Kearney, Neb. – The nationally-ranked Nebraska Kearney cross country teams both finished runner up at the 2022 MIAA Championships Saturday in Joplin, Mo.

The meet was hosted by Missouri Southern at the Tom Rutledge C.C. with the men running an 8k and the women a 6k. All these teams will be back at this same course for the NCAA Central Regional on Nov. 19.

The defending MIAA Champions, the 23rd-ranked Loper women scored 67 points to trail only 20th-ranked Pittsburg State (51). UNK came in ahead of 10 teams including 28th-ranked Northwest Missouri (78) and Rogers State (95). The Lopers also finished second in 2013.

On the men's side, the 14th-ranked Lopers tallied 68 points to come in behind 8th-ranked MSSU (41). 21st-ranked Pitt State (93) and 30th-ranked Washburn (98) were third and fourth, respectively. UNK was also second in 2014 and 2018.  

Earning individual All-MIAA honors on the women's side was Omaha redshirt junior Hannah Pollan (7th/21:15.48), Fremont sophomore Mara Hemmer (10th/21:36.72), Kearney redshirt sophomore Grace Bonsall (11th/21:42.54) and Hooper redshirt sophomore Elizabeth Polk (18th/22:00.68). A top 10 finish garners first-team accolades with places 11-20 good for honorable mention.

The UNK men to crack the top 20 were Iowa redshirt sophomore Myles Bach (7th/24:03.02), McCool Junction redshirt senior Luke Stuckey (8th/24:04.14), Ainsworth redshirt junior Ben Arens (9th/24:06.35) and Juniata redshirt senior Justin Vrooman (16th/24:42.31).