2008 Woodie Awards
Jonas soars with high jump at Friday invite
Kris Knowlton
Issue date: 2/25/08 Section: Sports
Nebraska senior high jumper Dusty Jonas raised the stakes for the Big 12 Conference Indoor Championships next weekend at the Devaney Indoor Track by reaching new heights Friday.
Jonas jumped higher - 7 feet, 5 inches - at the Prairie Wolfe Invite on Friday than he ever has indoors during his collegiate career and tied the highest jump record this year in Division I. Jonas tied the mark by Scott Sellers of Kansas State, and the stage is now set for the two top high jumpers in the country to battle one another next weekend with conference and national supremacy on the line.
"Everybody thinks it's a huge rivalry," Jonas said, "but each one of us is kind of rooting for the other. Since I've known (Sellers) for such a long time, it's just like you're happy for him and he's happy for you and even though he'll lose sometimes or I'll lose sometimes.
"Even though you're disappointed with your own performance, you always want to see a good mark put up - especially by someone you know."
In a deep conference such as the Big 12 that saw Nebraska tie Texas for the indoor title last year, the two-point swing the victor of the high jump will earn for his team over the second-place finisher will add even more importance to the marquee matchup between Jonas and Sellers.
"I've really been working hard for Big 12 indoors and (Friday's) jump motivates me even more for next weekend," Jonas said according to NU Media Relations. "Next week is going to be a heck of a battle if we are both on. This week was just a tuneup. I know I can hit 7-foot-6."
A jump over such a height would place Jonas at No.1 among all other collegians. It would also mark Jonas' highest jump indoors or outdoors at Nebraska, and would tie the highest jump ever by a Cornhusker.
"I was very proud of Dusty (Jonas) and you can see that he is starting to jump consistently at the marks that are special," NU Coach Gary Pepin said, according to NU Media Relations. "What some people don't know is that he took six long jumps before he high jumped, which makes his high jump mark that much more incredible."
However, the theme of the day is what Jonas hit when he compared the Prairie Invite to a "tuneup." Nebraska won 15 of the 36 events, with the men winning seven events and the women eight. NU finished in the top two in 25 events.
Unfortunately for the Huskers, teams they competed against this Friday like Nebraska Wesleyan and Wayne State will be replaced with the best from the Big 12 next weekend.
"We're trying to use this meet (the Prairie invitational) on an as-you-need-to basis," said NU Assistant Coach Jay Dirksen. "We don't want to get too tired for the conference meet but we still need to be working on things that will help us get better."
krisknowlton@dailynebraskan.com
Jonas jumped higher - 7 feet, 5 inches - at the Prairie Wolfe Invite on Friday than he ever has indoors during his collegiate career and tied the highest jump record this year in Division I. Jonas tied the mark by Scott Sellers of Kansas State, and the stage is now set for the two top high jumpers in the country to battle one another next weekend with conference and national supremacy on the line.
"Everybody thinks it's a huge rivalry," Jonas said, "but each one of us is kind of rooting for the other. Since I've known (Sellers) for such a long time, it's just like you're happy for him and he's happy for you and even though he'll lose sometimes or I'll lose sometimes.
"Even though you're disappointed with your own performance, you always want to see a good mark put up - especially by someone you know."
In a deep conference such as the Big 12 that saw Nebraska tie Texas for the indoor title last year, the two-point swing the victor of the high jump will earn for his team over the second-place finisher will add even more importance to the marquee matchup between Jonas and Sellers.
"I've really been working hard for Big 12 indoors and (Friday's) jump motivates me even more for next weekend," Jonas said according to NU Media Relations. "Next week is going to be a heck of a battle if we are both on. This week was just a tuneup. I know I can hit 7-foot-6."
A jump over such a height would place Jonas at No.1 among all other collegians. It would also mark Jonas' highest jump indoors or outdoors at Nebraska, and would tie the highest jump ever by a Cornhusker.
"I was very proud of Dusty (Jonas) and you can see that he is starting to jump consistently at the marks that are special," NU Coach Gary Pepin said, according to NU Media Relations. "What some people don't know is that he took six long jumps before he high jumped, which makes his high jump mark that much more incredible."
However, the theme of the day is what Jonas hit when he compared the Prairie Invite to a "tuneup." Nebraska won 15 of the 36 events, with the men winning seven events and the women eight. NU finished in the top two in 25 events.
Unfortunately for the Huskers, teams they competed against this Friday like Nebraska Wesleyan and Wayne State will be replaced with the best from the Big 12 next weekend.
"We're trying to use this meet (the Prairie invitational) on an as-you-need-to basis," said NU Assistant Coach Jay Dirksen. "We don't want to get too tired for the conference meet but we still need to be working on things that will help us get better."
krisknowlton@dailynebraskan.com
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