Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska Kearney track and field teams were fifth (men) and sixth (women) at the 2026 MIAA Indoor Championships this weekend in Pittsburg, Kan.

The three-day meet began Friday afternoon and lasted until Sunday evening at Pitt State.  

The 20th-ranked Loper men tallied 45 more points than last year (70 overall) and was just behind 21st-ranked Washburn (79). The UNK women also improved from last year, scoring 11.5 more points, and battled rival Fort Hays State for sixth. In the last event of the meet, the Lopers placed a spot higher in the 4x4 to score 48.50 overall with the Tigers at 47.50. Finally, the host Gorillas won both titles (men, 225; women, 212).

UNK had four "All-MIAA" (top three) finishers on Saturday and four more on Sunday. St. Paul senior Conner Wells won at 800-meters (1:50.28), McCool Junction sophomore Kassidy Stuckey was runner up in the mile (4:50.59), Gretna senior Clayton Kelly was third in the triple jump (49-3) and Kansas junior Charis Robinson was third in the 800 (career-best 2:11.05). Wells joins Omaha senior Nick Abdalla (5,000) and Kearney freshman Luke Brachle (high jump) as 2026 champions; this is the most champs since the 2014 men won four events.

Also tallying team points was North Platte freshman Jaxon Knisley (5th/career-best 7.98) and Brachle (6th/7.99) in the 60 hurdle finals, Stuckey (5th/career-best 2:13.15), Beatrice freshman Josiah Quinones (7th/1:54.89) and Lincoln sophomore Kale Muir (8th/1:57.07) in the 800, Lincoln sophomore Carter Hohlen (6th/8:24.54), Central City senior Ella Buhlke (7th/10:05.64) and Abdalla (7th/8:24.56) in the 3,000 and both 4x4 relay teams.

The men's 4x4 effort of 3:14.03 is the second best in school history with the squad made up of Bennington sophomore Carter Diamond, Sidney senior Mitchell Deer, Atkinson freshman Andrew Rentschler and Kearney freshman Evan Shaffer. This is the third foursome to crack the UNK all-time top 10 this year.

The qualifiers for the NCAA Championships (March 13-14) in Virginia Beach will be announced early this week.