Nebraska Wesleyan University Athletics

Four-year letter winner Joni (Westland) Scheef, a hurdler at NWU from 1993-96, ranks as one of Nebraska Wesleyan’s most highly decorated track and field athletes.

Westland won her first national title in the 55-meter hurdles at the 1995 NCAA Division III Indoor Championships. Her second crown was a joint effort as she teamed with Jenny Blenderman, Amy Cooper and Amanda Jurgenson to win the 4x400-meter relay at the same meet in 1996. Their time of 3:57.69 set a new team record.

A few months later, Westland earned All-America status in four different events at the 1996 NCAA Div. III Outdoor Championships, a feat accomplished by only two other women in NWU history. She finished fifth in the 4x100 relay, sixth in the 4x400 relay, seventh in the 100 hurdles and eighth in the 400 intermediate hurdles.

As a senior, Westland was a seven-time conference champion, which included two relays and five individual NIAC titles. She also won the outdoor 400 hurdles at the conference meet all four years. Her career yielded a total of 11 All-America awards, and she was a member of five teams that finished among the top 20 at the NCAA Div. III Championships.

Westland, a graduate of Waverly High School, still ranks on several of Nebraska Wesleyan’s all-time charts, including fourth in the 55-meter hurdles and second in the 440 (indoor), third in the 100 hurdles and second in the 400 hurdles (outdoor).