University of Nebraska - Kearney Athletics

Jay Slagle

Men's Cross Country 9/5/2025 7:33:00 PM

UNK Runs Past D1 Foes at Mahoney State Park

Men's Cross Country 9/5/2025 7:33:00 PM

UNK Runs Past D1 Foes at Mahoney State Park

Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska Kearney cross country teams both finished in fourth place at the annual Platte River Rumble Gold meet Friday night in Ashland.

The season-opening event was co-hosted by Creighton and the Omaha Sports Commission. The women ran a 5k and the men a 6k on the Olsson C.C. Course.

The women tallied 102 points to come in ahead of the Bluejays (120), Nebraska Omaha (168) and two MIAA rivals. Kansas State won (34) with UNL second (68) and South Dakota third (71). In the men's race, the Lopers tallied 107 points to best USD (112), Nebraska (167), CU (179) and two junior colleges. Iowa Western (50) edged out Northwest Missouri (52) for the top spot with K-State third (79).

To start the night off, six UNK women cracked the Top 40 with the leaders being McCool Junction sophomore Kassidy Stuckey (10th/17:49.09) and Central City senior Ella Buhlke (11th/17:50.21). Juliana Sakat of IWCC (17:02.04) led a field of 100.

Kearney freshman Abigail Burger was the next Loper to reach the line (20th/18:11.48) with Omaha junior Noelle Abels nine spots back (18:24.64). Finally, Kansas junior Charis Robinson (37th/18:34.97) and York junior Brynn Hirschfeld (38th/18:38.69) rounded out the top six with three freshmen besides Burger making their collegiate debuts.

Omaha senior Nick Abdalla (8th/18:07.5) and Lincoln sophomore Carter Hohlen (13th/18:15.2) paced the men with IWCC having the top two finishers in Geofrey Ronoh (17:56.21) and Barnabas Ndiwa. Next, Kansas freshman Drew Elliott came in 26th (18:36.8), South Sioux City sophomore Mesuidi Ejerso was 31st (18:43.3) and Iowa freshman Brennen Bhave placed 34th (18:50.8). Finally, three others cracked the Top 40 including Beatrice freshman Josiah Quinones (36th/18:52.8).

UNK heads to Lincoln on Sept. 20 for the annual Greeko/Dirksen Invite at Mahoney G.C

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Players Mentioned

Ella Buhlke: Senior

Brynn Hirschfeld: Redshirt Junior

Noelle Abels: Redshirt Junior

Charis Robinson: Junior

Kassidy Stuckey: Sophomore

Abigail Burger: Freshman

Nick Abdalla: Redshirt Senior

Mesuidi Ejerso: Redshirt Sophomore

Carter Hohlen: Sophomore

Josiah Quinones: Freshman

Players Mentioned

Ella Buhlke
: Senior

Brynn Hirschfeld
: Redshirt Junior

Noelle Abels
: Redshirt Junior

Charis Robinson
: Junior

Kassidy Stuckey
: Sophomore

Abigail Burger
: Freshman

Nick Abdalla
: Redshirt Senior

Mesuidi Ejerso
: Redshirt Sophomore

Carter Hohlen
: Sophomore

Josiah Quinones
: Freshman