Nebraska's Mine De Klerk, shown here last January, returns to defend her Big Ten indoor title in the women's shot put.
In college track, a roster isn’t enough to know who you might get to see over the course of a season.
While in college football, basketball and volleyball, a redshirt season most often comes at the start of an athlete’s college career, a redshirt season in track could be used in the final years of eligibility.
And an athlete may redshirt during the indoor season but still compete during the outdoor season just a few months later.
Athletes can redshirt once in indoors and once in outdoors.
So who is in, and who is out, for the Nebraska track team as the season ramps up this week with the Huskers hosting the Graduate Classic on Friday and Saturday?
For the women’s team, the news is good for the indoor season with Olympians Axelina Johansson and Mine De Klerk each competing for the Huskers in the shot put.
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For the men’s team, the news isn’t as good for the indoor season, with senior Till Steinforth using a redshirt year during the indoor season. Steinforth had the potential to score a lot of points in both the heptathlon and long jump.
“That will give him a chance to prepare for indoor world championship this year and hopefully make the team for Germany and then be really ready to rock and roll outdoors,†Nebraska coach Justin St. Clair said.
Redshirt seasons are used to allow for more training and development. They’re also used to give some rest to athletes like Johansson who still have several international meets in the summer after the college season.
Johansson may redshirt this outdoor season, and then still be able to compete next year as a senior when the Huskers host the Big Ten Conference outdoor meet. In 2023, she was the NCAA outdoor champion in shot put.
“Part of that is looking at hey, we’re hosting the Big Ten outdoor next year at home, so let’s hold some people back knowing that on paper, the depth of the team may not look as good knowing we’re investing for the following year,†St. Clair said. “So we have a few individuals we’re doing that with.â€
Steinforth finished third at the NCAA indoor championship last year in the heptathlon but then didn’t compete during the outdoor season. Instead, he got ready for the summer, when he was able to qualify for the Olympics and finished 15th in the decathlon.
Nebraska's Till Steinforth (right), shown here last February, will redshirt this indoor season.
While this indoor season Steinforth won’t be able to contribute to the team score at meets, he may still compete as an individual.
Nebraska should get some help in the team points with the return of three-time Big Ten individual champion Maxwell Otterdahl in the shot put and discus after he redshirted last indoor season.
During the indoor season, it’s extremely competitive to reach the national meet with only the top 16 in each event qualifying. In addition to the previous NCAA qualifiers, other Nebraska athletes who should contend for a spot at nationals include Reid Nelson and Mason Kooi in the men’s high jump; freshman Dyson Wicker in the men’s pole vault; Cade Moran in the men’s shot put and Amelia Flynt in the women’s shot put.
This season Nebraska changed its schedule and hosted an official meet in December instead of just an intrasquad meet.
That worked well for senior Jenna Rogers, who set a school record in the high jump at 6-feet, 3 ¼ inches.
“Jenna jumped amazing — the school record and is the No. 1 high jumper right now in the NCAA,†St. Clair said. “That early in the year to come out and crush it under a heavy volume of training and not being super fresh is pretty darn good.â€
This weekend’s meet is strong for an early season meet with both Oregon and Minnesota coming. That gives the meet two teams that won Big Ten titles last spring (Nebraska’s men and Minnesota’s women) and a Pac-12 champion from last season (Oregon women).
Oregon has one of the top track programs in the country. Oregon coach Jerry Schumacher and St. Clair had been talking about getting in a meet together for a few years.
“Finally he just said, ‘Hey, I want to bring the team,’†St. Clair said.
Oregon may have more than 70 entries in the meet.
Nebraska may make a return trip to Oregon for an outdoor meet at some point.
The women’s shot put on Saturday at 3 p.m. should be a meet highlight with Johansson, De Klerk and Jaida Ross of Oregon, the NCAA record holder for that event (65 feet, 7 ¾ inches).
“I think our women’s shot put competition is going to be phenomenal with three Olympians in the competition,†St. Clair said.
For each of Nebraska’s five indoor home meets this season, admission is free.
“I just want to have an environment that is good for our student-athletes,†St. Clair said.
Top Lincoln Journal Star photos for 2024
From left, Messiah Williams of Lincoln, 9, his mom Cidnei, dad Shay and brother Shaun, 10, play in the Union Plaza water fountain on July 15.
From left, Gypsy Anton of Lincoln, 13, listens to music with her brother Silver Anton, 11, mother Jen Leonard, and sister Sophia Leonard, 12, during Porch Jam, on Sept. 15 near Cooper Park.
Gabe Sedlacek (from left), Kaleb Andersen and Austin Young watch a tornado from the seventh floor of the 18th and Q parking garage on April 26 in Lincoln.
Nebraska's Harper Murray (27) wipes tears away from her eyes while listening to senior night tribute videos after the match against Wisconsin on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at the Bob Devaney Center.
Nebraska's Rebekah Allick (facing) embraces Harper Murray after the Huskers' loss to Penn State in an NCAA Final Four match Thursday at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Ky.
Kiptara Thomas (back center), Grace Taylor (front center), and Ayla Brosman (right) prepare in the dressing room ahead of a dress rehearsal for "The Nutcracker" on Thursday at the Lied Center for Performing Arts.Â
Ariana Cunningham, playing Clara (right), practices dancing backstage during a rehearsal for "The Nutcracker" at the Lied Center for Performing Arts on Thursday.
Workers and bystanders pull the Capitol Christmas tree through the north door of the Capitol on Monday. The 22-foot Colorado spruce from Walton was carefully selected by the Office of the Capitol Commission to be this year’s annual Christmas tree.
Norfolk Catholic head coach Jeff Bellar is doused with water by his players as the clock hits zero as the Knights celebrate their win over the Bishop Neumann Cavilers in the Class C-2 championship game Tuesday at Memorial Stadium.
Sandy Creek's Jacob Petr (top) and Sandy Creek's Wes Biltoft (bottom) attempt to stop Stanton's Becker Pohlman as he dives toward the pylon for a two point conversion in the second quarter of the Class D-1 championship game Monday at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska's Dante Dowdell (23) dives over the Wisconsin defense for a fourth-quarter touchdown on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Lincoln firefighter Andrew Brenner sprays water from the top of a ladder truck on to the roof of a former Village Inn at 29th and O streets Wednesday morning.
Niko Bennett, 4, sleeps on his tricycle during the Veterans Parade outside the state Capitol on Sunday. Bennett and his family walked in the parade with the Nebraska Department of Veterans Affairs.
Nebraska's Connor Essegian scores against Bethune-Cookma on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Wahoo players rush the court after defeating Pierce in five set semifinal to advance to the Class C-1 championship match Friday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Milford celebrates a kill by Shayla Rautenberg (center) during the second set of a state C-1 volleyball game against Pierce on Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
A cutout of Jesus watches over voters on Tuesday at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Lincoln.
Toussaint Barrett votes Tuesday at F Street Community Center in central Lincoln.
Oliver Degner, 4, (from left) Charlotte Degner, 6, and Noelle Gormley, 7, all of Lincoln, run to the finish line during the Pumpkin Run on Sunday in Lincoln's Haymarket.
Malcolm players are silhouetted by the sun as they warm up before the game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Malcolm High School.
Dragonflies can be seen flying around as Norfolk's Cole Signor (17) takes the snap during the fourth quarter of the game against Lincoln Southeast on Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, at Seacrest Field.
Members of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's ROTC program, as well as local first-responders, climb the South Stadium steps during an early morning silent stair climb on Sept. 11 in remembrance of those who died in the 9/11 attacks.
Nebraska's Tommi Hill (6) celebrates a pick-six during the first quarter of the game against Colorado on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska fans storm the field after winning the game against Colorado on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska won 28-10.
Nebraska's Jacory Barney (17) celebrates as fans rush the field after the game on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska's Leyla Blackwell (11) throws a volleyball into the stands before the match against TCU on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, at the Bob Devaney Center.
Nebraska's Dylan Raiola walks in the Legacy Walk on Saturday outside Memorial Stadium.
Don Zager of Lincoln drops off tree debris at a collection site Holmes Lake Park, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Lincoln.
A wild horse jumps onto its back as it tries to throw off a rope held by Troy Graybill (from front) Chris Hajek, and Scott Graves as they try to saddle it during the wild horse race a during the final day of Nebraska's Big Rodeo at the Garfield County Fairgrounds on Saturday, July 27, 2024, in Burwell.
Shadows of athletes are cast on the wall as they warm up on the diving board during the Cornhusker State Games diving competition on July 13 at Woods Memorial Pool.
A crowd is pushed back as YouTuber Cam Wilder plays basketball Sunday at Antelope Park.
Seward's own Jill Beisel tries to gather up a popped bubble as she competes in the bubble gum blowing contest during Seward's Fourth of July celebration. Bisel would go on to win the contest and be named the 2024 bubble gum blowing state champ.
Two joggers (bottom) make their way past a large tree that was twisted from the ground and blocked access to Huntington Avenue near Nebraska Wesleyan University following Monday night's storm on Tuesday, July 2, 2024, in Lincoln.
Fans raise their hands as Shaquille O'Neal performs as DJ Diesel on Saturday, June 29, 2024, at the Royal Grove.
Joshua Morales (second from left), 17, embraces a friend near the scene of a shooting Friday in Crete. Seven people were injured, including four children, and the suspect shot and killed himself, according to the Nebraska State Patrol.
From the bullpen, Kentucky's Jackson Nove (left), Eli Small (center) and Cameron O'Brien (right) celebrate a two-RBI homer hit by Nolan McCarthy (19) during the fourth inning of Game 3 of the College World Series against NC State on Saturday, June 15, 2024, at Charles Schwab Field Omaha.
Jaz Shelley (center) smiles during her youth basketball skills camp Thursday at Speedway Sports Complex.
Banks Williams, 2, walks through headstones during a Memorial Day ceremony on Monday at Wyuka Cemetery. Williams' great grandparents, Robert and Blanche, served in the Air Force and Coast Guard, respectively.
St. Paul's Christopher Thomas (bottom) collapses after he dives for the finish line to win the Class C boys 800 meter run during the fourth day state track on Saturday at Burke Stadium.
The northern lights are seen over Touhy, about 25 miles north of Lincoln, in this long exposure photo captured early Saturday morning.
Lincoln Southwest holds hands as they run out onto the field before a Class A girls state soccer tournament game against Millard West on Tuesday, May 7, 2024, at Morrison Stadium in Omaha.
Nebraska's Dylan Hufft (left) leaps over Nicholls' Kade Turnage at home plate on Sunday at Haymarket Park.Â
Ashland-Greenwood's Dane Jacobsen (0) pulls his jersey over his head following the Bluejay's loss to Auburn in the Class C-1 boys state tournament semifinal game Friday, March 8, 2024, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Lincoln Southeast's Jake Hilkemann (center) is met by his teammates after making the game-winning shot in the Knights' A-5 district championship win against Creighton Prep on Monday in Omaha.
Hershey's Ethan Elliott (right) wrestles North Bend Central's Zac Mullally during a Class C 132-pound match at the state wrestling tournament on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024, at CHI Health Center Omaha.
Ignacia Hernandez, 90 (left), kisses her husband Chris, 95,while they are reflected in a mirror that hangs over photos from their time together at their home in south Lincoln, on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024. The couple is celebrating their celebrating their 75 years of marriage this February.
Aris Bertwell, 4 (left), and Cora West, 3, peer out from viewing holes in a jungle gym tunnel at Primrose Schools located inside the Hudl building.
Nebraska's Keisei Tominaga (30) celebrates after making a 3-pointer in the closing seconds of the Huskers' win over Northwestern on Saturday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Nebraska's Juwan Gary (4) celebrates with fans after the Huskers defeated No. 1 Purdue on Tuesday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.Â
Nebraska Wesleyan students Lucas Steuter (from left), Riley Cleaver, Jacob Wertz, and Zane Rosenberg try to hold together as they fly down a hill on their sleds at Holmes Lake on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024.
Reach the writer at 402-473-7435 or bwagner@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LJSSportsWagner.
Brent Wagner
Husker volleyball/women's basketball reporter
