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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 27, 1989)
pr Sports NU teams capture Big Eight title again By Darran Fowler Staff Reporter When a championship is on the line, some athletes will go to any extremes for the sake of the team. Nebraska freshman Tracy Smith did just that during the Big Eight Championships this weekend at the Bob Dcvaney Sports Center. Smith spent Friday night with her foot hang ing over the edge of her bed in a bucket of snow after twisting her ankle earlier that afternoon in the 1,000-meter run. But she came back less than 24 hours later to run the 800 leg on Nebraska’s distance medley relay team which finished 3rd. Smith said she elected to run because she was determined to contribute. She said she was disappointed about not contributing any team points in the 1,000-mctcr run. Smith said the trainers told her that she would have to sleep with her foot submerged in snow if she was going to have any chance of competing on Saturday. “Every three hours, I had to go downstairs and refill the bucket,” Smith said. “It was pretty uncomfortable at first, but after the first couple hours it went pretty numb.” Smith’s sacrifice played a role in the Ne braska women’s title defense. The Comhuskcr women captured their 10th straight Big Eight indoor track title in front of a two-day sports center crowd that totaled 3,752. The Nebraska women amassed 155 points to finish ahead of Missouri, which tallied 88 points. Colorado finished 3rd with 57 points, followed by Kansas State with 55, Oklahoma State with 54 and Oklahoma with 53. Iowa Slate finished 7th with 41 points, while Kansas was 8th with 24. The Nebraska men also reigned as confer ence champions, as they clinched their third consecutive indoor title with 123 points. Kansas State and Iowa State tied for 2nd with 105 points, while Kansas finished 4th with 77 points and Colorado 5th with 54. Oklahoma Stale finished 6th with 29 points, followed by Oklahoma’s 28 and Missouri with six. • i i Kansas’ Craig Watckc was named the meet’s most valuable male perlormcr after capturing Big Eight titles in the 3,000 and 5,000. Watcke also anchored the Jayhawks’ < distance medley relay which claimed a confer ence title. Missouri’s Tcri LcBlanc was named the most valuable female competitor. LcBlanc captured Big Eight titles in the pentathlon and long jump while competing on the Tigers' winning 1,600 relay team. Eight Sports Center records and 18 Big Eight meet records were set during the meet. In addition, 28 NCAA-qualifying standards were also reached. Nebraska assistant and distance coach Jay Dirksen said Smith’s effort came at a time when the Huskers needed a lift for the t inals on Saturday. He credited the entire roster of dis tance runners with a fine performance that supplied Nebraska with a mental boost. ‘‘A lot of bad things happened with the women,” Dirksen said. ‘‘They were all impor tant because it all happened early in the meet. It really got us rolling.” 1 • • Nebraska track coach Gary Pepin said he was pleased with the total team effort. He said if somebody had an off day there was someone jlsc to pick up the slack. ‘‘We needed a team effort and fortunately we got that kind of effort,” Pepin said. After Friday’s competition, the women trailed Missouri 34-27, but had one more quali fier for the finals than the Tigers. Pepin said he spent Friday night scoring the women’s meet according to how he thought athletes might perform on Saturday. He said no matter how he scored it, Nebraska won. Pepin said he was counting on Yvonne van dcr Kolk competing in the mile and Joanne Gomez placing in the triple jump. Van der Kolk developed a cramp during the 800 run’s preliminary competition on Friday and failed to qualify for the finals. The cramp also prevented her from competing in the mile run on Saturday. See CHAMPIONS on 10 r_ j\l U high jumper surprised Dy ner winning periormanec By Paul Domeier Staff Reporter Nebraska high jumper Meredy Porter just wanted to place in the Big Eight Indoor Championships this weekend at the Bob Devaney Sports Center. She reached that goal and sur passed it by setting a personal best en route to winning the event and quali fying for the NCAA Championships. -W Porter matched the NCAA fying height of 5-foot-11 to win the event. After reaching that height, she failed in three at tempts at 6-1 1/4, which would have given her a sports center and Big Eight champion- Porter ship record. ■w . Huskers beat lowa Mate; post-season play possible By Nick Hodge Senior Reporter and Mike Andreasen Staff Reporter One down, one to go. That’s how the Nebraska men’s basketball team assessed its 77-74 victory against Iowa Slate Saturday at the Bob Devaney Sports Center. Nebraska coach Danny Nee said the Comhuskers had to defeat the Cyclones in order to keep their post season play opportunities alive. “We needed this one bad,’’ Nee said. “But I don’t think we’re in the position - not at all, because one of our wins against a Division II. So, they’re only going to count 15. Look ing at the power ratings and stuff, I don’t think we’re in the position to talk about it “I think we need one more. That’s my own opinion. I have nothing to ikot An f * With the win, the Huskers won their second-straight game and im proved their record to 16-12 overall and 4-8 in the Big Eight. Nebraska and Kansas are tied for 6th place in the conference. Nebraska’s win against a Division II team came Dec. 28 in the Cham made New Year’s Classic in Honolulu, Hawaii, when the Huskers defeated Cham made 86-85. Iowa State had won three-straight games entering the game against Nebraska. The Cyclones fell to 14-1C and 5-7 in the Big Eight. Husker center Rich King, a 7-foot 2 sophomore from Omaha, said Ne braska was thinking about a possible post-season tournament bid heading into Saturday’s game. “As far as the NCAA goes, there’s a glimmer of hope,’’ King said. “W< think that if we could somehow bca Kansas or Oklahoma on the road and ?ick up one or two in the Big Eighi oumament, even one on the roac and one in the Big Eight Tournament there’s two more wins. “We think maybe the NCAA wil look at us and say, ‘We’re in the Bij Eight, it’s obviously a tough confer ence. ’ Other than that, I think the NII is realistic.” The Huskers conclude their regu lar-season by playing at Kansas Wednesday and at Oklahoma Satur day. The Big Eight Tournament be gins March 10 in Kansas City. Iowa State coach Johnny Orr praised Nebraska. “Their team had a great effort,” Orr said. “I thought they played exceptionally hard and they did a good job. We just came up a little short. On the road, it’s not easy some times.” Orr said the Sports Center crowd of 14,135 was a factor. “It’s hard to win on the road,’ ’ Orr said. “That’s the best I’ve ever heard Nebraska’s crowd. Usually they’re like dead dogs. Today they were something.” Nee said Nebraska’s team effort against Iowa State should help head ing into the final week of the season. “I was pleased with a lot of people,” Nee said. “I thought Rich King had a great second half. I thought (Richard) van Poclgccsl played well. I thought Beau (Reid) had a strong game. “Clifford Scales has really been banged up. He’s jusl been playing on heart. He had his head cracked open and may need stitches and he’s been with that hamstring. I thought Eric Johnson had a good, strong floor game. Nebraska used a 10-point run in the closing minutes of the first half to take a 39-35 lead at halftime. But the Cyclones used a nine point run in the early minutes of the second half to take a 44-39 lead with 17:59 remaining. Nebraska didn’t score in the sec ond half until forward Ray Richardson hit a short turn-around ’ jumper with 17:03 left to cut Iowa : State’s lead to 44-41. The Huskers battled back to take a 51-48 lead after King’s three-point play with 12:17 remaining. King’s driving, beseliae dunk with 7:22 left gave the Huskers a 59-56 advantage. Nebraska went on to outscore the Cyclones 12-4 in the game’s next six ’ minutes. Two free throws by Scales gave the Huskers a 71-60 lead with See NEE on 10 “I didn t think I d do this good, she said. “Actually, I fell drained.” Drained or not, Porter missed on only one attempt at 5-8. She cleared 5-11 1/4 on her first attempt. Porter said her success gave her plenty of time to worry. She said she combated her worries by listening to her headphones and talking to Ne braska track coach Gary Pepin, who reminded her tojump up and over the bar - not at it. Porter said she thought she was in the hunt for the championship title after she cleared 5-8. Two other jumpers - Nebraska sophomore Shanta McGlothan and freshman Connie Tcabcrry of Kansas State -- cleared 5-8 to remain in competition with Porter. Teabcrry had qualified for the [nlaa s — ana Deaicn roricr - in a dual match in January. But only Por ter cleared 5-8 Saturday. Porter said she can now anticipate bearing the 6-foot barrier for the first time. She said she can clear that height possibly during the outdoor season. Porter will now prepare for the NCAA Championships on March 10 and 11 in Indianapolis. Al Schaban Dally Nebraska.. .Nebraska** Beau RdldBatties Iowa State s Sam Mack (left) and Marc Urquhart.