Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney track and field teams finished second (men) and fourth (women) at the annual MIAA Vs. NSIC Showdown Saturday afternoon in Maryville, Mo.

The three-day meet brings together teams from the MIAA and NSIC (Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conf.) in a rare scored event. William Jewell College, from the GLVC (Great Lakes Valley Conf.), also took part.

The Loper men, winning five events and finishing second in five others, tallied 180 points in the 10-team field. Minnesota State-Mankato (212) won with host NW Missouri State a distant third (88).

The MSU Mavericks (179.83) also won the 11-team women's race. UNK tallied 94.33 points with Winona State (166.50) the second place finisher. To reach its point total, the Lopers had two winners and two runners up.

Leading the way this weekend was

Rushville senior Cole Wellnitz. He won both the 800 (1:55.62) and 1,500 (3:49.02) meter runs with his effort in the 1,500 a new school mark. Last May, Wellnitz turned in a 3:49.56 at the Dr. Keeler Invite in Illinois. That time also places him 11th on the current national list.

Other Lopers to improve their national standing this weekend or reaching a provisional effort for the first time were Columbus senior Morgan Benesch (steeplechase/10:42.53), South Dakota senior Kelsey Fitzgerald (high jump/5-7), Texas senior Preston Foley (100 meters/10.56), Utica redshirt freshman Tanner Barth (shot put/53-5), Deweese true freshman Trace Gordanier (high jump/6-9) and Colorado true freshman Logan Prater (discus/149-8).

Benesch, Foley, Barth and Prater each won their respective events. UNK's other gold medal winner was Fremont junior Trevor Wiegert in the men's steeple (9:26.77).

Benesch's time was just two seconds off her own school record while Fitzgerald, in her second track meet in four years, moves into fifth place on UNK's all-time top 10 list in the high jump. Next, Foley's winning effort was literally a hair off his personal best (10.55) with Gordanier moving into a ninth place tie on the Loper men's high jump top 10 list.

Also of note, Foley was fourth in the 200 (21.75) and ran anchor for the third place 4x1 relay team (41.96). Deweese true freshman Corbin Hansen (9:34.10) was second to Wiegert in the steeple with another first year runner, Fremont's TeJai Clausen, runner up at 5,000 meters (15:51.19).

Finally on the men's side, UNK was second through fifth in the pole vault and led by Fairfield junior Bailey Stapleman (16-1.25) while Elm Creek sophomore Jacob Bartling was second in both the discus (158-1) and shot (52-11.50).

For the Loper women, Blair junior Molly Dibben had a career low 11:36.38 in the steeple to finish third behind Benesch. The time keeps her fifth in Loper lore. Next, Columbus junior Kylee Study cleared 11-4.25 in the pole vault to finish second.

Next Saturday, UNK host its annual outdoor meet at the "new" Kearney High track.