UNK Has Strong Start to the 2024-25 Season

12/13/2024 10:45:00 PM

Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska Kearney track and field team won 10 events at the annual Pre-Holiday Classic Friday night in Cushing Coliseum.

This was the Lopers first indoor meet of the 2024-25 season. The unscored team event also included competitors from Fort Hays State, Bethany (Kan.) College, Nebraska Wesleyan, Hastings and York.

Kearney redshirt junior Lily Novacek was UNK's lone double winner, taking gold in both the shot put (45-2.50) and weight throw (58-11.50). Both tosses place her on the national list. Next, it was strong night in the jumps as Kearney senior Colby Spangler won the triple jump (47-11), Gretna junior Clayton Kelly was first in the long jump (23-6.75), Stamford junior Brianna Russell led the women's high jump (5-3.50) with Hastings sophomore Nolan Studley pacing the men (6-9.75). Kelly, Spangler and Studley join Novacek as provisional qualifiers with Kelly now tied for eighth on UNK's top 10 list and Spangler tied for ninth.

UNK's other winners were Anselmo redshirt freshman Koral Schmidt (400/1:02.47), Kenesaw redshirt sophomore Eli Jensen (weight throw/55-0.5), Overton junior Maeli Meier (800/2:21.62) and Lincoln freshman Jordyn Wissing (mile/5:30.41). She ran unattached, as did Bertrand sophomore Quin Karas in the men's 3,000 (2nd/9:09.47).

Finally, Kelly was second in the triple jump (47-2.25), Omaha junior Abraham Hoskins was second in the 60-hurdles (8.74) and third on the 400 (53.14), Lexington freshman Will Kulhanek (6.96) almost cracked the top 10 list at 60 meters with Holdrege senior Samantha Schemper soaring a career-best 11-8.50 in the pole vault. That placed her second and ties her for seventh in Loper lore.

UNK is now off until mid-January.

Print Friendly Version