Productive Weekend in Wichita

4/9/2022 8:58:00 PM

Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney track and field team had 13 top five finishes and eight all-time top 10 efforts this weekend at the K.T. Woodman Classic at Wichita State.

The long week for the Shockers began Wednesday with a two-day high school meet, followed by Division I through junior colleges competing Friday through late Saturday night.

Late Friday night, Kearney redshirt freshman Grace Bonsall broke a 33-year old Loper record at 10,000 meters. Her time of 35:34.80 led a field of 24 and was well ahead of the runner up (36:07.43). The effort easily surpasses the old record of 35:55.7, set by five-time NAIA All-American Paula West in April 1989. Finally, the time currently ranks 12th in Division II.

Next, Fremont freshman Mara Hemmer was runner up in the 800 (2:16.57) and 1,500 (4:32.37). Her time Friday in the 1,500 ranks third best in school-history with Funk junior Baylee Alstrom finishing 10th with a time (4:42.95) just shy of her career-best. Finally on the track for the women, Imperial senior Destiny Reinke was one of three Lopers in steeple top 10. Her third-place time of 11:20.36 bumps her up a spot to fourth in the record books with Iowa senior Maddie Bach eighth (17:47.02) and Comstock senior Zoe Ritz 13th (17:56.13) in the 5,000. Ritz now ranks 10th in Loper lore.

Finally on the women's side, Kansas sophomore Jaida McEwen won the javelin (142-7), Kearney senior Anna Squiers was third in the discus (153-0) and O'Neill sophomore Abby Everitt placed sixth in the high jump (5-4.25). Squiers joins Bonsall and Hemmer (1,500) as Loper women to reach the national list this weekend.

The men saw Kearney sophomore Brayden Sorensen finish runner up in the high jump with a season-best 7-0.50 and Central City senior Andrew Schuller come in fifth in the hammer (186-3). On Friday, Kansas redshirt freshman Evan Prohaska was seventh in the javelin (194-10) with Juniata junior Justin Vrooman fourth (30:18.61) and Blair freshman Sam Lueders seventh (30:58.05) in the 10,000. Vrooman vaults into fourth place in UNK history and reaches the national list with Lueders ranking 10th in school history.

The 400-meter run was productive late Saturday as Wallace sophomore Micah Swedberg (48.29) came in fifth with Fremont redshirt freshman Wes Ferguson sixth (48.42). Ferguson is now tied for 10th on the Loper 400 career list. Also having a career-best effort was Ravenna freshman Jack Drahota in the 110 hurdles. His 14.65 was good for ninth place and allows him to move into the school top 10.

Finally, Hastings junior Seth Simonson was second (1:52.52) and McCool Junction junior Luke Stuckey third (1:52.60) in the 800, an event where seven Lopers cracked the top 20.

The Loper Invitational is set for next Friday at Kearney High School (field events at 11 a.m.; running events at 3 p.m.). Select distance runners will head to California to take part in the Mt. Sac Relays and Bryan Clay Invite as well.

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