Nebraska Cornhuskers track and field

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. 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. 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)
• Big 12 Conference (1997–2011)
• Big Ten Conference (2012–present)

Coaches

Men's coaching history

Women's coaching history

Coaching staff

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.

Awards and championships

Team national championships

• Women's indoor: 1982, 1983, 1984

Team conference championships

Men's indoor

• MVIAA / Big Eight: 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: 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)

References:

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)

References:

Women's indoor national champions

• Donna Fox – 1978 (1000 yards)
• Sharon Burrill – 1979 (high jump)
• Merlene Ottey – 1980 (300 meters), 1981 (60 meters, 300 meters), 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)

References:

Women's outdoor national champions

• Merlene Ottey – 1980 (200 meters), 1981 (100 meters, 200 meters), 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:

Seasons

Men's seasons

Women's seasons

Olympians

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.

Notes

References