out with a 14.90 to take the gold and earn the individual conference title on vault. This marks Nebraska's second vault winner and first since Anton Stephenson in 2019. Zac Tiderman capped the event after collecting a 14.025 for NU.
Parallel Bars
Moving to parallel bars, Cohen opened for NU scoring a 13.30. Team captain Christopulos capped the rotation after claiming a score of 13.525 to earn a sixth-place podium finish.
High Bar
McKinney showed out for his Big Ten's performance, notching a 14.475 to take the bronze medal for a third-place finish. Tiderman carried the energy for Nebraska where he put up a 14.025 for a sixth-place finish.
Illinois had three conference champions including Connor McCool on floor (14.725), Ashton Anaya on rings (14.475), and Ian Skirkey on pommel horse (14.80). Penn State's Josh Karnes claimed the parallel bars title (14.35) and Michigan's Fred Richard took the title on horizontal bar (14.725).
Michigan's Fred Richard was named Gymnast of the Championships, while Michigan's head coach Yuan Xiao earned Big Ten Coach of the Year for the second-consecutive year, a unanimous selection from the conference coaches. Richard also claimed the all-around title last night during the first day of competition (85.950). Taylor Christopulos was awarded Big Ten Gymnast of the Year accolades.
