History of Team Nebraska
Team Nebraska was founded in 2001 by Will Lindgren to advocate and provide opportunities for serious and talented runners in the state of Nebraska. In 2004, the USATF initiated the Elite Development Club (EDC) program, in which Team Nebraska was selected to participate as one of just over a dozen original clubs into the program.
2005 marked the beginning of Team Nebraska’s long-standing relationship with the club’s major sponsor, Lincoln Marathon. Race directors Nancy Sutton-Moss and Gary Bredehoft have provided constant and generous support of Team Nebraska and the club’s mission.
Team Nebraska has always had a presence at USATF National and Club National events. Team Nebraska’s first appearance at a USATF National Championship was the 2003 USA Women’s Half Marathon Championship in Duluth, MN, with Christy Nielsen-Crotts (1:17:38), Machelle Cochran (1:17:39), and Rene Kruse (1:18:07) competing. In 2004, Mike Morgan (1:08:26), Nick Rector (1:17:28), and Will Lindgren (1:35:51) competed in the USA Men’s Half Marathon Championship in Kansas City, MO. Mike Morgan went on to compete in the 2005 USA Half Marathon Championship in Houston, TX, running 1:04:04, jump-starting his professional running career with Hansons-Brooks. Morgan has made two World Championship Marathon teams for the USA. From 2004 until 2006, Suzanne Weeder-Einspahr competed and placed well at USA 5k and 10k National Championships, qualifying for two USA International Ekiden Teams, competing once in China and once in South Korea.
Team Nebraska expanded to include track and field in 2007. In 2008, Team Nebraska competed in the club’s first appearance at the USA Club Track and Field National Championships in Olathe, KS. The club has had numerous Club National Champions, record holders, and honors. The men’s DMR championship team of Shannon Stenger, Matt Schneider, Nick Suing, and Michael Saalfeld set a new record of 10:17:58 in New York in 2009, which was then lowered in 2010. In San Francisco in 2010, Angee Henry won the “Outstanding Performance by a Female” award, after her wins in the 400 meter dash (53.18) and 800 meter run (2:08.12) and a third place finish in the 200 meter dash (25.07). Aubrey Baxter won the “Most Valuable Female Athlete” award in New York in 2011, after she won and set a new record in the shot put (15.60), was second in the hammer (63.08 m), third in the discus (45.40 m), and fourth in the javelin (35.50 m). For the first time in the club’s history, Team Nebraska hosted the 2012 USATF Club National Track and Field Championships at Burke Stadium in Omaha, NE.
Team Nebraska has had five USATF Club National Cross Country Championships appearances. In 2011, Team Nebraska had full men’s open and masters men’s and women’s teams, and two open women compete in Seattle, WA. David Adams placed 10th overall, the highest finish in the club’s history. Team Nebraska had the most representation at the 2012 USATF Club National Cross Country Championships in Lexington, KY, with full open men’s and women’s teams, a full women’s masters team, and two masters men.
Several individuals have represented Team Nebraska in other elite events, such as USA National Indoor and Outdoor Championships, Olympic Trials, and other prestigious events. James McGown qualified for two consecutive Olympic Marathon Trials in 2004 and 2008, running 2:26:09 and 2:25:10, respectively. Aubrey Baxter finished 7th place in the hammer throw at the 2011 USA Outdoor National Track and Field Championships (64.96 m) and 8th place in the same event at the 2012 USA Olympic Trials (68.77 m), both in Eugene, OR. David Adams qualified for the 2012 USA Indoor National Track and Field Championships in the 3000 meter run, won the Stanford Invitational in the steeplechase with an Olympic Trials A standard time of 8:29.51, ran 3:58.44 in the mile at the Glenn Cunningham Mile in Lawrence, KS, and finished the 2012 season qualifying for the finals in the 3000 meter steeplechase at the Olympic Trials. Bridget Easley qualified for the 2012 Olympic Marathon Trials, finishing in 2:52:28. Another highlight in Team Nebraska’s history was when Peter van der Westhuizen ran 4:00.35, finishing fourth at the 2010 Wanamaker Mile during the prestigious Millrose Games hosted at Madison Square Garden in New York.
The year 2012 has marked one of the biggest in Team Nebraska’s history. New leadership has been implemented, with Kelly Crawford as the new club President. Team Nebraska encourages an interactive running atmosphere within the club as well as the running community.
2005 marked the beginning of Team Nebraska’s long-standing relationship with the club’s major sponsor, Lincoln Marathon. Race directors Nancy Sutton-Moss and Gary Bredehoft have provided constant and generous support of Team Nebraska and the club’s mission.
Team Nebraska has always had a presence at USATF National and Club National events. Team Nebraska’s first appearance at a USATF National Championship was the 2003 USA Women’s Half Marathon Championship in Duluth, MN, with Christy Nielsen-Crotts (1:17:38), Machelle Cochran (1:17:39), and Rene Kruse (1:18:07) competing. In 2004, Mike Morgan (1:08:26), Nick Rector (1:17:28), and Will Lindgren (1:35:51) competed in the USA Men’s Half Marathon Championship in Kansas City, MO. Mike Morgan went on to compete in the 2005 USA Half Marathon Championship in Houston, TX, running 1:04:04, jump-starting his professional running career with Hansons-Brooks. Morgan has made two World Championship Marathon teams for the USA. From 2004 until 2006, Suzanne Weeder-Einspahr competed and placed well at USA 5k and 10k National Championships, qualifying for two USA International Ekiden Teams, competing once in China and once in South Korea.
Team Nebraska expanded to include track and field in 2007. In 2008, Team Nebraska competed in the club’s first appearance at the USA Club Track and Field National Championships in Olathe, KS. The club has had numerous Club National Champions, record holders, and honors. The men’s DMR championship team of Shannon Stenger, Matt Schneider, Nick Suing, and Michael Saalfeld set a new record of 10:17:58 in New York in 2009, which was then lowered in 2010. In San Francisco in 2010, Angee Henry won the “Outstanding Performance by a Female” award, after her wins in the 400 meter dash (53.18) and 800 meter run (2:08.12) and a third place finish in the 200 meter dash (25.07). Aubrey Baxter won the “Most Valuable Female Athlete” award in New York in 2011, after she won and set a new record in the shot put (15.60), was second in the hammer (63.08 m), third in the discus (45.40 m), and fourth in the javelin (35.50 m). For the first time in the club’s history, Team Nebraska hosted the 2012 USATF Club National Track and Field Championships at Burke Stadium in Omaha, NE.
Team Nebraska has had five USATF Club National Cross Country Championships appearances. In 2011, Team Nebraska had full men’s open and masters men’s and women’s teams, and two open women compete in Seattle, WA. David Adams placed 10th overall, the highest finish in the club’s history. Team Nebraska had the most representation at the 2012 USATF Club National Cross Country Championships in Lexington, KY, with full open men’s and women’s teams, a full women’s masters team, and two masters men.
Several individuals have represented Team Nebraska in other elite events, such as USA National Indoor and Outdoor Championships, Olympic Trials, and other prestigious events. James McGown qualified for two consecutive Olympic Marathon Trials in 2004 and 2008, running 2:26:09 and 2:25:10, respectively. Aubrey Baxter finished 7th place in the hammer throw at the 2011 USA Outdoor National Track and Field Championships (64.96 m) and 8th place in the same event at the 2012 USA Olympic Trials (68.77 m), both in Eugene, OR. David Adams qualified for the 2012 USA Indoor National Track and Field Championships in the 3000 meter run, won the Stanford Invitational in the steeplechase with an Olympic Trials A standard time of 8:29.51, ran 3:58.44 in the mile at the Glenn Cunningham Mile in Lawrence, KS, and finished the 2012 season qualifying for the finals in the 3000 meter steeplechase at the Olympic Trials. Bridget Easley qualified for the 2012 Olympic Marathon Trials, finishing in 2:52:28. Another highlight in Team Nebraska’s history was when Peter van der Westhuizen ran 4:00.35, finishing fourth at the 2010 Wanamaker Mile during the prestigious Millrose Games hosted at Madison Square Garden in New York.
The year 2012 has marked one of the biggest in Team Nebraska’s history. New leadership has been implemented, with Kelly Crawford as the new club President. Team Nebraska encourages an interactive running atmosphere within the club as well as the running community.
