Kearney, Neb. – Central City junior Andrew Schuller tied his school-record in the hammer and Kansas freshman Jaida McEwen broke a 19-year old school mark in the javelin to pace Nebraska-Kearney on the first day of the 2021 MIAA Championships in Pittsburg, Kan.

The two-day meet began Saturday morning with the multi-events and wrapped up around 9 p.m. The meet resumes Sunday morning and should end around 7 p.m. 

Schuller had a heave of 194-2 to come in fifth in the hammer, good for four team points. The effort came on his fourth and final attempt and tied his school-mark set last week at Fort Hays State. Giltner sophomore Alex Goracke scored two more team points by placing seventh (187-0).

In the women's javelin McEwen came in fourth with a toss of 147-9. That bests the 141-8 Leann Fritsche achieved back in May 2002. 
 

UNK is currently fourth in the men's race with 10 points while being seventh in the women's standings (17). The Pittsburg State men are in first (63.50) with rival Missouri Southern close behind (54.0) with the MSSU Lions women first (65) and Fort Hays State a distant second (35).

Next, Juniata sophomore Justin Vrooman came in fifth in the grueling 10,000-meter run (31:27.10) to pick up four more points. In the 800 prelims, McCool Junction sophomore Luke Stuckey was second (1:54.41) and Hastings sophomore Seth Simonson seventh (1:55.02). Finally, New Mexico senior Lindsey Larabee and St. Libory sophomore Noah Bruggeman tied for ninth in the pole vault by both clearing 15-6.25 with Wallace redshirt freshman Micah Swedberg sixth in the 400 prelims (48.70).

The Loper women scored five points in the high jump thanks to O'Neill freshman Abby Everitt coming in fifth (5-6) and Omaha sophomore Alyssa Schlaht placing eighth (5-4.25). Next, McCook senior Tiara Schmidt was fifth (179-2) and Colorado junior Logan Prater sixth (176-4) in the hammer with Kearney true freshman Grace Bonsall eighth at 10,000-meters (40:07.87). Finally, Elm Creek sophomore Claire Cornell was 10th in the long jump (18-1.50) and Holdrege senior Baylie Bryant 11th in the vault (12-1.50).