Nebraska track and field earned the women’s and men’s team titles on Saturday at the Mark Colligan Memorial at the Devaney Center Indoor Track. Overall, the Huskers claimed 17 individual titles, with five performances moving up on the all-time list.

Nebraska's Henry Zimmerman and Colorado State’s Mya Lesnar were named the recipients of the Mark Colligan Memorial Award, given to the meet's most valuable throwers.

The award and meet are named after former NU assistant coach Mark Colligan, who passed away in 2011. Colligan was a member of the track and field program as an athlete and coach for over 25 years, coaching a total of 74 Big 12 Conference champions and five athletes who won a combined 12 national championships.

The Huskers took over the top five of the men’s weight throw, led by Zimmerman breaking his own school record with a 74-08 1/4 (22.76m). That puts him at the top of the Big Ten and at No. 2 in the NCAA. Max Herman placed second with a personal-best 64-09 3/4 (19.75m) and Josh Marcy finished third with a 62-06 1/2 (19.06m). Rounding out the top five, Brett Schwartz threw a PR 60-10 1/2 (18.55m) and Seth Schnackenberg added a PR 60-2 (18.34m) to take fourth and fifth.

Hillevi Carlsson and Ariel Ammentorp teamed up to grab top-three finishes in the women’s weight throw with personal-best marks. Carlsson took second with the No. 10 throw in school history, 63-3 1/2 (19.29m) while Ammentorp placed third with a 62-2 1/2 (18.96m). Cammy Garabian added a fourth-place finish with a distance of 61-07 1/2 (18.78m). In the shot put, Mine De Klerk (56-09 1/4, 17.30m) and Amelia Flynt (56-00 1/2, 17.08m) placed second and third. Flynt moved up to No. 6 in school history with her mark. Nebraska took the top two spots in the men’s shot put, with Kevin Shubert hitting 63-1 1/4 (9.23m) for first and Cade Moran throwing 61-1 1/2 (18.63m) for second.

Micaylon Moore hit 52-3 1/4 (15.93m) in the triple jump to win the event and put himself on top of the Big Ten. With today’s mark, he sits at No. 7 in the NCAA and No. 10 in school history. Terrol Wilson added a runner-up finish with a 48-11 3/4 (14.93m). NU took the top-three spots in the women’s triple jump, with Rhianna Phipps winning the event with a 41-0 1/2 (12.51m). Ashley McElmurry (40-7, 12.37m) and Lotavia Brown (39-3 1/4, 11.97m) finished second and third. Till Steinforth won the men’s long jump with the No. 2 mark in the Big Ten, 25-00 1/2 (7.63m).

Continuing the horizontal jump success, Nebraska swept the top three in the women’s long jump, led by Lishanna Ilves with a mark of 20-1 (6.12m). Velecia Williams claimed second with a 20-0 1/2 (6.11m) and Darby Thomas finished third with a 18-7 1/4 (5.67m). 

Jenna Rogers secured the high jump title with a height of (6-0 1/2, 1.84m). Her 6-2 3/4 (1.90m) from last weekend’s Graduate Classic still ranks No. 2 in the NCAA. Brooklyn Miller and Rebecca Pecora pitched in third- and fourth-place finishes, both clearing 5-8 (1.73m). Jessica Gardner tied for fifth in the women’s pole vault, clearing 12-8 (3.86m). In the men’s high jump, Tyus Wilson finished as runner-up with a height of 6-11 1/2 (2.12m). Reid Nelson placed fifth with a mark of 6-9 3/4 (2.08m).

The freshmen distance duo of Berlyn Schutz and Ali Bainbridge cruised to a 1-2 finish in the mile. Schutz jumped to No. 6 all-time and No. 2 in the Big Ten with a time of 4:41.91, while Bainbridge clocked a 4:51.87. One of the two freshmen led NU at all six cross country meets this past fall. Schutz went on to run to an 800m victory with a time of  2:10.21. In the men’s mile, Gabe Nash led NU with a time of 4:11.42 to finish third. Erik Snell was NU’s top finisher in the men’s 800m, clocking a 1:56.36 to take fourth.

Brynna McQuillen (9:49.34) and Cami Merickel (9:53.59) took first and second in the women’s 3000m. On the men’s side, Trevor Acton secured the 3000m win with a personal-best 8:25.07, while Sadio Fenner placed second with a 8:28.25.

In the 60m hurdles, Johanna Ilves ran a personal-best 8.38 to win the final. That time ties her for ninth in school 5. Freshman Jeremiah Smith won the men’s 60m, running the stretch in 6.84. Till Steinforth ran to third with a 6.85.

Abrielle Artley ran a PR 55.84 in the 400m, earning second and the No. 3 time in the Big Ten. In the 600m, Hayley Trotter covered the track in 1:35.82 to take first, while Zoie Ecord cruised to third in 1:38.97. On the men’s side, Niko Schultz (1:18.21) and Holden Ruse (1:20.70) teamed up for a 1-2 finish in the 600m.  Kavian Kerr crossed the line first in the men’s 200m in a time of 21.64. Arianna Walker placed third in the women’s 200m, running a 24.81. 

The Huskers men (Nick Bryant, Cory Berg, Nico Schultz, Tyrell Pierce) teamed up to win the 4x400m relay in 3:15.40. The women (Artley, Karlie Moore, Pecora, Meghan Walker) placed third in the 4x400m relay with a time of 3:48.51. 

Nebraska returns to competition Feb. 2-3 to host the Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational at the Devaney Center Indoor Track.

Final Team Standings
Men
Nebraska (170)
Wichita State (108)
South Dakota (94)
Colorado State (55)
Sacramento State (27)

Women
Nebraska (177.5)
South Dakota (132.5)
Wichita State (74.5)
Colorado State (52.5)
Sacramento State (24)

HUSKERS DOWN ILLINOIS IN RECORD NIGHT

The Nebraska women’s gymnastics team (3-2, 1-0 Big Ten) recorded six career highs and five event titles in a 196.875-196.400 victory over the No. 22 Illinois Fighting Illini (5-2, 0-1 Big Ten) in front of a crowd of 2,183 at the Bob Devaney Sports Center on Saturday night. The Huskers also earned season-high team scores in all four events to total the highest home-opening score since 2012. 

Emma Spence claimed a career-high of 9.950 on vault, joined by Martina Comin’s career-best 9.925 on vault. Ayzhia Hall grabbed her career high on beam with a 9.900. Sophia McClelland scored a career-best 9.950, also on beam. Csenge Bácskay added the Huskers’ third 9.950 of the night on floor, a career high for her. Whitney Jencks also notched a career high on floor with a 9.825.

Spence grabbed a title on vault, along with tying for the event title on bars with a 9.925. McClelland claimed the beam event title with her 9.950, and Bácskay tied for the floor event title. Spence scored a 39.475 across all events to win the all-around title.

Rotation One
The Huskers started the night on vault, with two athletes earning career-highs to contribute to a team score of 49.225. Emma Spence led the team with a personal-best 9.950, which also won the event title. She was closely followed by Martina Comin, who grabbed a career-best 9.925. Csenge Bácskay and Sophia McClelland both notched 9.800s, and Ayzhia Hall and Kinsey Davis rounded out the rotation with 9.750s.

Rotation Two
NU continued its home-opener on bars, with Spence again leading the team with a season-high 9.925, which tied for the event title. Bácskay and Simpton both posted scores of 9.850, with Simpton’s being a season-best. Big Ten Co-Event Specialist of the Week Kinsey Davis earned a 9.825 and Clara Colombo grabbed a season-high 9.800. Whitney Jencks recorded a 9.775 to finish out the rotation. The Big Red scored a 49.250 as a team.

Rotation Three
The third rotation featured the Huskers on beam with a team score of 48.975. McClelland led NU with a career-high score of 9.950, which also claimed the event title. Hall followed with a 9.900, a career best of her own. Allie Gard notched a 9.750, and Spence scored a 9.700. Isabel Sikon (9.675) and Simpton (9.050) rounded out the event.

Rotation Four
The Big Red ended the evening on floor, posting a team score of 49.425. Bácskay led Nebraska with a career-high score of 9.950 that also tied for the event title. Spence notched a 9.900, and was closely followed by Comin and McClelland with 9.875s. Jencks recorded a career-high 9.825 and Halle Rourke rounded out the rotation with a 9.775.

Up Next
The Huskers will face the Michigan Wolverines at the Bob Devaney Sports Center on Saturday, Jan. 27 at 3 p.m. (CT). The meet will be streamed on B1G+. Fans can buy tickets at huskers.com/tickets. 

HUSKERS TAKE SECOND IN ROCKY MOUNTAIN OPEN

Colorado Springs, Colo.- The Huskers traveled to Air Force to compete in the Rocky Mountain Open for their season opener in Colorado Springs, Colo. on Saturday evening. NU took on Oklahoma and Air Force, along with GymACT teams where they finished second with a score of 409.600, behind Oklahoma (420.350) in first place, and Air Force in third place (392.750).

In the all-around, Toby Liang claimed second with a career-best 81.450. Sam Phillips (78.350) took fifth and Joey Pepe (74.950) also competed.

Parallel Bars

NU’s first event of the evening totaled 67.900 to begin the competition. In his collegiate debut, freshman Cole Partridge jumpstarted the event with a score of 14.20 for Nebraska, good for a third-place finish. Captain Taylor Christopulos impressed with a career-best on the event (14.15), taking fifth. Teammates James Friedman (12.50), Asher Cohen (13.25), and Sam Phillips (13.80) rounded out the lineup for Nebraska.

Competing as individuals, both Toby Liang (14.00) and Joey Pepe (13.50) posted career-bests on parallel bars.

High Bar

The Huskers collected a score of 67.500 as a team on high bar. Partridge highlighted the event with a solid 14.10, taking third position overall. Freshman Max Odden notched a 13.40 in his Husker debut, while Captain Zac Tiderman collected a 13.75, respectively. Captain Sam Phillips scored a 12.70. Christopulos anchored the lineup with a 13.55.

Liang notched a career-best 13.90. Pepe earned a score of 12.65.

Floor

Nebraska scored 67.550 as a team on floor. Chris Hiser led the lineup (13.20), while Nathan York followed with a solid 14.00. Freshman Chase Mondi scored 12.70. Luke James notched a 13.60, and Phillips put up a 14.05 to land a fifth-place finish as the anchor on the event. 

Liang put up another career-best on floor (13.60), as did teammate Pepe (13.25) in the individual competition.

Pommel Horse

The Huskers earned a team-score of 68.650 on pommel horse. James Friedman acted as lead-off on the event, notching a career-best 13.80. Nathan Yorked scored a 13.00. Travis Wong, Cooper Giles, and Christopulos each nailed a 13.95, a career-best for Christopulos. Phillips anchored the rotation with a score of 11.00.

In the individual competition, Liang scored a 13.40 and Pepe scored a 11.70.

Rings

On rings, the Big Red collected a combined score of 66.850 as a team. Yanni Chronopoulos led the rotation with a score of 13.20. Hiser followed with a 13.75, claiming second position overall. Wong took fifth place after landing a score of 13.50. Cohen scored 13.35. Phillips rounded off the lineup with a 13.05.

Competing as individuals, Liang scored a 12.85 while Pepe earned a 11.45 respectively. A.J. Morgan scored a 12.50.

Vault

In the final event of the competition, the Huskers totaled 71.150 on vault. Freshman Alex Nitache (13.95) and Mondi (14.40) showed strength in their first collegiate meet, with Mondi taking fifth position. Tiderman showed a solid 14.50, good for third place, while teammate James notched a 13.95, respectively. Christopulos notched a score of 14.35. Phillips anchored with a 13.75 score.

Liang set a career-record of 13.90 and Pepe scored a 12.40.

Up Next

The Huskers will host Penn State on Saturday, Feb. 3 in their home opener at the Bob Devaney Center in Lincoln, Neb. The meet will commence at 6:00 p.m. CT.  Fans can follow @HuskerMGym on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter for live updates during the meet.