School Record Falls Again as Lopers Prep for MIAA's
The Nebraska Kearney track and field teams finished up the regular season by competing in three different meets this weekend in Lincoln and Iowa.
On Friday, UNK was at the Prairie Wolf Invitational in the Capital City as well as the Kip Janvrin Open in Indianola, Ia. A select group of Lopers then took part in the prestigious Drake Relays Saturday.
At Simpson College, sophomore Kassidy Stuckey (York H.S.) broke the school record in the 1,500 for the second time this spring. After running a 4:26.54 in Kansas in mid-April, she turned in a winning time of 4:24.68. That places her 17th nationally and tops in the MIAA. Next, junior Charis Robinson (Olathe, Kan.) was fifth in the 800 with the program's seventh best time (2:12.31) while freshman Abigail Burger (Kearney H.S.) was third in the 5,000. Her time of 17:13.41 is second in Loper history, and a national effort, with senior Ella Buhlke (Central City) fourth thanks to a 17:18.57. Finally in Indianola, both Omaha senior Nick Abdalla (5,000/14:28.08) and Lincoln sophomore Carter Hohlen (steeple/8:58.68) were runners up with career-best times.
UNK won six events at NWU, including one through five in the women's high jump. Both Stamford senior Brianna Russell and Grand Island sophomore Keira Jones cleared 5-4.50 to tie for the gold with Kearney senior Lily Novacek having a winning 152-8 in the discus. Also on the women's side, Kansas sophomore McKenzie Campbell is now eighth all-time in the hammer thanks to a provisional toss of 177-11.
The Loper men were paced by Benkelman freshman Laken Wissink in the 200 (career-best 21.27), Firth redshirt freshman Eli Holt in the hammer (career-best 188-5) and David City freshman Garett Novacek in the high jump (career-best 6-9.50). Each is an all-time Top 10 effort. At Drake, Novacek was runner up in the hammer/championship (211-4) with Kansas senior Rylan Basart (2nd/215-6) one of three Lopers in the javelin/championship.
The MIAA Championships are next weekend at Pittsburg State.