Completed Event: Track & Field at NCAA Outdoor Championships on June 11, 2025 , , M: T-35th/72 (8.5) || W: T-34th/68 (8)
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Final
Track & Field
at NCAA Outdoor Championships
Photo by: Duke Athletics
Duke Adds Two More Transfers to Incoming 2022 Class
6/3/2022 3:48:00 PM | Track & Field
DURHAM – Duke track and field increased its 2022 class to 15 members as Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Shawn Wilbourn announced the additions of transfers Sara Absten and Tyler Hrbek to the program. Both athletes are set to join the Blue Devils in the fall of 2022.
Absten, a multis athlete, comes to Durham following three seasons at San Diego State University. The Mount Vernon, Wash., native was crowned the 2022 Mountain West Indoor Pentathlon champion after finishing with 4,039 points – a mark that ranks third all-time in program lore. Most recently, Absten notched 5,503 points – No. 7 at SDSU – to finish as the heptathlon runner-up at the outdoor conference meet.
"I'm extremely excited to work with Sara," said Wilbourn. "I believe she has untapped potential and I expect big improvements for her next season. She will play a large role in our team success both indoors and outdoors."
Hrbek joins the Duke fold after completing his junior season at University of Connecticut. The Northvale, N.J., native enjoyed success in the pole vault during the 2021-22 campaign, beginning with a personal best of 5.20m (17-0.75 feet) at the first meet of the season. Hrbek collected All-BIG EAST First Team honors following a second-place finish of 5.05m (16-6.75 feet) at the BIG EAST Championships. He made his second NCAA East Regional appearance in the pole vault this past weekend, improving on his 2021 performance to finish 33rd overall.
"Tyler is an experienced pole vaulter with NCAA Regional experience," said Wilbourn on the addition of Hrbek. "I see him taking over right where Erick Duffy and Michael Fairbanks left off. Our men's pole vault group is in good hands."
Absten and Hrbek join incoming freshmen Nick Falk, Dalia Frias, Julia Jackson, Jeremy Kain, Gianna Locci, Amina Maatoug, Allison Neiders, Falon Spearman and Lauren Tolbert, along with graduate transfers Robbie Otal, Ashlyn Ramos, Emily Sloan and Ilhame Tamrouti.
To stay up to date with Blue Devils cross country and track & field, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeTFXC."
#GoDuke
Absten, a multis athlete, comes to Durham following three seasons at San Diego State University. The Mount Vernon, Wash., native was crowned the 2022 Mountain West Indoor Pentathlon champion after finishing with 4,039 points – a mark that ranks third all-time in program lore. Most recently, Absten notched 5,503 points – No. 7 at SDSU – to finish as the heptathlon runner-up at the outdoor conference meet.
"I'm extremely excited to work with Sara," said Wilbourn. "I believe she has untapped potential and I expect big improvements for her next season. She will play a large role in our team success both indoors and outdoors."
Hrbek joins the Duke fold after completing his junior season at University of Connecticut. The Northvale, N.J., native enjoyed success in the pole vault during the 2021-22 campaign, beginning with a personal best of 5.20m (17-0.75 feet) at the first meet of the season. Hrbek collected All-BIG EAST First Team honors following a second-place finish of 5.05m (16-6.75 feet) at the BIG EAST Championships. He made his second NCAA East Regional appearance in the pole vault this past weekend, improving on his 2021 performance to finish 33rd overall.
"Tyler is an experienced pole vaulter with NCAA Regional experience," said Wilbourn on the addition of Hrbek. "I see him taking over right where Erick Duffy and Michael Fairbanks left off. Our men's pole vault group is in good hands."
Absten and Hrbek join incoming freshmen Nick Falk, Dalia Frias, Julia Jackson, Jeremy Kain, Gianna Locci, Amina Maatoug, Allison Neiders, Falon Spearman and Lauren Tolbert, along with graduate transfers Robbie Otal, Ashlyn Ramos, Emily Sloan and Ilhame Tamrouti.
To stay up to date with Blue Devils cross country and track & field, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeTFXC."
#GoDuke
Players Mentioned
Pole Vault
/ Track & Field
Pole Vault
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