Austin, Texas – The Nebraska track and field team earned four more bids to the NCAA Championships on Friday, bringing the total to nine after two days at the NCAA West Preliminary Round at Mike A. Myers Stadium.
Senior Will Lohman highlighted the day by qualifying for nationals in both the hammer throw and shot put. Lohman earned his second straight trip to nationals with a hammer throw of 215-10 (65.79m), good for fourth place in the event. The Chewelah, Wash., native was an honorable mention All-American in the event last year and is the Husker school-record holder. He then recorded a 61-4 (18.69m) throw on his last shot put attempt to finish 10th and reach the NCAA finals in the event for the first time in his career.
Marusa Cernjul clinched a bid in the high jump. The senior from Celje, Slovenia took care of business by clearing 5-11 1/2 (1.82m) to punch her ticket. It marks the second career NCAA Outdoor Championships appeareance for Cernjul. The 2015 indoor second-team All-American has not been to the NCAA Outdoor Championships since her freshman year in 2012 after battling injuries the past two seasons.
Drew Wiseman snatched a bid in the 400-meter hurdles with a personal-best time of 50.49 to place third in his heat and earn the automatic berth. The sophomore from Bismarck, N.D., entered the week seeded 26th in the event, but his career-best effort in Friday’s race was the seventh-fastest time overall. He will make his first trip to nationals in an individual event after running in relays three times already in his career.
Antoine Lloyd qualified for Saturday’s 110-meter hurdle NCAA quarterfinal, as he ran 13.83 to place third in his heat and earn an automatic bid. Sean Pille’s time of 13.88 was good for fifth in his quick heat and was fast enough to earn him a spot in Saturday’s quarterfinal.
Ricco Hall will also race on Saturday, as he reached the 200-meter quarterfinal with a season-best time of 20.79 to finish second in his heat and automatically qualify for the quarterfinal.
The NCAA West Region Preliminary Round will conclude tomorrow as the Huskers will look to qualify more athletes for the 2015 NCAA Outdoor Championships. Fans can follow live results and watch a free live stream throughout the day’s events.
NCAA Championships Qualifiers (Eugene, Ore. – June 10-13)
Will Lohman (Hammer Throw)
Will Lohman (Shot Put)
Marusa Cernjul (High Jump)
Drew Wiseman (400-meter hurdles)
Nick Percy, Discus*
Tierra Williams, Long Jump*
Jazmin McCoy, Long Jump*
James White, High Jump*
Landon Bartel, High Jump*
* = qualified on Thursday
Huskers Advancing to Quarterfinals on Sunday
Antoine Lloyd (110-meter hurdles)
Sean Pille (110-meter hurdles)
Ricco Hall (200 meters)