LINCOLN — In Gary Pepin’s ideal world, each of his 14 track and field qualifiers would set personal best marks this weekend at the NCAA indoor championships.
With 30 years of NU coaching experience behind him, Pepin knows that probably won’t happen. As the longest tenured coach at Nebraska, he still expects great things from his athletes as they compete in Fayetteville, Ark.
“You always hope that your kids are prepared to have their best performance of the year,” Pepin said. “Then you let the chips fall where they may.”
His 11th-ranked men and 14th-ranked women are each sending seven athletes to the championships, and Pepin said it’s not out of the question that both squads could finish in the top 10.
One athlete with a good chance to score points for NU is high jumper Paul Hamilton. Coming off his second Big 12 championship, Hamilton’s jump of 7-foot-5 ties him for the best jump of the season nationally.
To win in Fayetteville, the junior from Sidney, Neb., said he would have to minimize his misses and conserve his energy for the final heights. An increased approach speed has propelled him to the top of the charts in 2010, but his confidence heading into the meet, he said, will make the biggest difference.
Sometimes though, it’s but about just having a good day.
Hamilton has competed in the past two indoor championships without earning All-American honors, presented to the top eight finishers. With a packed field of 18 jumpers separated by less than three inches, Pepin said Hamilton would have to be on his A-game.
Hamilton agreed.
“With the experience I have now, I don’t think I have any more excuses,” he said.
On the women’s side, Chantae McMillan has the opportunity to win her first NCAA pentathlon. Placing second and third in her two previous indoor championships, the junior heads into the 2010 meet ranked third.
McMillan has placed in the top four in all four of her NCAA pentathlon appearances, including outdoor seasons. She’s relied on experience and a few tweaks to her hurdling and high jump to get to the championships again this year.
Winning this time around will hinge on her simply performing to the best of her abilities.
“I just need to go about it in a fun way.” McMillan said. “I’m trying to be really excited and just take all of that energy into my events.”
In last year’s indoor championships, NU’s women placed 29th, while the men tied for fifth.
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444-1201, sports@owh.com
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