Kearney, Neb.  – The Nebraska-Kearney track and field team had 12 top three finishes at the Central Nebraska Challenge Saturday at Kearney High School.

The nearly 12-hour meet, co-hosted with Hastings College, featured schools from around the area and was the first of three home meets for the Lopers. 

David City sophomore Gabrielle Oborny and Fremont sophomore Wes Ferguson led the way by setting a new school-records, Oborny in the women's pole vault (12-3.5-0) and Ferguson at 800-meters (1:47.80).

Oborny's fourth-place effort bests the 12-3.25 Baylie Bryant achieved nearly a year ago; the effort also ranks Top 30 nationally. Coming off an indoor national championship in the 800, Ferguson's first outdoor race of 2022 resulted in a first place showing. His time surpasses the 1:50.09 Seth Simonson ran last April. Ferguson led a strong field of 47 with Minnesota State's Tanner Maier nearly two seconds behind him; he was third in the 800 at indoor nationals. In the early going, Ferguson's time ranks second in D2.

Another move in the UNK all-time top 10 came in the men's javelin as Kansas sophomore Evan Prohaska came in first (211-1) with Hastings sophomore Josh Bohlke fifth (187-0). Prohaska moves up three spots to second, trailing only the 212-0 Darren Grauerholz achieved in 1992, with Bohlke up one position to fifth. Finally, Prohaska ranks sixth nationally. 

Also placing first on the men's side was Iowa sophomore Myles Bach in the 5,000 (14:30.33), Ainsworth junior Ben Arens in the steeplechase (9:12.40) and McCool Junction senior Luke Stuckey in the 1,500 (3:47.52). Bach moves into fourth place in the record books with Hastings senior Seth Simonson second all-time in the 1,500 after a runner up finish (3:47.89). Finally, Kearney freshman Richard Harbols was runner up in the high jump (6-8.75) as was Central City senior Andrew Schuller in the discus (163-3). Harbols, Arens, Stuckey and Simonson all are on the national list now. 

Back on the women's side, Elm Creek junior Claire Cornell won the long jump with a leap (19-0.50) close to her personal-best of 19-1.25. Next, Kansas sophomore Jaida McEwen was second in the javelin (143-8) with Imperial senior Destiny Reinke one of three Lopers in the top seven in the 1,500. Her time of 4:45.80 was good for a fourth-place finish.

UNK heads to Wichita, Kan., next Friday for the annual K.T. Woodman Classic.