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University of Nebraska - Kearney Athletics

Kale Muir
Todd Gottula

Lopers Wrap Up the Regular Season; NCAA Field Announced Tuesday

5/10/2026 7:08:00 PM

Kearney, Neb. – Sophomore Kassidy Stuckey broke the school record in the 1,500 for the third time this spring and Nebraska Kearney won 13 events this weekend in California and Kearney.

UNK was at Concordia and Nebraska on Friday with a few select distance runners competing late Saturday night at the Azusa Pacific Franson Last Chance Meet. Due to weather the Loper Twilight was mainly held on Sunday with the discus taking part on Saturday afternoon.

In Southern California, Stuckey (York H.S.) ran the 1,500 in 4:19.87 to finish fourth in a field of 96 and was the top non-D1 runner. UNK Hall of Famer Donna Spickelmeier (4:27.12) held the school record for nearly three decades before Stuckey had times of 4:26.54 and 4:24.68 earlier this spring. She'll enter the NCAA Championships ranked eighth nationally. Also at Azusa, Central City senior Ella Buhlke ran a career-best in the steeplechase (10:52.65) as did South Sioux City sophomore Mesuidi Ejerso on the men's side (9:03.02).

On Saturday and Sunday, winning at KHS were Kearney senior Lily Novacek (discus invite/career-best 162-0), Anselmo junior Koral Schmidt in the 400 (58.89), Sidney sophomore Talissa Tanquary in the 800 (2:14.65) and Emily Bainter in the javelin (career-best 147-0). Novacek now ranks second in Loper history in the discus, and scans her ticket to the NCAA in the event, with Kansas junior Toree Slavik (3rd place/156) moving up a spot to ninth. Finally, Hastings sophomore Megyn Scott cleared 12-7.25 to place runner up in the vault and move up three spots to second in Loper lore.

In the field, Kansas senior Rylan Basart (230-6/javelin), Gretna senior Clayton Kelly (23-5.25/long jump), Ord redshirt sophomore Sam Boettcher (201-9/hammer invite) and Sargent freshman Justin Folkers (high jump/6-7) all placed in first. On the track, Benkelman freshman Laken Wissink won both the 100 (career-best 10.52) and 200 (career-best 21.08) as did Lincoln sophomore Kale Muir in the 800 (career-best 1:50.63) and Kearney freshman Luke Brachle in the 110 hurdles (14.23). Finally, Colorado freshman Nicholas Rothe reached 16-5.50 in the vault to finish second and rank sixth all-time.

The list of qualifiers for the NCAA meet (May 21-23) is announced Tuesday (May 12) at 5 p.m. Central. Currently in the Top 22 in their respective event are two Loper women and nine men. 

 
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