Kearney, Neb. – Myles Bach and Wes Ferguson broke their own school-records Saturday at the Northwest Open in Maryville, Mo.

The large non-team scoring meet included teams from around the area with 30 competitors plus taking part in most events. 
 

Bach (Cedar Rapids, Ia.) and Ferguson (Fremont) were either first or second in their event with thrower Cassidy Snyder (Holdrege) placing in first in hers. Bach turned in an 8:14.46 3,000-meter run to be second in a field of 47 while Ferguson helped UNK go 1-2-3 at 800 meters. He ran an even 1:50.00, topping the 1:50.60 he had last February with Bach's time three seconds faster than the one he ran just last weekend at Nebraska. Nationally, Bach is sixth with Ferguson first (track-converted 1:49.80). 

Next, Cole Willis (Kearney) and Max Lindgren (Ogallala) were second and third, respectively, in the 800 with the 1:51.76 turned in by Willis pushing him up six spots to fourth on the school all-time list. Also putting their names up on the national board this weekend were thrower Ross Berggren (Batavia, Ill.) and distance runner Ben Arens (Ainsworth). Berggren finished third out of 36 in the shot put (53-10.50); that ties him for 27th nationally. Arens was three spots behind Bach with a time that is the second-best in Loper lore (8:17.09). That ranks him 10th in D2.

Snyder led the UNK women by leading a field of 37 in the shot (career-best 44-2) while being runner up in the weight throw. That field consisted of 40 and she had a top toss of 50-6.75. Also on the women's side, Baylee Alstrom (Holdrege) was second in the mile with a 5:13.87, Gabrielle Oborny (David) cleared 11-3.50 to be runner in up in the pole vault, Elizabeth Polk (Hooper) was a spot behind Alstrom in the mile (5:19.34) with Lilyan Lam (Lincoln SE) two spots behind Oborny in the vault (10-3.50). Finally, Autumn Graham (2:22.63) and Kyla Carlson (2:24.36) were fourth and fifth in the 800.

The other men's highlights included the 4x4 relay team turning in a 3:18.01, the fifth best time in school history. Good for a third-place finish, the squad consisted of Jack Drahota (Ravenna), Micah Swedberg (Wallace), Willis and Ferguson. Earlier in the day, Swedburg won at 400 meters by managing a 48.16 (fourth on the UNK all-time list) with Drahota sixth out of 39 in the 200 (22.51). Finally, Seth Simonson (Hastings) was second out of 52 in the mile thanks to a 4:11.97 with UNK going 2-3-4 in the vault. That trio was led by Justin Spencer (Mitchell) at 14-10.25 based on judge's decision.

The Lopers return home next Friday for the annual Charlie Foster.