Lopers Have Strong Meet in Rare Visit to Wayne State

Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska Kearney track and field team won 12 events, and senior Mitchell Deer set a new school record in the 400, Saturday at the WSC NCAA Showdown in Wayne.

The Lopers first visit to the Wildcats for indoors also featured competito

rs from five other NCAA Division II schools.

The UNK men had themselves a strong meet as they won seven events, finished runner up four times and had seven all-time top 10 efforts. Deer (Sidney) led the way by running a 48.21 to win at 400 meters. One of three Lopers in the top five, he bests the 48.22 Micah Swedberg ran in Feb. 2024.

Next, St. Paul senior Conner Wells turned in the program's second-best time in the 800 (1:49.80) and was one of five Lopers in the top seven. UNK legend Wes Ferguson managed a 1:47.16 in March 2023; he and Wells are the only Lopers to have run under 1:50.00. Wells now ranks seventh nationally with Fremont junior Tyson Baker coming in third with the eighth fastest time (1:51.97) in the annuals.

Also second in the UNK books is freshman Luke Brachle (Kearney H.S.) in the 60 hurdles and the 4x4 relay team (3:14.70). Brachle won with an 8.05 but ran an 8.00 in prelims; Allen Osborn ran a 7.78 to win the 2012 national title. Deer was second and Baker the anchor for the relay team that included true freshmen Andrew Rentschler (West Holt H.S.) and Evan Shaffer (Kearney H.S.). Finally, Omaha senior Nick Abdalla (3,000; 8:25.28), Gretna senior Clayton Kelly (triple jump; 49-0.75), Hastings junior Nolan Studley (high jump; 6-10.25), South Sioux City Mesuidi Ejerso (mile; 4:13.68) all came in first.

The women saw Stamford senior Brianna Russell win the high jump (5-5.75) with Kearney senior Lily Novacek second in the weight throw (55-0.75) and three clearing 11-2.50 in the vault. That trio was led by Kansas sophomore Maddy Carpenter-Ross.

Winning on the track was Overton senior Maeli Meier (600 meters/1:37.51), Kansas junior Charis Robinson (800/2:15.26), McCool Junction sophomore Kassidy Stuckey (mile/4:55.26) and Kearney freshman Abigail Burger (3,000/9:57.44). Finally, Meier, Robinson and Stuckey helped the 4x4 relay team finish second (3:57.81).

UNK hosts the Charlie Foster Classic next Friday evening in Cushing Coliseum.

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Players Mentioned

Nick Abdalla: Senior; Sr.

Tyson Baker: Redshirt Junior; R-Jr.

Mitchell Deer: Senior; Sr.

Mesuidi Ejerso: Redshirt Sophomore; R-So.

Clayton Kelly: Senior; Sr.

Nolan Studley: Junior; Jr

Conner Wells: Senior; Sr.

Maeli Meier: Senior; Sr.

Charis Robinson: Junior; Jr.

Brianna Russell: Senior; Sr.

Players Mentioned

Nick Abdalla
: Senior; Sr.

Tyson Baker
: Redshirt Junior; R-Jr.

Mitchell Deer
: Senior; Sr.

Mesuidi Ejerso
: Redshirt Sophomore; R-So.

Clayton Kelly
: Senior; Sr.

Nolan Studley
: Junior; Jr

Conner Wells
: Senior; Sr.

Maeli Meier
: Senior; Sr.

Charis Robinson
: Junior; Jr.

Brianna Russell
: Senior; Sr.