Loper Freshman Now First in Division II
Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska Kearney men's 4x4 relay team set a new school-record Friday night and the Lopers won five other events at the Drake Relays and Prairie Wolf Invitational this weekend in Iowa and Lincoln. Some UNK team members spent Thursday in Hays (Alex Francis Classic) and Iowa (Kip Janvrin Open) with the Lopers in Drake all three days and at Nebraska Wesleyan on Saturday. On Friday night in Des Moines, Wallace redshirt junior Micah Swedberg, St. Paul freshman Conner Wells, Ravenna junior Jack Drahota and Fremont redshirt junior Wes Ferguson turned in a 3:11.87 to finish fifth overall. It was also the second fastest time in heat three with the effort third among Division II schools. The previous Loper standard of 3:12.36 was set back in April 2015.
Ferguson then won the University/College 800-meter run on Saturday thanks to a 1:49.33. Also in Des Moines, McCool Junction senior Luke Stuckey was ninth in the seeded University/College 1,500 (3:49.72), Kearney senior Brayden Sorensen cleared 6-10.75 to be 10th in the University/College high jump and David City sophomore Gabrielle Oborny reached 12-0.50 in the women's University/College vault. On Saturday in Lincoln, Stamford freshman high jumper Brianna Russell led the Lopers as she went a season-best 5-9.25 to place first. The effort moves her up to third all-time, trailing only Lesley Crutcher (5-10.75) and Nancy Steiner (5-10.50). Russell now ranks first in D2 in the event; she reached the big height on her second attempt. Kearney junior Nicole Messbarger (400/57.03), Creighton junior Alex Homan (vault/15-6.50) and Sidney freshman Mitchell Deer (400/50.58) also won with veterans Haley Schall (100/12.31 & long jump/17-11.50) and Baylee Alstrom (800/2:17.89) coming in second. Finally, Giltner redshirt junior Alex Goracke was second in the hammer (184-1) with Omaha freshman Abraham Hoskins runner up in the 400 hurdles (56.04). The 2023 MIAA Championships are next Friday-Sunday in Jefferson City, Mo.
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