Regular Season Done; MIAA's Next Weekend at E-State

4/30/2022 7:37:00 AM

Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney track and field team competed in three different events on Friday, battling the weather along the way.

UNK was in Des Moines (Drake Relays), Indianola, Ia., (Kip Janvrin Open) and Hays (Alex Francis Classic.) The last meet was shortened due to severe weather in the Kansas area. Nick Abdalla

At Drake, Fremont sophomore Wes Ferguson was runner up in the 800 with a 1:48.91. He came in ahead of five Division I runners and was only edged by Ackeen Colley of Western Illinois (1:48.57). The time isn't too far off his own school-record (1:47.80).

O'Neill sophomore Abby Everitt and three men's high jumpers were the other Lopers competing Friday at Drake. Everitt cleared 5-4.25 to be 18th in the high jump with Florida senior Montrez Jackson tying his season-best of 6-10.25 to finish fifth out of 29. He came into the weekend ranked 19th nationally.

Down the road at Simpson College, McCool Junction redshirt junior Luke Stuckey ran a 1:52.22 in the 800 to be fourth in a field of 135. Hastings junior Seth Simonson was five places back (1:53.78); both ran Thursday at Drake. Next, David City sophomore Payton Davis was fifth in the 1,500 with the ninth lowest time in school-history (3:53.68) while Omaha freshman Nick Abdalla was runner up in the steeple (9:16.96). The field was consisted of 47 and Abdalla was the top college finisher.

Finally, Imperial senior Destiny Reinke won the women's steeple in 11:01.62, nearly five seconds ahead of the runner up, with Fremont freshman Mara Hemmer third in the 1,500 (4:36.07). This is a new career-best for Reinke who moves from fourth to third on the all-time list.

At Hays, not even a weather delay early on could prevent most of the meet being canceled. Events that were completed will see those times/marks count officially.

Central City senior Andrew Schuller won the discus (season-best 166-0) with three Lopers in the top six in this event and the hammer. That trio was led by Giltner junior Alex Goracke in second (186-1) with Schuller's effort placing 31st nationally. On the women's side, four Lopers were in the top eight of the hammer. Battle Creek sophomore Abby Meinke led by coming in third (169-4).

UNK heads to Emporia State next weekend of the MIAA Championships.

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