A Herd of Loper Winners

Myron Graham

Men's Track and Field | 1/28/2022 8:40:00 PM

Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney track and field team won 17 events (six women and 11 men) at the annual Charlie Foster Classic Friday night in Cushing Coliseum.

The non-team scoring event also included rivals Hastings College and Fort Hays State. This was UNK's second home indoor meet of the year; they'll be back in Cushing Feb. 18 for the Loper Tune Up.

Bridgeport redshirt senior Connor Wiggins led the way with a winning toss of 60-2.50 in the weight throw. A career-best effort, the heave moves him up a spot to eighth on the UNK all-time list and also places him on the national list. Central City native Andrew Schuller (59-9.50) was runner up with the Lopers having four of the top five finishers in this event.

Next, Seth Simonson (Hastings) and Cole Willis (Kearney) both improved their standing on the national 800-meter list. Simonson won (track-converted 1:50.38) with Willis the runner up (track-converted 1:50.91) and junior Trevor Matousek (Holdrege) third. Simonson and Willis join Wes Ferguson (Fremont) as Lopers in the national top seven in this event. Also slightly moving up in D2 was Florida senior Montrez Jackson. He cleared 6-8.25 as did Brayden Sorensen (Kearney). Sorensen won via judge's decision with Jackson now 16th nationally.

Winning women's field events was David City sophomore Gabrielle Oborny (pole vault/11-7.25), McCook redshirt freshman Mackenzie Smith (weight throw/54-2.75) and Sidney freshman Karly Sylvester (shot/43-10.75) with Holdrege junior Cassidy Snyder the runner up in the weight throw and shot. On the track, the Loper women saw Funk junior Baylee Alstrom win the 800 (1:29.43) with Fremont freshman Mara Hemmer (2:20.02) and Abie redshirt junior Rebekah Roh (2:21.20) the next two finishers. The other UNK women's first place finishers were Kearney freshman Nicole Messbarger (600 yards/1:29.43), Colorado freshman Lindsey Stodden (200/27.54) and Kearney redshirt freshman Grace Bonsall (mile/5:14.46).

Besides Sorensen, Illinois veteran Ross Berggren (shot/52-5.75) was the other UNK field event winner. The Lopers also had three vaulters clear 14-8.25, each tying for third place. On the track, Wallace junior Micah Swedberg (600 yards/1:12.85), Texas junior Kylan Herrera (60 meters/7.11) and Ravenna sophomore Jack Drahota (60 hurdles/8.45) each won as did Geneva freshman Garrett Nichols at 1,000-meters (2:42.23) and Axtell junior Lane Bertrand (200/23.63). Finally, Bertrand was second (8.47) to Drahota in the 60 hurdles with McCool Junction veteran Luke Stuckey (4:16.32) helping UNK go 1-5 in the mile.

UNK heads to the Concordia Classic and Nebraska Invite next Friday/Saturday.

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Players Mentioned

Baylee Alstrom: Redshirt Junior; Jr. (I)/R-So. (O)

Grace Bonsall: Sophomore; Fr.

Cassidy Snyder: Senior; Jr (I)/R-So. (O)

Nicole Messbarger: Sophomore; Fr.

Gabrielle Oborny: Sophomore; Fr.

Rebekah Roh: Senior; Jr. (I)/R-So. (O)

Mackenzie Smith: Redshirt Sophomore; Fr-R

Lindsey Stodden: Sophomore; Fr.

Ross Berggren: Redshirt Senior; R-Jr. (I)/R-So. (O)

Lane Bertrand: Junior; So. (I/)Fr-R (O)

Players Mentioned

Baylee Alstrom
: Redshirt Junior; Jr. (I)/R-So. (O)

Grace Bonsall
: Sophomore; Fr.

Cassidy Snyder
: Senior; Jr (I)/R-So. (O)

Nicole Messbarger
: Sophomore; Fr.

Gabrielle Oborny
: Sophomore; Fr.

Rebekah Roh
: Senior; Jr. (I)/R-So. (O)

Mackenzie Smith
: Redshirt Sophomore; Fr-R

Lindsey Stodden
: Sophomore; Fr.

Ross Berggren
: Redshirt Senior; R-Jr. (I)/R-So. (O)

Lane Bertrand
: Junior; So. (I/)Fr-R (O)