Nebraska Cornhuskers track and field
| Nebraska Cornhuskers track and field | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Founded | 1889 |
| University | University of Nebraska–Lincoln |
| Athletic director | Troy Dannen |
| Head coach | Justin St. Clair (4th season) |
| Conference | Big Ten |
| Location | Lincoln, Nebraska |
| Indoor track | Bob Devaney Sports Center |
| Outdoor track | Unnamed facility under construction |
| Nickname | Cornhuskers |
| Colors | Scarlet and cream[1] |
| NCAA Indoor National Championships | |
| Women: 1982,[a] 1983, 1984 | |
| Conference Indoor Championships | |
| Men: 1925, 1926, 1930, 1931, 1932, 1933, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1949, 1951, 1963, 1972, 1973, 1978, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2015, 2016, 2019 Women: 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2011, 2012 | |
| Conference Outdoor Championships | |
| Men: 1921, 1922, 1923, 1924, 1926, 1929, 1932, 1933, 1936, 1937, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1950, 1966, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2023, 2024 Women: 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 2000, 2005 | |
The Nebraska Cornhuskers men's and women's track and field teams compete as part of NCAA Division I, representing the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in the Big Ten Conference. The men's program became Nebraska's first varsity sport in 1889 and a women's team was established in 1976. The programs host indoor meets at the Bob Devaney Sports Center and outdoor meets at an incomplete facility on Nebraska Innovation Campus.
NU's men's team has won thirty-eight indoor and thirty-one outdoor conference championships, producing thirty-six individual national champions; the women have won twenty-four indoor and eighteen outdoor conference championships with thirty-seven national champions.[2] Nebraska's only three team national titles came in the early 1980s in women's indoor competition, led by Jamaican sprinter and nine-time Olympic medalist Merlene Ottey.[3] Gary Pepin retired in 2022 after four decades as Nebraska's head coach and assistant Justin St. Clair was named his replacement.
Conference affiliations
- Independent (1889–1907)
- MVIAA / Big Eight Conference (1908–1996)[b]
- Big 12 Conference (1997–2011)
- Big Ten Conference (2012–present)[2]
Coaches
Men's coaching history
| No. | Coach[c] | Tenure |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | J. E. Pearson | 1898 |
| 2 | Clinton Barr | 1899 |
| 3 | T. J. Hewitt | 1900 |
| 4 | W. Engel | 1901 |
| 5 | S. D. Clinton Walter C. Booth | 1902 |
| 6 | Raymond G. Clapp | 1903–1909 |
| 7 | Osmond F. Field | 1910–1911 |
| 8 | Guy Reed | 1912–1916 |
| 9 | E. J. Stewart | 1917–1919 |
| 10 | Henry Schulte | 1920–1938 |
| 11 | Ed Weir | 1939–1954 |
| 12 | Jerry Lee | 1955 |
| 13 | Frank Sevigne | 1956–1983 |
| 14 | Gary Pepin | 1984–2022 |
| 15 | Justin St. Clair | 2023–present |
Women's coaching history
| No. | Coach[d] | Tenure |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carol Frost | 1980 |
| 2 | Gary Pepin | 1981–2022 |
| 3 | Justin St. Clair | 2023–present |
Coaching staff
| Name | Position | First year | Alma mater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Justin St. Clair | Head coach | 2023 | Boise State |
| Mike Bartolina | Assistant coach – pole vault | 2023 | Central Oklahoma |
| Trent Edgerton | Assistant coach – sprints | 2024 | Howard |
| Megan Elliott | Assistant coach – middle / long distance | 2024 | Arkansas |
| Vincent Johnson | Assistant coach – jumps | 2022 | Alcorn State |
| Dusty Jonas | Assistant coach – high jump / combined events | 2018 | Nebraska |
| Erik Whitsitt | Assistant coach – throws | 2025 | Boise State |
| Matt Wackerly | Assistant coach – distance | 2023 | Ashland |
Venues
Nebraska has hosted indoor meets at the Bob Devaney Sports Center (originally the NU Sports Complex) since its construction in 1976. The facility, renovated in 2000 and 2011, can host 5,000 spectators. The arena has hosted several indoor conference championships.
For decades, Nebraska hosted outdoor meets at Ed Weir Stadium, located just northeast of Memorial Stadium. It was demolished in 2019 to make room for the Osborne Legacy Complex. The program moved to an unnamed, incomplete facility on Nebraska Innovation Campus, though it has not hosted any meets as permanent seating has yet to be installed. The $16.5-million, 2,000-seat complex is scheduled to be completed in time for NU to host the 2026 Big Ten Outdoor Track and Field Conference Championships.[5]
Awards and championships
Team national championships
Team conference championships
Men's indoor
- MVIAA / Big Eight:[b] 1925, 1926, 1930, 1931, 1932, 1933, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1949, 1951, 1963, 1972, 1973, 1978, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996
- Big 12: 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007
- Big Ten: 2015, 2016, 2019
Men's outdoor
- MVIAA / Big Eight:[b] 1921, 1922, 1923, 1924, 1926, 1929, 1932, 1933, 1936, 1937, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1950, 1966, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1995, 1996
- Big 12: 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2009, 2010
- Big Ten: 2013, 2016, 2023, 2024
Women's indoor
- Big Eight: 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996
- Big 12: 1997, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2011
- Big Ten: 2012
Women's outdoor
- Big Eight: 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995
- Big 12: 2000, 2005
Individual awards
Men's indoor
- Midwest Region athlete of the year: Jonah Wilson (2023 – field), Till Steinforth (2024 – field)
- Midwest Region coach of the year: Gary Pepin (2015, 2019), Justin St. Clair (2024)
- Conference athlete of the year: Burger Lambrechts Jr. (2022 – field), Jonah Wilson (2023 – field), Till Steinforth (2024 – field)
- Conference freshman of the year: Mayson Conner (2019), Brent Wetovick (2020)
Men's outdoor
- Midwest Region athlete of the year: Dusty Jonas (2008 – field), Darius Luff (2024 – track), Tyus Wilson (2024 – field)
- Midwest Region coach of the year: Gary Pepin (2009, 2010, 2013, 2016), Justin St. Clair (2023, 2024)
- Conference athlete of the year: Tyus Wilson (2024 – field)
- Conference freshman of the year: Mayson Conner (2019)
Women's indoor
- National coach of the year: Gary Pepin (1995)
- Midwest Region athlete of the year: Priscilla Lopes (2006 – track), Ashley Selig (2006 – field)
- Midwest Region coach of the year: Gary Pepin (2010, 2011, 2012)
- Conference athlete of the year: Mara Griva (2013 – field)
Women's outdoor
- Midwest Region athlete of the year: Mara Griva (2011 – field), Axelina Johansson (2023 – field), Rhema Otabor (2024 – field)
- Midwest Region coach of the year: Justin St. Clair (2023)
- Conference athlete of the year: Mara Griva (2011 – field), Axelina Johansson (2023 – field)
- Conference freshman of the year: Axelina Johansson (2022 – field)
Men's indoor national champions
- Charles Greene – 1965 (60 yards), 1966 (55 meters), 1967 (55 meters)
- Lennox Burgher – 1969 (triple jump)
- Jeff Lee – 1977 (55 meter hurdles)
- Paul Downes, Brian Dunnigan, Mark Fluitt, Scott Poehling – 1979 (4 × 800 meter relay)
- Kevin Coleman – 1992 (shot put), 1993 (shot put)
- Peter Malesev – 1995 (high jump)
- Miklos Roth, Alex Lamme, Jonah Kiptarus, Balázs Tölgyesi – 1996 (distance medley relay)
- Carl Myerscough – 2002 (shot put), 2003 (shot put)
- Arturs Abolins – 2006 (long jump)
- Dusty Jonas – 2008 (high jump)
- Nicholas Gordon – 2009 (long jump)
Men's outdoor national champions
- Roland Locke – 1926 (100 meters, 200 meters)
- Hugh Rhea – 1932 (shot put)
- Sam Francis – 1937 (shot put)
- Harold Hunt – 1941 (pole vault)
- Bob Ginn – 1942 (mile run)
- Howard Debus – 1943 (discus throw)
- Charles Greene – 1965 (100 meters), 1966 (100 meters), 1967 (100 meters)
- Peter Scott – 1966 (800 meters)
- Lennox Burgher – 1968 (triple jump)
- Eric Eshbach – 2003 (pole vault)
- Carl Myerscough – 2003 (shot put), 2004 (shot put)
- Dmitrijs Miļkevičs – 2005 (800 meters)
- Arturs Abolins – 2006 (long jump)
- Chad Wright – 2012 (discus throw)
- Miles Ukaoma – 2014 (400 meter hurdles)
- Nicholas Percy – 2016 (discus throw)
- Darius Luff – 2024 (100 meter hurdles)
Women's indoor national champions
- Donna Fox – 1978 (1000 yards)[e]
- Sharon Burrill – 1979 (high jump)[e]
- Merlene Ottey – 1980 (300 meters),[e] 1981 (60 meters, 300 meters),[e] 1984 (55 meters)
- Janet Burke – 1983 (55 meters)
- Angela Thacker – 1984 (long jump)
- Rhonda Blanford – 1985 (55 meter hurdles)
- Linetta Wilson – 1987 (500 meters)
- Shanelle Porter – 1993 (400 meters)
- Angee Henry – 1996 (long jump)
- Nicola Martial 1996 (triple jump)
- Tressa Thompson – 1997 (shot put)
- Priscilla Lopes – 2004 (60 meter hurdles)
- Ineta Radēviča – 2004 (triple jump)
- Anne Shadle – 2005 (mile run)
- Ashley Selig – 2005 (penathlon)
Women's outdoor national champions
- Merlene Ottey – 1980 (200 meters),[e] 1981 (100 meters, 200 meters),[e] 1982 (100 meters), 1983 (100 meters, 200 meters)
- Deborah James, Alicia McQueen, Rhonda Blanford, Merlene Ottey – 1982 (4 × 100 meter relay)
- Denise Thiemard – 1983 (javelin throw)
- Rhonda Blanford – 1985 (100 meter hurdles)
- Linetta Wilson – 1987 (400 meter hurdles)
- Sharron Powell – 1988 (800 meters)
- Renita Robinson – 1989 (triple jump)
- Ximena Restrepo – 1991 (400 meters)
- Shanelle Porter, Tranquil Wilson, Kim Walker, Ximena Restrepo – 1991 (4 × 400 meter relay)
- Nicola Martial – 1994 (triple jump), 1995 (triple jump)
- Angee Henry – 1996 (long jump)
- Tressa Thompson – 1997 (shot put), 1998 (shot put)
- Becky Breisch – 2003 (shot put), 2004 (discus throw)
- Ineta Radēviča – 2003 (triple jump), 2004 (triple jump)
- Anne Shadle – 2005 (1500 meters)
- Axelina Johansson – 2006 (shot put)
- Dace Ruskule – 2006 (discus throw)
- Rhema Otabor – 2023 (javelin throw), 2024 (javelin throw)
References:[25][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48]
Seasons
Men's seasons
| Indoor conference champion | Outdoor conference champion |
Women's seasons
| National champion | Indoor conference champion | Outdoor conference champion |
Olympians
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Fifty-one Nebraska track and field athletes have combined to compete in seventy-two Olympic Games, winning nineteen medals. Merlene Ottey earned nine total medals to become NU's most decorated Olympian in any sport.[49]
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Notes
- ↑ The AIAW ran the premier women's collegiate track and field championship until 1983.
- 1 2 3 4 In 1928, the ten member schools of the Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association agreed to a splintering of the conference – Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Missouri, Nebraska, and Oklahoma retained the MVIAA name and Drake, Grinnell, Oklahoma A&M (now Oklahoma State), and Washington University formed the Missouri Valley Conference. The MVIAA became commonly known as the Big Six, and later the Big Seven and Big Eight. Its name was officially changed to the Big Eight in 1964.[4]
- ↑ Men's coaching history unavailable prior to 1889.
- 1 2 Women's coaching history unavailable prior to 1980.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Until 1982, women's track and field events were governed by the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women.
- ↑ Results unavailable prior to the establishment of the MVIAA outdoor championship in 1908.
- ↑ The MVIAA indoor championship was established in 1922.
- ↑ The first NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championship was held in 1965.
- ↑ The first NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championship was held in 1921.
- ↑ The first women's indoor national championship was held in 1978.
References
- ↑ "The Power of Color" (PDF). Nebraska Athletics Brand Guide. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
- 1 2 3 4 "Track and Field History and Records". Nebraska Athletics. Retrieved March 27, 2025.
- ↑ "Ottey Leads NU to National Title". Omaha World-Herald. March 14, 1982. p. 54. Retrieved March 9, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Braden Gall (June 29, 2012). "The History of Big 12 Realignment". Athlon Sports. Retrieved February 13, 2025.
- ↑ Aaron Bonderson (January 7, 2025). "Nebraska Cornhusker track and field facility being renovated". Nebraska Public Media. Retrieved March 29, 2025.
- ↑ "55 meters at the NCAA Division I Men's Indoor Track and Field Championships". USTFCCCA. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
- ↑ "Triple jump at the NCAA Division I Men's Indoor Track and Field Championships". USTFCCCA. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
- ↑ "55 meters hurdles at the NCAA Division I Men's Indoor Track and Field Championships". USTFCCCA. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
- ↑ "4 × 800 meters relay at the NCAA Division I Men's Indoor Track and Field Championships". USTFCCCA. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
- ↑ "Shot put at the NCAA Division I Men's Indoor Track and Field Championships". USTFCCCA. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
- ↑ "High jump at the NCAA Division I Men's Indoor Track and Field Championships". USTFCCCA. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
- ↑ "Distance medley relay at the NCAA Division I Men's Indoor Track and Field Championships". USTFCCCA. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
- ↑ "Long jump at the NCAA Division I Men's Indoor Track and Field Championships". USTFCCCA. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
- ↑ "100 meters at the NCAA Division I Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championships". USTFCCCA. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
- ↑ "200 meters at the NCAA Division I Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championships". USTFCCCA. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
- ↑ "Shot put at the NCAA Division I Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championships". USTFCCCA. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
- ↑ "Pole vault at the NCAA Division I Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championships". USTFCCCA. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
- ↑ "Mile run at the NCAA Division I Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championships". USTFCCCA. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
- ↑ "Discus throw at the NCAA Division I Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championships". USTFCCCA. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
- ↑ "800 meters at the NCAA Division I Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championships". USTFCCCA. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
- ↑ "Triple jump at the NCAA Division I Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championships". USTFCCCA. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
- ↑ "Long jump at the NCAA Division I Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championships". USTFCCCA. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
- ↑ "400 meters hurdles at the NCAA Division I Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championships". USTFCCCA. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
- ↑ "110 meters hurdles at the NCAA Division I Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championships". USTFCCCA. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
- 1 2 Mike Hubbard; Jack Pfeifer. "The early years of Women's collegiate track" (PDF). Track and Field News. Retrieved January 26, 2025.
- ↑ "55 meters at the NCAA Division I Women's Indoor Track and Field Championships". USTFCCCA. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
- ↑ "Long jump at the NCAA Division I Women's Indoor Track and Field Championships". USTFCCCA. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
- ↑ "55 meters hurdles at the NCAA Division I Women's Indoor Track and Field Championships". USTFCCCA. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
- ↑ "500 meters at the NCAA Division I Women's Indoor Track and Field Championships". USTFCCCA. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
- ↑ "400 meters at the NCAA Division I Women's Indoor Track and Field Championships". USTFCCCA. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
- ↑ "Triple jump at the NCAA Division I Women's Indoor Track and Field Championships". USTFCCCA. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
- ↑ "Shot put at the NCAA Division I Women's Indoor Track and Field Championships". USTFCCCA. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
- ↑ "60 meters hurdles at the NCAA Division I Women's Indoor Track and Field Championships". USTFCCCA. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
- ↑ "Mile run at the NCAA Division I Women's Indoor Track and Field Championships". USTFCCCA. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
- ↑ "Pentathlon at the NCAA Division I Women's Indoor Track and Field Championships". USTFCCCA. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
- ↑ "100 meters at the NCAA Division I Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championships". USTFCCCA. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
- ↑ "4 × 100 meters relay at the NCAA Division I Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championships". USTFCCCA. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
- ↑ "200 meters at the NCAA Division I Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championships". USTFCCCA. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
- ↑ "Javelin throw at the NCAA Division I Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championships". USTFCCCA. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
- ↑ "100 meters hurdles at the NCAA Division I Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championships". USTFCCCA. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
- ↑ "400 meters hurdles at the NCAA Division I Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championships". USTFCCCA. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
- ↑ "800 meters at the NCAA Division I Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championships". USTFCCCA. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
- ↑ "Triple jump at the NCAA Division I Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championships". USTFCCCA. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
- ↑ "400 meters at the NCAA Division I Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championships". USTFCCCA. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
- ↑ "Long jump at the NCAA Division I Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championships". USTFCCCA. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
- ↑ "Shot put at the NCAA Division I Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championships". USTFCCCA. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
- ↑ "Discus throw at the NCAA Division I Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championships". USTFCCCA. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
- ↑ "1500 meters at the NCAA Division I Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championships". USTFCCCA. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
- ↑ Troy Fedderson (February 19, 2018). "Husker Olympians: By the Numbers". University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
