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University of Nebraska - Kearney Athletics

Sam Boettcher
Erika Pritchard, UNK Communications

Records Fall at Warm Sunday Home Meet

Kearney, Neb. – Junior Nolan Studley and sophomore Sam Boettcher set new school records Sunday at the annual Central Nebraska Challenge at Kearney High School.

Due to high winds, the 13-team meet was pushed back a full day. Events began at 10:30 a.m. and wrapped up at 8 p.m. on an unsually hot March day. Bradie Medina

Studley (Hastings H.S.) went 7-3 in the late afternoon to set a new high jump mark while Boettcher (Ord) had a heave of 204-5 to win the hammer earlier in the day. Studley's effort breaks the 7-1.75 effort set by current jumps coach Brayden Sorensen in May 2023 with Boettcher smashing the record of 198-1 held by Alex Goracke. That also was achieved in May 2023. On the current national list, Studley is first with Boettcher sixth.

Not to be outdone, freshman Luke Brachle (Kearney H.S.) was runner up in both the high jump (6-11.50) and 110-hurdles (14.31). He ranks nationally in the high jump, is 18th in the hurdles and cracks the UNK all-time top 10 in both events.

Next, senior Clayton Kelly (Gretna) had career-best in both the long (24-3) and triple (50-0) jumps. He is just the third Loper to reach 50-0 in the triple with his long jump now fifth best in school history. Finally on the men's side, senior Rylan Basart (Stockton, Kan.) won the javelin again (230-8), sophomore Carter Hohlen (Lincoln Christian) won the 1,500 (3:52.11), the 4x4 relay team turned in the program's ninth best time (3:14.75), and freshmen Laken Wissink (Dundy County Stratton) joined the all-time top 10 in both the 100 (10.62) and 200 (21.52).

Lily NovacekThe Loper women won six events with senior Lily Novacek (Kearney H.S.) still leading D2 in the hammer with another big toss of 208-7. In the jav, freshman Emily Bainter (Hoxie, Kan.) is now second all-time after a winning toss of 146-0 with senior Brianna Russell (Stamford) going 5-5.75 in the high jump and then clearing 5-6 to break a first-place tie. Next, junior Charis Robinson (Olathe, Kan.) ran 2:14.10 in the 800 to be one of five Lopers in the top six while junior Brynn Hirschfeld (McCool Junction) recorded a 4:45.59 to win the 1,500. Finally, sophomore Maddie Schneider (G.I. Central Catholic) won the shot (45-4.50) and led the team in the discus.

Weather permitting, UNK will take part in a UNL meet this Friday-Saturday.





 
 
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