Feb. 26, 2005

LINCOLN, Neb. - The Nebraska men and women teams swept to win the 2004 Big 12 Indoor Track and Field titles in the final day of action for the Big 12 Indoor Track and Field Championships at the Bob Devaney Sports Center on the Nebraska campus. The Husker women (138.40 points) claimed their fifth league championship since the inception of the Big 12. The NU men clinched their eighth Big 12 championship (132).

Colorado swept the individual high scorer honors with Renee Metivier (28 points) and Brent Vaughn (20). Metivier had two first-place finishes in the 3,000- and 5,000-meter races and a runner-up completion in the mile run while Vaughn won the 3,000 and 5,000 meters.

In the men's pentathlon, Donovan Kilmartin (Texas) earned his first championship gold (5791 points) and led a one-two sweep with teammate Trey Hardee finishing second (5723). Kilmartin's efforts broke a Big 12 meet record (Atilla Zsivoczky, 1998) by five points.

2005 Big 12 Women's Track and Field Champions: Nebraska

Ashley Patten (Missouri) also shattered a Big 12 meet record (Korene Hinds, 2001) by 1.51 seconds and posted a personal best in the 1,000-meter run (2:45.96) snatching her second league crown (800 meters, 2004). The 2004 NCAA Champion Priscilla Lopes (Nebraska) clinched the 60-meter dash title for her first time with a personal best (7.23 seconds) and moved to the No. 2 spot in the nation for her performance. Lopes followed with a first-place victory in the 60-meter hurdles (8.00). Dusty Stamer (Nebraska) edged the Big 12 defending champ and this season's leader DaBryan Blanton (Oklahoma) in the men's 60 meters (6.68) for his first Big 12 championship.

Anne Shadle (Nebraska) seized a league meet record in the women's mile run (4:39.10) to take her second conference trophy (1,000 meters, 2004) and set a new league record (Sarah Gorton, 2002) while Leonel Manzano (Texas), sixth-ranked in the nation, beat the Big 12 meet record (Jason Woolhouse, 2004) in the men's mile run (3:59.86) by just over three seconds.

After tying in the semifinals of the 400 meters, Olympic champion and 2002 league winner Darold Williamson (Baylor) overcame Michael Mathieu (Texas Tech) by .44 seconds to take home his second conference title in the event (46.74). Williamson is fourth-ranked in the nation and eighth-ranked in the world in the 400.

National leader Aldwyn Sappleton (Oklahoma) triumphed in the 800-meter run (1:48.25) and broke the Big 12 meet record (Dmitrijs Milkevics, 2004). In the women's 800, Trisa Nickoley (Missouri) grabbed her first conference title and upset league leader Ada Anderson (Iowa State) due to disqualification.

2005 Big 12 Men's Track and Field Champions: Nebraska

In the field events, Amy Linnen (Kansas) tied her own Big 12 meet record from 2004 (13-9 ?) in the women's pole vault. Two-time national champion Andra Manson (Texas) clutched the men's high jump gold (7-5) for the second year in a row. Daniel Roper (Nebraska) became this season's new Big 12 leader and champ in the men's triple jump, beating the former mark by almost eight inches (51-11 ?).

The Baylor 4x400-meter men's relay team won its eighth consecutive title in the event (3:07.17) while the Texas women's 4x400 squad captured its fourth consecutive and seventh overall championship (3:35.99) in the finale of the Big 12 Indoor Track & Field Championships.

Up next for some Big 12 indoor track and field athletes are the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships in Fayetteville, Ark., March 12-13. For the sixth-straight year, the University of Arkansas and the Randal Tyson Track Center will play host to the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships. Tickets for the 2004 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships are still available by contacting the UA ticket office at 1-800-982-4647.

For complete results visit the Big 12 web site at www.big12sports.com.