COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Nebraska freshman Karsyn Leeling narrowly missed qualifying for the NCAA Outdoor Championships after placing 14th in the women’s high jump at the NCAA West Preliminary Round on Saturday.

Leeling cleared 1.81 meters (5 feet, 11 ¼ inches), just shy of the top-12 finish needed to advance to the national meet in Eugene, Oregon. Teammate Jenna Rogers cleared 1.84 meters to punch her ticket, joining a group of 13 Huskers moving on to nationals.

Despite finishing outside the West region's cutoff, Leeling’s performance outpaced five of the 12 high jumpers who qualified from the East region. 

Leeling, a true freshman from Sidney, Neb., cleared 1.85m (6-0 ¾) twice during the outdoor campaign, a mark that ranks sixth all-time in Nebraska program history. She earned top-three finishes at major meets like the Michael Johnson Invitational and Drake Relays.

The 2023–24 Gatorade Nebraska Girls Track and Field Player of the Year and Nike Outdoor Nationals high jump champion, Leeling arrived at Nebraska with a high school best of 6-1 ½ — a state record and former national and world lead.

She also earned Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll recognition in Fall 2024.