UNK Racks Up the Wins in Season-Opener

12/8/2023 10:19:00 PM

Kearney, Neb. – Redshirt senior Brayden Sorensen soared 7-2.25 to break his own school indoor record and set a new Cushing Coliseum standard Friday night at the annual UNK Pre-Holiday Classic.

This was the Lopers first meet of the 2023-24 season. Also in attendance was Fort Hays State, Bethany (Kan.) College, York and Hastings.

Sorensen (Kearney H.S.), a four-time All-American who competed at the U.S. Championships in July, went 7-0.50 at the 2021 MIAA Championships for his previous best indoor height. He cleared 2.16 meters on his second try tonight and then went over 2.19 on attempt one. He then tried for 2.21; Nathan Leeper held the Cushing record at 7-2, set in January 1997 while jumping for Dodge City C.C. He went on to star at Kansas State and be a member of the U.S. Olympic team. In the very early going, Grand Valley (Mich.) State junior Jonathan Rankin-James (7-3.25) leads D2 in the high jump with Sorensen second.

Also getting their name on the provisional list was Kearney junior Nicole Messbarger at 400-meters (56.53), Stamford sophomore Brianna Russell and Dannebrog freshman Sydney Davis in the high jump (both 5-5.75), Creighton junior Alex Homan in the pole vault (15-7.25), Giltner redshirt senior Alex Goracke in the weight throw (62-6.75) and Kearney sophomore Lily Novacek in the weight throw (57-6.5). Goracke also won the shot (49-8.25), helping the men take the gold in 14 events with the women winning eight times.

That large group included freshman Aaliyah Franklin (Omaha Burke) who had efforts of 7.92 and 7.89 at 60-meters. She now ranks eighth in school-history in the event and was third in the long jump (16-11.50) as well. Next, Holdrege junior Samantha Schemper went a career-best 11-7 to win the pole vault and move into eighth place on the Top 10 with Kansas freshman Charis Robinson turning in the sixth fastest time in Loper lore at 1,000-meters (3:02.66).

On the men's side, Norfolk junior Jackson Clausen had times of 6.98 and 6.95 to win at 60 meters. He is now tied for ninth place in the record book. Next, seven-time All-American Wes Ferguson (Fremont) raced for the first time since the U.S. Championships and won the mile (4:17.09), the 4x4 relay team turned in a 3:23.21 and Kearney junior Colby Spangler won the triple jump (46-10.25).

UNK is now off until the annual Graduate Classic Jan. 12-13 in Lincoln.

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