Kearney, Neb. – The nationally-ranked Nebraska Kearney cross country teams finished fifth (men) and seventh (women) at the 2024 NCAA Central Regional meet Saturday in Joplin, Mo.

This was the third straight year Missouri Southern hosted this 30-plus team event. The men ran a 10k with the women a 6k; the top 25 individual finishers earn All-Region honors.

The meet also is a qualifier for the NCAA Championships later this month in California with the top three teams automatically advancing as well as the top two individuals not on a qualifying team. Additionally, a top-five finisher not part of a advancing team also heads West with the rest of the field being at-large selections and announced on Monday (Nov. 11).

Central City junior Ella Buhlke led the Lopers as she finished 13th (21:30.7). She joins Morgan Benesch (2014-16), Destiny Reinke (2019) and Hannah Pollan (2022) as the only UNK women to earn NCAA All-Region honors.

The 26th-ranked women scored 184 points in a field of 32 teams. Thus, they improved seven places and 147 points over last year's finish. Eighth-ranked Augustana (82), 12th-ranked Pittsburg State (110) and 18th-ranked Mary, N.D. (116) were the top three finishers with the Lopers 10 points ahead of 24th-ranked Northwest Missouri and just seven points behind 23rd-ranked Fort Hays State.

The 30th-ranked men, minus All-MIAA runner Sam Lueders (Blair), almost repeated last year's performance; sixth-place and 179 points. Today, UNK was at 176 to be fifth, just a single point behind regionally-ranked Washburn. The Lopers placed ahead of 20th-ranked Augustana with 10th-ranked East Central, Okla. (71), 12th-ranked NW Missouri (76) and 22nd-ranked Pitt State (103) headed to Sacramento. 

Kansas senior Brett Schoenhofer (27th/31:26.64), Grand Island sophomore Juan Garcia (29th/31:29.61) and Central City senior Payton Davis (31st/31:33.34) led UNK and were separated by just four places. Augie's Ryan Hartman led the field in 30:07.99. The Lopers other scorers were Omaha redshirt junior Nick Abdalla (35th/31:37.65) and South Sioux City redshirt freshman Mesuidi Ejerso (54th/31:55.02).

Back on the women's side, Blair freshman Reece Ewoldt (31st/21:55.08) and Albion senior Jordan Soto-Stopak (39th/22:02.90) were the Lopers second and third scorers. Mary's Alyssa Becker was first overall (20:20.20). Finally, York freshman Kassidy Stuckey (46th/22:14.96) and Omaha redshirt sophomore Noelle Abels (55th/22:24.77) rounded out UNK's top five.