Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney track and field team had 28 top five finishes Friday night at the Prairie Wolf Invitational in Lincoln.

The annual non-team scoring meet was held in the Bob Devaney Sports Center and NWU's Knight Fieldhouse.

Winning their respective events were distance runners Morgan Benesch (mile), Cole Wellnitz (mile) and Cody Wirth (800 meters). Coming in second was Fairfield junior Bailey Stapleman (pole vault) and Columbus freshman Cassidy Dyhrkopp (long jump).

Benesch (Columbus) paced a field of 28 by running a 5:07.56. Right behind here were Holdrege sophomore Gabby Gracia (4th/5:19.67) and Blair junior Molly Dibben (6th/5:24.84). In the men's mile, Wellnitz (4:16.35) led a pack of 29 with Scottsbluff senior Tayler James finishing fifth (4:26.30). At 800 meters, Wirth (Kearney H.S.) ran a 1:55.26 to win by almost a full second. 


Also on the track, Texas senior Preston Foley (4th/60 meters; 7.03), Fremont junior Trevor Wiegert (3rd/3,000; 8:49.17), Kansas junior Josh Mehl (4th/3,000; 8:49.58) and Milford freshman Ty Masco (3rd/5,000; 15:50.30) all cracked the top four.

Dyhrkopp went 17-0.50 to collect the silver medal in the long jump. She also was third in the triple (34-10.50) with Grand Island freshman Mackenzie Puckett two spots back (34-5.75). Next, O'Neill junior Emily Everitt tied for third in the high jump (5-2.25) and Nelson junior Holly Bower came in seventh in the weight throw (51-4.25). Finally, Stapleman cleared a season-best 15-11 to be one of two Lopers in the top four in the pole vault. He now ranks 15th nationally in the event.

UNK has a rare Sunday meet next weekend at Concordia.