Otabor Crowned NCAA Champion on Thursday
Huskers.com
Nebraska track and field’s Rhema Otabor secured her second-consecutive NCAA title, headlining five Huskers earning All-America honors on Thursday at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Ore.
Otabor launched a 210-7 (64.19m) on her fifth javelin attempt to claim her second-straight NCAA title with the record-breaking mark. That distance broke the collegiate record, NCAA Championship meet record, school record and the Bahamian record. With the title, Otabor will close her collegiate career as a three-time First-Team All-American, a two-time NCAA Champion and a two-time Big Ten Champion. From Nassau, Bahamas, Otabor is the first Husker to win back-to-back titles since 2003-04.
Eniko Sara added to NU’s javelin success on the night, tossing a personal-best 182-7 (55.66m) to finish fifth, earning First-Team All-America honors at her first-career NCAA Championship meet. That is the fifth-best javelin mark in school history. Mirta Kulisic was named a Second-Team All-American, finishing 15th with a distance of 170-0 (51.82m) and Emanuela Casadei added an All-America honorable mention in the javelin with a 19th-place finish (164-10, 50.24m).
In the shot put, Axelina Johansson hit 59-10 ¼ (18.24m) on her third attempt to secure bronze. Tonight marks her fourth time earning First-Time All-American status and fifth time being named an All-American. The junior from Hok, Sweden finished third at the 2022 NCAA Outdoor Championships and first at the 2023 NCAA Outdoor Championships in the shot put. Adding to her resume, Johansson was the runner-up at the 2023 NCAA Indoor Championships.
With a 21-0 ½ (6.41m) on her third attempt, Velecia Williams became Nebraska’s first First-Team All-American in the outdoor women’s long jump since 2014. From Bybrook, Jamaica, tonight marked Williams’s highest-career NCAA finish and first time receiving First-Team All-America honors.
Hillevi Carlsson went 199-10 (60.91m) in the hammer throw, receiving an All-America honorable mention and 22nd place overall.
Tyus Wilson will be the first Husker to compete tomorrow, taking on the high jump at 7:30 p.m. (CT). Each event has a livestream on ESPN+ throughout the championships, with television coverage tomorrow on ESPN2 starting at 8 p.m. (CT) and Saturday on ESPN at 4:30 (CT).
Huskers.com
Nebraska track and field’s Rhema Otabor secured her second-consecutive NCAA title, headlining five Huskers earning All-America honors on Thursday at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Ore.
Otabor launched a 210-7 (64.19m) on her fifth javelin attempt to claim her second-straight NCAA title with the record-breaking mark. That distance broke the collegiate record, NCAA Championship meet record, school record and the Bahamian record. With the title, Otabor will close her collegiate career as a three-time First-Team All-American, a two-time NCAA Champion and a two-time Big Ten Champion. From Nassau, Bahamas, Otabor is the first Husker to win back-to-back titles since 2003-04.
Eniko Sara added to NU’s javelin success on the night, tossing a personal-best 182-7 (55.66m) to finish fifth, earning First-Team All-America honors at her first-career NCAA Championship meet. That is the fifth-best javelin mark in school history. Mirta Kulisic was named a Second-Team All-American, finishing 15th with a distance of 170-0 (51.82m) and Emanuela Casadei added an All-America honorable mention in the javelin with a 19th-place finish (164-10, 50.24m).
In the shot put, Axelina Johansson hit 59-10 ¼ (18.24m) on her third attempt to secure bronze. Tonight marks her fourth time earning First-Time All-American status and fifth time being named an All-American. The junior from Hok, Sweden finished third at the 2022 NCAA Outdoor Championships and first at the 2023 NCAA Outdoor Championships in the shot put. Adding to her resume, Johansson was the runner-up at the 2023 NCAA Indoor Championships.
With a 21-0 ½ (6.41m) on her third attempt, Velecia Williams became Nebraska’s first First-Team All-American in the outdoor women’s long jump since 2014. From Bybrook, Jamaica, tonight marked Williams’s highest-career NCAA finish and first time receiving First-Team All-America honors.
Hillevi Carlsson went 199-10 (60.91m) in the hammer throw, receiving an All-America honorable mention and 22nd place overall.
Tyus Wilson will be the first Husker to compete tomorrow, taking on the high jump at 7:30 p.m. (CT). Each event has a livestream on ESPN+ throughout the championships, with television coverage tomorrow on ESPN2 starting at 8 p.m. (CT) and Saturday on ESPN at 4:30 (CT).
