Lopers Continue to Run Well in 2022
Kearney, Neb. – The nationally-ranked Nebraska cross country teams both came in first at the inaugural Platte River Rumble Friday afternoon in Ashland. This new meet, held at Mahoney State Park, was co-hosted by Creighton, Nebraska Omaha and the Omaha Sports Commission. It marked CU's first home cross event in a decade. The 22nd ranked Loper women had five place in the top 17 to tally 50 points with the 24th-ranked men having four of the top 16 scorers to tally 42 points. Both squads beat CU, UNO, South Dakota and MIAA rival Northwest Missouri State. Fremont sophomore Mara Hemmer (fifth) and Omaha redshirt junior Hannah Pollan (sixth) paced the women on the 6k course, Hemmer turning in a 21:24.3 and Pollan a 21:27.6. Northwest's Caroline Cunningham paced the field of 125 with a time of 20:42.2. UNK entered the week sixth in the Central Region with the Bearcats (60) eighth. USD, UNO, Missouri State and Creighton were the next four teams in the standings. The final three scorers for the Lopers were Kearney redshirt sophomore Grace Bonsall (8th/21:35.8), Albion sophomore Jordan Soto-Stopak (14th/21:58.2) and Hooper redshirt sophomore Elizabeth Polk (17th/22:04.4). The UNK men fell three spots in the national rankings this week but should move back up after getting past No. 8 Augustana by five points to win a 10-team race. Northwest (93) was a distant third with CU and USD the next two finishers. McCool Junction redshirt senior Luke Stuckey was the runner up (23:45.8) in the 8k race with Ainsworth redshirt junior Ben Arens third (23:51.9). Spencer Moon of Division III Simpson (Iowa) College won in a time of 23:34.2. Iowa redshirt sophomore Myles Bach (7th/24:06.2), Kansas sophomore Brett Schoenhofer (16th/24:37.1) and David City sophomore Payton Davis (18th/24:55.1) were the next Lopers across the line. Finally, former UNK great Al Sanabria-Diaz came in 14th in the field of 149. The Blue & Gold's next two meets are both in Joplin, Mo., in the MIAA Championships (Nov. 5) and the NCAA Central Region Championships (Nov. 19).
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