The Nebraska track and field team secured one first-team All-America honor and a pair of second-team All-America honors on the first day of the 2023 NCAA Indoor Championships in Albuquerque, N.M. on Friday.

Taylor Latimer garnered first-team All-America honors in the women's weight throw, re-breaking her own school record with a distance of 75-1 3/4 (22.90m). That throw put Latimer at fifth place and marked her fifth time breaking Nebraska's weight throw record this season.

Darius Luff clocked the fastest 60m hurdles time in school history, 7.54, to enter Saturday's final as the top seed. Luff ran his previous best time (7.63) at the Big Ten Indoor Championships, but his 7.54 on Friday topped the charts.

Lishanna Ilves leaped 19-9 (6.02m) in the women's long jump to finish 14th. That placement earned Ilves second-team All-America honors. Maxwell Otterdahl was named a second-team All-American with a 14th-place finish in the men's weight throw, throwing 68-5 3/4 (20.87m).

Till Steinforth tabbed two personal-best efforts on Friday, bringing him to fourth overall in the heptathlon with 3,495 points after the first four events. 

With a mark of 25-6 3/4 (7.79m) in the heptathlon long jump, Steinforth finished fourth and moved up to 10th on Nebraska's all-time list. Adding his second personal-best of the day, Steinforth cleared 6-8 (2.03m) in the heptathlon high jump. He surpassed his previous best jump by almost an entire four inches. In the heptathlon 60m, Steinforth clocked a 6.88 to finish sixth and threw for 46-1 1/2 (14.06m) in the heptathlon shot put.

Steinforth will look to challenge his heptathlon school record of 6,082 and contend for an NCAA medal on Saturday, beginning at 11:30 a.m. (CT) with the 60m hurdles. Field events are scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. (CT) and Luff will race in the 60m hurdles final at 8:40 p.m. (CT). 

Huskers Fall Just Short Against Shockers

Lincoln, Neb. - The No. 49 Nebraska women's tennis team (10-2, 0-0 Big Ten) fell to the Wichita State Shockers 3-4 (7-5, 0-0 American Athletic) on Friday evening at the Sid and Hazel Dillon Tennis Center. 

Competition against the Shockers started with doubles play. The undefeated team of Samantha Alicea and Raphaëlle Lacasse picked up a win against Wichita State's Jessica Anzo and Kristina Kudryavtseva, 6-0 on Court 1. On the season, Alicea and Lacasse are undefeated in doubles play with a 6-0 record. In the No. 3 position, the duo of Lucy Loy and Ana Carmen Zamburek dropped the match against Theodora Chantava and Harriet Hamilton, 6-2. In the deciding match on Court 2, Anfisa Danilchenko and Isabel Adrover Gallego fell to Lingwei Kong and Natsumi Kurahashi 6-4, and Nebraska gave up the overall doubles point. 

The competition continued with singles play. In the No. 2 position, Carmen Zamburek was defeated by Kurahashi, 6-3, 6-0. On Court 4, Danilchenko picked up a point for the Huskers against Kudryavtseva 6-2, 6-2. On Court 1, Adrover Gallego lost a hard fought battle against Kong 7-5, 6-2, putting the Shockers within a point of victory. On Court 5, Lacasse bested Chantava in three sets 6-3, 0-6, 6-3. In the No. 6 position, Roa battled against Hamilton but was defeated 6-4, 1-6, 6-3, and WSU claimed the overall victory. The teams decided to play out the match on Court 3, and Alicea closed out the night with a 7-6 (5), 7-6 (5) victory over Anzo. 

Up next, the Huskers stay at home to host their first Big Ten Conference match of the season against the Michigan Wolverines on March 17th at 11 a.m. CT.

Wichita State 4, Nebraska 3

Singles competition

1. Lingwei Kong (WSU) def. Isabel A. Gallego (NEB) 7-5, 6-2
2. Natsumi Kurahashi (WSU) def. Ana C. Zamburek (NEB) 6-3, 6-0
3. Samantha Alicea (NEB) def. Jessica Anzo (WSU) 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (7-5)
4. Anfisa Danilchenko (NEB) def. K. Kudryavtseva (WSU) 6-2, 6-2
5. Raphae¨lle Lacasse (NEB) def. Theodora Chantava (WSU) 6-3, 0-6, 6-3
6. Harriet Hamilton (WSU) def. Jillian Roa (NEB) 4-6, 6-1, 6-3

Doubles competition

1. Samantha Alicea/Raphae¨lle Lacasse (NEB) def. Jessica Anzo/K. Kudryavtseva (WSU) 6-0
2. Lingwei Kong/Natsumi Kurahashi (WSU) def. Anfisa Danilchenko/Isabel A. Gallego (NEB) 6-4
3. Theodora Chantava/Harriet Hamilton (WSU) def. Lucy Loy/Ana C. Zamburek (NEB) 6-2

Match Notes:
Wichita State 7-5
Nebraska 10-2
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (2,4,1,5,6,3)
A-95

Huskers Fall to No. 23 Shockers, 10-8

The Nebraska softball team (14-7) fell to No. 23 Wichita State Friday night in the opening game of the Shocker Classic in Wichita, Kan. Talia Tokheim hit a two-run homer in the seventh to pull within two, but the Shockers held on, winning 10-8. 

Sarah Harness recorded the loss in the circle for Nebraska, moving to 5-3 on the season. The junior pitched 1.1 innings, giving up three hits and seven runs (five earned). Kendall Mangel entered in the second inning, pitching 4.2 innings, giving up six hits while allowing three runs (two earned). 

Alison Cooper (6-2) earned the win for the Shockers. Cooper pitched 5.0 innings, giving up seven hits and three runs. Alex Aguilar added 2.0 innings of work, giving up six hits and five runs (four earned). 

Tokheim led the Big Red offense. The freshman went 2-for-3 with two homers, a sacrifice fly and four RBIs. Mya Felder added three hits and a run while Brooke Andrews finished 2-for-3 with a double and a run. 

For the Shockers, Lauren Lucas led as she finished 4-for-4 with two RBIs. Taylor Sedlacek added two hits and five RBIs. 

Wichita State got on the board first with three runs in the first inning. A walk and a catcher's interference put the first two batters at first and second. Lauren Lucas doubled to right center, scoring two. Harness walked the next two batters to load the bases. With one out, a walk brought in the third runner in. NU was able to record two outs with a strikeout and a pop up to get out of the inning, down 3-0. 

Nebraska responded with one run in the second. Brooke Andrews led off with a walk. Talia Tokheim followed, reaching on a Shocker fielding error. Abbie Squier reached on a fielder's choice as Tokheim was out at second, while Andrews scored on a throwing error. The Huskers left one runner stranded as they cut the WSU led to 3-1. 

The Shockers added five in the bottom of the second inning. Sydney McKinney led off with a triple to center field, scoring on an error. With one out, a single and two walks loaded the bases. Mangel entered the game in the circle for NU, recording the second out of the game. Taylor Sedlacek smashed a grand slam, scoring four. Wichita State extended its lead to 8-1. 

The Huskers worked to cut the lead, adding four in the third. Neal and Felder led off with singles and Bredwell was walked to load the bases. Caneda singled, scoring Neal. Brooke Andrews doubled to left  field scoring two. Alison Cooper entered the game in the circle for Wichita State. Tokheim hit a sacrifice fly, scoring Caneda, as NU went into the bottom of the third down 8-5. 

Wichita State added another run in the bottom of the fourth. The Shockers loaded the bases after two singles and a walk. On a fielder's choice, the NU defense recorded a double play at second and third, but WSU was able to score one, extending its lead to 9-5.

Tokheim cut the lead to 9-6 with a solo homer to center field in the top of the fifth. 

The Shockers took advantage of an error in the bottom of the sixth. Lucas led off with a single, advancing to second after a NU error. With two outs, Sami Hood doubled to right center, scoring Lucas, and extending the Wichita State lead, 10-6. 

Nebraska looked to rally in the seventh. Brooke Andrews led off with a single followed by a two-run homer from Tokheim. Squier added a single. Ashley Smetter entered as a pinch hitter, reaching on a fielder's choice as Squier was the first out of the inning at second. Billie Andrews was walked to put runners on first and second. Neal lined out to second base as Andrews was out at first on the play as the Shockers claimed the 10-8 victory. 

The Huskers return to action Saturday, March 11, to face Missouri State at 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. 

Game Notes 

• Caitlynn Neal, Ava Bredwell and Mya Felder all extended their hit streaks to nine games in a row with a hit after each recording at least one hit tonight. 
• Talia Tokheim recorded her first multi-home run game with two tonight. Tokheim is the second Husker to record a multi-homer game this season. Billie Andrews had two home runs in the win over Texas A&M on Feb. 18, 2023.  
• Tokheim has recorded a hit in the last six games she has appeared in.

NU Treks to Illinois for Big Ten Matchup

NU is headed to Illinois to take on the Fighting Illini this Sunday, March 12, for the final dual of the season. The Huskers look to bounce back after suffering a close loss against Oklahoma at home, despite collecting six season-best team scores. The meet will kick off at 3:00 p.m. CT at Huff Hall with television coverage by the Big Ten Network.

Last Time Out
The Huskers posted their season-best score of 417.550 in the tri-meet with #2 Oklahoma and Simpson, their highest score since 2017. Despite the loss, the Big Red made impressive marks with season-best event scores on floor, pommel horse, rings, vault, and parallel bars.

Four individual event titles were collected. Donte McKinney and Taylor Christopulos shared the title on vault (14.80), McKinney on high bar (14.25), Chris Hiser on rings (14.30), and Christopulos in the all-around (83.25), also a personal-best for the junior.

National individual rankings highlight Christopulos in fourth on floor (14.40) and vault (14.85) and ninth on high bar (13.95), Cooper Giles in fourth on pommel horse (14.50), Chris Hiser in fifth on rings (14.30), and on high bar, Donte McKinney in third (14.25) and Zac Tiderman in fourth (14.20).

Ahead of the meet, No. 5 NU ranks among the top five on events including third on pommel horse (68.80) and high bar (69.05), fourth on rings (67.917) and vault (72.80), and fifth on floor (70.70).

Scouting the Competition
No. 7 Illinois took second place in a tri-meet with No. 2 Stanford and No. 11 California on Saturday afternoon.

Illinois was led by seniors Connor McCool and David Pochinka. McCool claimed his 12th floor title (14.50), and ranks second in the country on the event. Pochinka earned the title on parallel bars, tying his career-best score (14.60).

Nationally, Illinois ranks among the top five on events including second on pommel horse, third on floor, and fifth on vault.

Follow the Huskers
Fans can follow @NebraskaMensGym on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter for live updates during the meet. The meet will also be broadcasted live on BTN beginning at 3:00 p.m. CT.

Randby, Relay Tab Top-Five Finishes

Nebraska swimmers have collected a trio of top-five finishes throughout the first two days of the 2023 CSCAA National Invitational Championship in Elkhart, Ind. 

JoJo Randby opened with a fourth-place finish on Thursday in the 50 breaststroke with a 28.13. On Friday, Randby touched the wall at 1:00.99 in the 100 breaststroke final to earn another fourth-place finish.

Randby teamed up with Gabby Donahue, Giulia Marchi and Caitlin Cairns in the 200 medley relay to place fifth with a time of 1:40.76.

Sarah Barton produced a pair of top-ten finishes in the individual medley events. The junior from Huntersville, N.C., clocked a 4:17.46 in the 400 IM prelim, earning her the top seed for Friday night's final. Barton went on to finish sixth with a 4:18.34. On Thursday, Barton placed eighth in the 200 IM with a time of 2:02.30.

Caitlin Cairns swam to 24th place in the 100 butterfly with a 54.98 and placed 29th in the 50 butterfly with a 25.00. Donahue clocked a 25.88 in the 50 backstroke to place 22nd.

Cairns, Donahue, Marchi and Randby combined for two top-20 relay finishes on Thursday. They finished 13th in the 400 medley relay in 3:43.64 and 19th in the 200 freestyle relay in 1:33.72.

Action resumes tomorrow morning at 8:30 a.m. (CT) for the final preliminary session.

Huskers Begin Queens Cup in Honolulu

The Nebraska beach volleyball team began the Heineken Queens Cup on Friday with a pair of matches against nationally ranked opponents.

The Huskers fell to No. 11 California in the first match, 5-0, and to No. 9 California in the second match, 5-0. NU is now 7-3 on the season. 

Against California, Laney Choboy and Lindsay Krause pushed their match to three sets after winning the first set, 21-16. But Cal's pair won the final two sets, 21-7, 15-9. 

Against Hawaii, two Husker pairs took their matches to three sets. Ally Batenhorst and Bergen Reilly were ultimately defeated, 21-18, 18-21, 7-15, as the No. 3 pair. And Harper Murray and Merritt Beason came up just short, 21-17, 14-21, 7-15. 

The Huskers are back on Queen's Beach on Saturday at 1 p.m. (CT) against Texas and 3:30 p.m. (CT) against No. 14 Washington.

No. 11 California 5, Nebraska 0
1. Maya Gessner/Ella Dreibholz (CAL) def. Bekka Allick/Lexi Rodriguez (NEB) 21-13, 21-14
2. Liz Waters-Leiga/Ainsley Radell (CAL) def. Harper Murray/Merritt Beason (NEB) 22-20, 21-16
3. Lexi McKeowin/Alex Young-Gomez (CAL) def. Ally Batenhorst/Bergen Reilly (NEB) 21-14, 21-10
4. Sierra Caffo/Brooke Buchner (CAL) def. Laney Choboy/Lindsay Krause (NEB) 16-21, 21-7, 15-9
5. Natalie Martin/Ava Mann (CAL) def. Andi Jackson/Maisie Boesiger (NEB) 21-13, 21-12
Order of finish: 3,1,5,2,4

No. 9 Hawaii 5, Nebraska 0
1. Brooke Van Sickle/Kaylee Glagau (UH) def. Lexi Rodriguez/Bekka Allick (NEB) 21-7, 21-12
2. Kylin Loker/Riley Wagoner (UH) def. Harper Murray/Merritt Beason (NEB) 17-21, 21-14, 15-7
3. Anna Maidment/Sofia Russo (UH) def. Ally Batenhorst/Bergen Reilly (NEB) 18-21, 21-18, 15-7
4. Ilihia Huddleston/Jaime Santer (UH) def. Laney Choboy/Lindsay Krause (NEB) 21-14, 21-18
5. Sydney Miller/Chandler Cowell (UH) def. Andi Jackson/Maisie Boesiger (NEB) 21-12, 21-10
Order of finish: 1,5,4,2,3

Ossi Claims NCAA Title in Smallbore

Nebraska's Cecelia Ossi won the NCAA smallbore title, highlighting a strong performance from the No. 7 Nebraska rifle team at the 2023 NCAA Championships on Friday at the James A. Rhodes Arena in Akron, Ohio.
 
Ossi shot a 590 in the first round of competition and placed third to qualify for the event's final Friday afternoon. In the final, she defeated Will Shaner of Kentucky, 16-8. The final started off with eight shooters and eliminated two at a time until Ossi and Shaner went head-to-head.
 
"All my coaches have put in so much work, all my friends and family are here," said Ossi. "It just means a lot to me to win that medal, not only for myself, but for them and all the work they've put into helping me succeed."
 
Ossi is the first Husker to win a NCAA Championship since Rachel Martin accomplished the feat in 2015 in the smallbore and Nebraska's fourth individual NCAA Champion. NU's other individual national champions are Kristina Fehlings (air rifle, 2006), and Nicole Allaire (smallbore, 2000). 
 
"I wish I could have been there to experience this incredible milestone in her career," said Head Coach Mindy Miles, who missed the NCAAs because of health reasons. "Cecelia is a top athlete in the NCAA, and this is another recognition to prove it. This was a very difficult match to win and her hard work and grit got her through the match and final. I'm so proud of her and can't wait for more moments just like this one with her and our team."
 
Ossi has been a consistent leader for NU this season, racking up 10 top-five finishes in 11 matches prior to the NCAA Championships. Her smallbore (587.73) and aggregate (1,181.82) averages led the team.
 
"It was an incredible and emotional experience to be a part of," said Assistant Coach JT Schnering. "Cecelia is known for being one of the top athletes in the country, and this competition solidified her as number one. The national championship is known to add more pressure than any other match of the season, and she handled it to perfection."
 
As a team, NU shot a 2,340 in the first of two events this weekend. No. 2 Alaska-Fairbanks placed first in the event with a score of 2,349, just ahead of No. 5 Ole Miss (2,346). West Virginia (third, 2,343), Kentucky (fourth, 2,340), Nebraska (fifth, 2,340), TCU (sixth, 2,338), Air Force (seventh, 2,322) and Murray State (eighth, 2,322) rounded out the eight-team field.
 
In the first round of competition, Ossi finished in third place with a score of 590. Fellow junior All-American Madelynn Erickson finished in 16th (585), freshman Vittoria Watts was 19th (584), freshman Emma Rhode was 31st (581) and sophomore Mackenzie Strauch was 38th (576). 
 
The Huskers will compete in the air rifle event of the NCAA Championships starting at 8:15 tomorrow. 

Final Results- Teams

1st- Alaska Fairbanks, 2,349
2nd- Ole Miss, 2,346
3rd- West Virginia, 2,343
4th- Kentucky, 2,340
5th- Nebraska, 2,340
6th- TCU- 2,338
7th- Air Force- 2,322
8th- Murray State- 2,322

Final Results- Husker Individuals

Cecelia Ossi- 590, 3rd in regular competition, 16-8 in finals, 1st
Madelynn Erickson- 585, 16th
Tori Watts- 584, 19th
Emma Rhode- 581, 31st
Mackenzie Strauch- 576, 38th

McKinney Named 2023 Nissen-Emery Finalist

Lincoln, Neb.- Nebraska men's gymnast Donte McKinney was named one of eight finalists for the 2023 Nissen-Emery Award, announced Thursday by the College Gymnastics Association.

The Nissen-Emery Award, college gymnastics' highest honor, has been presented annually since 1966 to an outstanding senior collegiate gymnast based on achievement within gymnastics, sportsmanship, and academic excellence. It is considered the "Heisman Trophy" of college gymnastics. Three Huskers, Jim Hartung (1982), Wes Suter (1986), and Tom Schelsinger (1988), have won the prestigious award.

"I am honestly just honored to be nominated for the Nissen-Emery award," McKinney said. "I had no idea that I would see this today. I am happy to see it."

A Fort Bragg, N.C., native, McKinney has been an influential member of the men's gymnastics team for the past two seasons. A two-time All-American, McKinney has claimed 13 individual titles over his four years in collegiate gymnastics. 

McKinney earned All-America honors in 2022 after finishing seventh on the event and helping the Huskers to a fourth-place finish at the NCAA Championships. He also added All-America honors from the 2021 NCAA Championships on high bar, finishing in fourth on the event. 

The senior is a two-time College Gymnastics Association regular season All-America, finishing with an average score that ranks in the top-eight in 2021 and 2022. 

McKinney has also been a leader in the classroom, earning a spot on the Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll. 

The Nissen-Emery Award will be presented at the NCAA Championships which will be hosted in University Park, Pa., April 14-15.

McKinney and the Huskers return to competition this Sunday, March 12 for a Big Ten matchup against Illinois in Champaign-Urbana, Ill. The meet will commence at 3 p.m. CT and be broadcasted live on the Big Ten Network.

Fans can follow @NebraskaMensGym on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter for live updates during the meet. 

2023 Nissen-Emery Finalists

1. Brandon Briones – Stanford
2. Chase Clingman – Penn State
3. Spencer Goodell – Oklahoma
4. Paul Juda – Michigan
5. Riley Loos – Stanford 
6. Christian Marsh – William & Mary 
7. Donte McKinney – Nebraska
8. Ian Skirkey – Illinois

Huskers Close Out Regular Season in Masters Classic Tri-Meet