Kearney, Neb. – Senior Wes Ferguson won his fourth 800-meter national title, senior high jumper Brayden Sorensen earned his fifth All-American honor and junior pole vaulter Alex Homan broke a 19-year school-record on the second and final day of the 2024 NCAA Division II Indoor Championships in Pittsburg, Kan.

MIAA-member Pittsburg State hosted the event with the Loper men finishing 17th (13.5 points) and the women tying for 34th place (4.5 points). The Pitt men won with the Gorilla women the national runner up. 

Ferguson (Fremont), now an eight-time All-American, had the sixth fastest time in the 800 prelims (1:51.45) on Friday. That was his first race since Feb. 9-10 due to an ailment. Sophomore Harry-Ross Hughes of Lake Erie (Ohio) had the top time in prelims (1:50.11) and led for the first half of the race tonight. However, Ferguson caught him and held off Adams State's David Cardenas as well over the last lap to place first. He ran a 1:48.13, just ahead of Cardenas (1:48.60) and Ross-Hughes (1:48.90).

Ferguson's other national titles came in 2022 (indoors and outdoors) and 2023 (indoors). He was national runner up at this meet last year and joins current throws coach Dane Tobey (2006-11) as an eight-time All-American, top among UNK men.

Sorensen (Kearney) is now one of just three five-time All-Americans as he tied for 12th in the high jump (6-9.75). A top eight-finish is good for first-team honors; second team is places nine through 12. He cleared 6-8 on his first attempt, got over the 6-9.75 bar on try three and bowed out at 6-11.75. Grand Valley State went 1-2 here, led by Jaivon Harrison (7-2.25). The other five-time AA men are runner Ivan Ivanov (1995-96) and thrower Lance Pfeiffer (2003-07).

Finally, Homan (Creighton) earned his second All-American honor by going 16-0.50, 16-6.50 and 16-10.25 all on his first attempt. He then missed the 17-2.25 bar to tie for sixth place. Mike Ford held the Loper record (16-9.50), set at the 2005 NCAA meet. As expected, Harding's Vlad Malykhin (18-4.50) won the title.

On Friday, high jumper Brianna Russell (T-4th), weight thrower Alex Goracke (12th) and the men's distance medley relay team (8th) earned AA status. The DMR team finished ninth but moved up a spot after another school was disqualified. That foursome was Zach Van Brocklin, Mitchell Deer, Landon Eckhardt and Payton Davis.

UNK begins the outdoor season later this month.