Kearney, Neb. – Senior runners Morgan Benesch and Cole Wellnitz and sophomore thrower Jacob Bartling led the Nebraska-Kearney track & field teams Friday night at the Nebraska Tune Up and the Nebraska Wesleyan Open.

Both meets were held in Lincoln and were the final regular season events for UNK this indoor season.

At UNL, Wellnitz (Rushville) broke his own school in the mile by running a first-place time of 4:06.49. He just set the Loper standard last week when he ran a 4:08.10, breaking a 23-year old mark. The new record places him 15th on the national list.

In the women's mile, Benesch (Columbus Scotus) placed third out of 32 by turning in a career-best 4:58.21. The effort ranks fourth in UNK history and is the fourth sub-5:00 mile run by a Loper woman.

Across town at Wesleyan, Bartling (Elm Creek) had a season-best toss of 53-11 in the shot put. Winning the event, the throw moves him up to 24_^th in Division II.

In the men's pole vault, UNK had the top six finishers with Minden junior Landon Lempka, Fairfield junior Bailey Stapleman and Bertrand freshman Tyrell Younger all clearing 15-1.50. Lempka won based on judge's decision.

Seven Loper women competed in the vault with Columbus junior Kylee Study coming in second with a career-best height of 11-4.50. That moves her up to seventh on the all-time top 10 list.

Besides the men's shot and men's vault, UNK won six other events to place second, on both sides, in a small three-team meet. Among the winners were O'Neill junior Emily Everitt in the high jump (5-3.75) and Hastings freshman Justin Enberg in the 55 hurdles (8.00).

Back at UNL, Texas senior Preston Foley was fourth in the 60 meter dash (6.97), Lincoln junior Mandera Gatwech was eighth out of 35 in the 400 (49.44) and DeWeese freshman Corbin Hansen led a pack of Lopers by finishing seventh at 5,000 meters (15:28.16).

The women saw Colorado sophomore Michaela Hoffman run a career-best 9.19 to finish 10th in the 60 hurdles. That places her 10th in Loper lore. Holdrege junior Julianna Burr came in ninth (9.09).

Finally, Kearney freshman Macie Wicht was third in the triple jump (35-4) and Plattsmouth freshman April Graham was fourth in the 800 meter run (2:19.12).

UNK heads to Missouri Southern State next weekend for the MIAA Indoor Championships