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

The non-team scoring event also featured Fort Hays State, Hastings College, and York University.

Junior Nolan Studley (Hastings H.S.) led the way by clearing a career-best 7-1 in the high jump. That effort ties him for number one in Division II and allows him to join event coach Brady Sorensen (7-2.25; Dec. 2023), Josh Long (7-0.25; Feb. 1998) and Derek Bailey (7-0; Feb. 2003) as the only Lopers to reach 7-0 indoors. 

Placing right behind him was freshman Luke Brachle (Kearney H.S.) who reached 6-9.75. Earlier he won the 60-hurdles in 8.10, tied for the third best time in school history. Next, senior Clayton Kelly (Gretna H.S.) tied his career-best in the long jump to win (23-6.75; eighth in school history) and then went a career-best 49-5.50 to place first in the triple jump. That vaults him into third place on the Top 10 list.

On the women's side, senior Brianna Russell (Stamford) was runner up in the high jump thanks to tying her career-best height (5-8; fourth in school history). UNK had three others in the top five including sophomore Keira Jones (Grand Island H.S) in third (5-5.75).

Also winning their events was Kearney senior Lily Novacek in the weight throw (61-4.25), Albion senior Jordan Soto-Stopak in the 3,000 (10:32.63) and Grand Island sophomore Maddie Schneider in the shot put (43-9). Finally, Burwell freshman Natalie Williams was runner up in the long jump (17-9.75) and fourth in the 60 (8.04).

Back on the men's side, Fremont junior Tyson Baker won the 600-yard run (1:15.06), Lexington sophomore Will Kulhanek was first in the 400 (50.23), Ord sophomore Sam Boettcher led the field in the shot (51-7) and Firth redshirt freshman Eli Holt was runner up in the weight throw (55-5.75) and shot (47-3.50).

UNK is now off until UNL's annual Graduate Classic in January.