University of Nebraska - Kearney Athletics

Erika Pritchard, UNK Communications

Men's Track and Field 5/4/2025 5:53:00 PM

UNK Scores in Multiple Sunday Events; Twilight Meets Next Up

Men's Track and Field 5/4/2025 5:53:00 PM

UNK Scores in Multiple Sunday Events; Twilight Meets Next Up

Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska Kearney track and field teams finished sixth (women) and seventh (men) at the 2025 MIAA Outdoor Championships Sunday in Emporia, Kan.

The three-day meet started Friday afternoon and ran until Sunday night. The Loper women tallied 59 points, its second-best tally at a MIAA outdoor championship and just seven points shy of Central Missouri. The UNK men scored in 11 events on Sunday to end up with 38 and be ahead 6.5 points ahead of Fort Hays State. Top-ranked Pittsburg State easily won both team titles.

On Saturday, throwers Lily Novacek (Kearney H.S.) and Madison Smith (Gothenburg) and runners Nick Abdalla (Omaha South) and Brynn Hirschfeld (York H.S.) earned All-MIAA honors by finishing in the top three in their respective events (hammer, discus and steeplechase). Lincoln freshman Tasia Sadler joined them on Sunday as she was third in the high jump (career-best 5-7). That height moves into a ninth-place tie in school history and gets her closer to reaching the NCAA Championships.

Stamford junior Brianna Russell was fifth (5-5.75) and Kansas senior Brooklyn Staab eighth (5-2.50) in the event to help UNK rack up the team points. Next, McCool Junction freshman Kassidy Stuckey scored in both the 800 (8th/2:15.72) and 1,500 (5th/4:29.79). Her time in the 1,500 ranks third in Loper lore with Central City junior Ella Buhlke (7th/17:27.72) and Blair freshman Reece Ewoldt (8th/17:31.01) scoring in the 5,000. Buhlke's time moves her up to fourth all-time. Finally on the women's side, the 4x1 relay team placed sixth (48.09) with the 4x4 squad seventh (3:52.68).

David City senior Payton Davis had the men's top finish on Sunday (fifth) by running a 3:51.48 in the 1,500. Ord redshirt freshman Sam Boettcher (shot put/54-0.40) and Sidney junior Mitchell Deer (400 hurdles/PR of 52.79) were both sixth with Kansas junior Rylan Basart (javelin/204-7), Gretna junior Clayton Kelly (triple jump/47-10.75), Omaha sophomore Reed Emsick (800/1:53.10), Brady sophomore Dillon Miller (200/21.71), Lexington freshman Will Kulhanek (400/47.50) and the 4x1 relay team (42.31) all coming in seventh. Finally, Kearney senior Colby Spangler (triple jump/47-5.25), Cortland senior Zach Van Brocklin (800/1:54.74) and Omaha junior Abraham Hoskins (110 hurdles/15.96) each placed eighth.

Select Lopers will take part in the Concordia Twilight (Friday) and Loper Twilight (Saturday) next weekend.

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Players Mentioned

Ella Buhlke: Junior; Jr./R-So.

Brynn Hirschfeld: Junior; Jr.

Lily Novacek: Redshirt Junior; R-Jr.

Brianna Russell: Junior; Jr.

Brooklyn Staab: Senior; Sr.

Nick Abdalla: Senior; Sr./Jr.

Rylan Basart: Junior; Jr.

Sam Boettcher: Redshirt Freshman; R-Fr.

Payton Davis: Senior; Sr.

Mitchell Deer: Junior; Jr.

Players Mentioned

Ella Buhlke
: Junior; Jr./R-So.

Brynn Hirschfeld
: Junior; Jr.

Lily Novacek
: Redshirt Junior; R-Jr.

Brianna Russell
: Junior; Jr.

Brooklyn Staab
: Senior; Sr.

Nick Abdalla
: Senior; Sr./Jr.

Rylan Basart
: Junior; Jr.

Sam Boettcher
: Redshirt Freshman; R-Fr.

Payton Davis
: Senior; Sr.

Mitchell Deer
: Junior; Jr.