Amie Just: Nebraska's 'Cinderella' relay team; heartbreaking Hoffman news; hiker update

Luke Mullin and Wilson Moore consider Daniel Kaelin's commitment from the quarterback's point of view, along with baseball, softball and Big Ten TV deal chatter.

Wait, what?

That was the prevailing thought after Nebraska's men's 400-meter relay team did the unthinkable last week at the NCAA Outdoor West First Round meet in Sacramento, California.

Heading into the meet, the Huskers were seeded No. 21 out of 24 teams with a seed time of 39.63 seconds.

But once the gun went off on that Friday, a Cinderella story to end all Cinderella stories. Out of Lane 1, the Huskers darted to a third-place finish with a time of :39.03, advancing NU's 400 relay team to the national meet for the first time since 2016.

That's not a good time. That's a great time. And a school record, no less.

How does that happen?

To quote sprints/hurdles coach Brenton Emanuel, "It's a very interesting story."

Before the outdoor season began, Emanuel told star hurdlers Darius Luff and Brithton Senior that they’d alternate on the relay this year. In reality, though, Senior had been dealing with hamstring tightness on and off this year, so Luff got the nod more frequently.

The original plan was to have Luff run the lead-off spot at regionals, but after Luff made the quarterfinals in the 110-meter hurdles and Senior didn't, Emanuel pivoted.

The 400-meter relay was set to start at 5 p.m., while the 110-meter hurdles were set to begin at 6:15 p.m. No use in tiring out Luff when Senior is talented, too. Plus, Senior had been on the track for NU's fastest time of the season — though in the anchor spot rather than the lead-off runner.

"I really had no idea what was going to happen with Brithton because we didn't talk about block starts with the baton, but we’d practiced it the day before and hand-offs went OK," Emanuel said. "I told him that the world record was set in Lane 1 and all you need is an opportunity to run fast and to make nationals."

Senior's start was smooth. All three exchanges were "great." Before Emanuel knew it, the foursome of Senior, Kavian Kerr, Lorenzo Paissan and GarrettKaalund had darted around the track in :39.09 — a time that was a tenth of a second faster than the 17-year-old program record.

When Emanuel saw the final time, he was floored.

"I knew that it could happen, but not out of Lane 1 to be honest with you," Emanuel said with a laugh. "That was a big surprise."

Turns out, Senior was quite comfortable doing block starts with the baton.

In Jamaica, Senior's home country, he's always the first leg.

The men's 400-meter relay semifinal is the first track event at nationals and will run at 6:32 p.m. on Wednesday. If the Huskers advance to the finals — they’re tied with LSU for the fifth-fastest time from regionals — that race will take place on Friday.

Congratulations are in order for Nebraska Wesleyan's Ted Bulling.

After 38 years of helming the cross country and track programs at NWU, the former Prairie Wolf is retiring. While at NWU, Bulling won the national coach of the year five times and coached 40 national champions — including two I profiled earlier this year in Scott and Eli Etherton.

There aren't enough inches in the newspaper to list all of Bulling's accomplishments, and yet in the press release announcing his retirement, he focused on the relationships he's formed in his 40-some years as a Prairie Wolf.

All class. Congrats, Ted.

There is no better time for Nebraska to take an international trip.

The roster is very different compared to last season, as the Huskers have six newcomers. Five of them are freshmen — setter Bergen Reilly, defensive specialist Laney Choboy, outside Caroline Jurevicius, middle Andi Jackson and outside Harper Murray — while the sixth, opposite Merritt Beason is a junior transfer from Florida.

With all the new faces, Nebraska has plenty to figure out.

Who starts at setter: Junior Kennedi Orr or Reilly?

Who is NU's second middle in addition to sophomore Bekka Allick?

Who mans the outside in addition to junior Lindsay Krause?

Through their first two matches, it's too early to get a clear picture since coach John Cook and Co. are intentionally playing a variety of lineups to figure things out ahead of the season.

Jack Hoffman throws a discus during track and field practice at West Holt High School in April in Atkinson.

Heartbreaking news came out of Atkinson last week.

Jack Hoffman — the namesake of the Team Jack Foundation who Nebraska fans came to love after his spring game touchdown run in 2013 — and his medical team discovered tumor growth in his latest MRI. Jack, 17, has scans every three months, but this was the first time in four years that his MRI had shown tumor growth.

Doctors have recommended surgery. If the Hoffmans choose to go that route, it will be Jack's third tumor resection surgery. But, the family is still figuring out the best course of action.

For those who enjoyed my serendipitous column with Briana DeSanctis, the Maine woman trekking through America on the American Discovery Trail… she's made a significant amount of progress since I ran into her in early April in Brainard.

She crossed the border into Colorado on May 8 and reached Denver in late May.

In addition to traversing through the rest of Colorado, she still has three more states to go: Utah, Nevada and California.

Nebraska volleyball players pose with Wichita State players for a post game photo following the Nebraska Volleyball Spring Match on Saturday, April 29, 2023, at the Bison Activity Dome in Central City.

Laney Choboy celebrates after a kill by a teammate in the third set of the spring match against Wichita State on Saturday at the Bison Activity Dome in Central City. Choboy, a freshman, might be ready to take over as the Huskers' defensive specialist.

Nebraska and Wichita State play in the Huskers' spring match on Saturday at the Bison Activity Dome in Central City.

Nebraska's Bergen Reilly lays out to save the ball from hitting the floor during the spring match against Wichita State on Saturday at the Bison Activity Dome in Central City.

Nebraska's Andi Jackson celebrates during the spring match against Wichita State on Saturday at Bison Activity Dome in Central City.

Nebraska assistant coach Jaylen Reyes shouts out instructions during the spring match against Wichita State on Saturday at Bison Activity Dome in Central City.

Nebraska's Merritt Beason and Lexi Rodriguez (from left) celebrate after a point during the spring match against Wichita State on Saturday at Bison Activity Dome in Central City.

Nebraska's Harper Murray spikes the ball over the net during the spring match against Wichita State on Saturday at the Bison Activity Dome in Central City.

Nebraska's Kennedi Orr (right) celebrates after a point during the spring match against Wichita State on Saturday at Bison Activity Dome in Central City.

The Huskers reacts after the final point of the third set during the spring match against Wichita State on Saturday at Bison Activity Dome in Central City.

Nebraska's Kennedi Orr serves the ball against Wichita State during the spring match against Wichita State on Saturday at Bison Activity Dome in Central City.

The Huskers warm up ahead of the spring match against Wichita State at the Bison Activity Dome in Central City.

Nebraska volleyball fans line up before the spring match against Wichita State at the Bison Activity Dome in Central City.

Nebraska assistant coach Kelly Hunter helps out players during warmups ahead of the spring match against Wichita State on Saturday at Bison Activity Dome in Central City.

Nebraska's Maggie Mendelson waits for a Wichita State player to serve during the spring match against Wichita State on Saturday at Bison Activity Dome in Central City.

Nebraska's Lexi Rodriguez sets the ball during the spring match against Wichita State on Saturday at Bison Activity Dome in Central City.

Husker volleyball fans fill the arena as they cheer on their team during the spring match against Wichita State on Saturday at Bison Activity Dome in Central City.

Nebraska's Maggie Mendelson reacts after scoring against Wichita State during the spring match against Wichita State on Saturday at Bison Activity Dome in Central City.

Nebraska's Merritt Beason celebrates after scoring a point against Wichita State during the spring match Saturday at Bison Activity Dome in Central City.

Nebraska's Merritt Beason (13) celebrates during the spring match against Wichita State on Saturday at Bison Activity Dome in Central City.

Nebraska's Andi Jackson celebrates after a kill against Wichita State during the spring match against Wichita State on Saturday at Bison Activity Dome in Central City.

Nebraska's Ally Batenhorst (left) celebrates with Andi Jackson during the spring match against Wichita State on Saturday at Bison Activity Dome in Central City.

Nebraska head coach John Cook meets with Wichita State head coach Chris Lamb during the spring match against Wichita State on Saturday at Bison Activity Dome in Central City.

Nebraska's Caroline Jurevicius tries to block the ball during the spring match against Wichita State on Saturday at Bison Activity Dome in Central City.

Nebraska's Lexi Rodriguez celebrates during the spring match against Wichita State on Saturday at Bison Activity Dome in Central City.

Nebraska fans hold up signs during the spring match against Wichita State on Saturday at Bison Activity Dome in Central City.

Nebraska coach John Cook wears a headset while talking to Nebraska Public Media commentators during Saturday's spring match at the Bison Activity Dome in Central City.

Nebraska's Bekka Allick (center) spikes the ball past Wichita State's Brylee Kelly (left) during the spring match Saturday at the Bison Activity Dome in Central City.

Nebraska coach John Cook wears a belt buckle commemorating 800 career wins gifted to him by Athletic Director Trev Alberts at the Huskers' spring match against Wichita State on Saturday at the Bison Activity Dome in Central City.

Nebraska's Lexi Rodriguez passes the ball during the spring match against Wichita State on Saturday at the Bison Activity Dome in Central City.

Nebraska's Bergen Reilly passes the ball during the spring match against Wichita State on Saturday at the Bison Activity Dome in Central City.

Nebraska basketball transfer portal target Josiah Allick reacts after his sister, Bekka Allick, throws him a mini ball as she is introduced for the spring match against Wichita State on Saturday at the Bison Activity Dome in Central City.

Nebraska's Lexi Rodriguez dives for the ball during the spring match against Wichita State on Saturday at the Bison Activity Dome in Central City.

Nebraska assistant coach Jaylen Reyes coaches the Huskers through warmups before the spring match against Wichita State on Saturday at the Bison Activity Dome in Central City.

Nebraska basketball transfer portal target Josiah Allick reacts after his sister, Bekka Allick, throws him a mini ball as she is introduced for the spring match against Wichita State on Saturday at the Bison Activity Dome in Central City.

Nebraska assistant coach Jaylen Reyes coaches the Huskers through warmups before the spring match against Wichita State on Saturday at the Bison Activity Dome in Central City.

Nebraska's Andi Jackson (left) holds hands with Bekka Allick as they take the floor ahead of the spring match against Wichita State at the Bison Activity Dome in Central City.

The Nebraska volleyball team huddles ahead of the spring match against Wichita State at the Bison Activity Dome in Central City.

Keely Stankoski sits with her daughters, Tatum and Tinsley (from left), before Nebraska's spring match against Wichita State at the Bison Activity Dome in Central City.

Tricia Kersting of Creston (right) takes a photo of Karis Kersting (left) and her friend Peyton Wiese, from Lindsey, in front of a lawn display before the spring match against Wichita State at the Bison Activity Dome in Central City. The Krestings slept in lawn chairs the day the tickets went on sale.

Nebraska volleyball fans line up outside before the spring match against Wichita State at the Bison Activity Dome in Central City.

Nebraska volleyball fans line up before the spring match against Wichita State at the Bison Activity Dome in Central City.

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Husker sports reporter/columnist

A Funk native and graduate of Lincoln Southeast, Amie Just joined the Journal Star as sports columnist after spending five seasons covering football for the New Orleans Times-Picayune and the Missoulian in Missoula, Montana.

Luke Mullin and Wilson Moore consider Daniel Kaelin's commitment from the quarterback's point of view, along with baseball, softball and Big T…

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