Sidney graduate Karsyn Leeling earns First-Team All-America honors with seventh-place finish at NCAA Indoor Championships

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Sidney High School graduate and Nebraska high jumper Karsyn Leeling earned First-Team All-America honors Saturday with a seventh-place finish at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships.

Leeling, a sophomore at Nebraska, cleared 1.85 meters (6 feet, ¾ inch) on her second attempt in the women’s high jump final at the championships held in Fayetteville, Arkansas. She tied for seventh place alongside teammate Ela Velepec, marking the first NCAA championship appearance for both athletes.

The performance secured Leeling her first career First-Team All-America honor.

Nebraska track and field recorded six First-Team All-America honors at the national meet. The women’s team finished tied for 12th place with 19 points, while the men tied for 26th with 11 points.

After the competition, Leeling reflected on the accomplishment in a social media post.

“God is so good!” she wrote.

Leeling is a Sidney native and former standout for the Sidney High School track and field program - becoming the first female high school athlete to high jump over six feet - before continuing her career at Nebraska.

Other top performances for Nebraska at the NCAA Indoor Championships included Axelina Johansson, who won her third career national title in the women’s shot put with a throw of 19.55 meters (64-1¾). The senior from Sweden has now won back-to-back indoor national titles and owns the NCAA record in the event.

Cade Moran also earned a bronze medal for Nebraska in the men’s shot put with a personal-best throw of 20.40 meters (66-11¼).

The Huskers will return to competition March 27–28 at the Hurricane Collegiate Invitational to begin the outdoor track and field season.