Lopers Have Strong Start at MIAA's

2/28/2026 8:05:00 PM

Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska Kearney track and field teams are sitting in fourth (men) and fifth (women) place after the second day of the 2026 MIAA Indoor Championships at Pittsburg State.

The three-day meet began on Friday with multi-events and runs until Sunday night. The 20th-ranked Loper men have tallied 36 points to be ahead of Central Missouri (24) with Pittsburg State (51.50) and Missouri Southern (45.0) in the top spots. On the women's side, UNK has tallied 24.50 points to be a point behind Fort Hays State and 2.5 ahead of UCM. Pitt State (98) is running away with the meet once again. 2026 MIAA Indoor Runner Up

Omaha senior Nick Abdalla won the 5,000 (14:30.22) with Kearney freshman Luke Brachle first in the high jump (tied career-best of 7-1). Brachle, the third Loper man to win an MIAA indoor HJ title, also qualified for the 60-hurdle finals by running a career-best 7.96. Next, Gretna senior Clayton Kelly was runner up in the long jump (career-best 23-11) with Kearney senior Lily Novacek third in the weight throw (62-1).

Also scoring on Saturday were Stamford senior Brianna Russell in the high jump (T-4th/5-5.75), Hastings senior Nolan Studley in the high jump (4th/6-10.75), Central City senior Ella Buhlke in the 5,000 (4th/career-best 17:10.50), and Kansas sophomore McKenzie Campbell in the weight throw (5th/career-best 61-0). Campbell vaults up seven spots to third all-time in UNK history and could punch her ticket to nationals. Finally, the women's DMR came in fourth (12:16.33) with the men's DMR sixth (10:03.84).

Besides Brachle, reaching finals on Sunday are North Platte freshman Jaxon Knisley in the 60 hurdles (8th/career-best 8.01), St. Paul senior Conner Wells (1st/1:52.17), Lincoln sophomore Kale Muir (7th/1:53.29) and Beatrice freshman Josiah Quinones (8th/1:53.38) in the 800, and Kansas junior Charis Robinson (3rd/2:15.44) and York sophomore Kassidy Stuckey (2nd/2:15.14) in the women's 800.

Action resumes Sunday at noon on The MIAA Network.

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