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NEBRASKA – The Nebraska-Kearney track and field team finished up the regular season by competing on four different days and in three different meets this weekend.
UNK sent small contingents to the Alex Francis Relays at Fort Hays State (Wednesday), the Kip Janvrin Open at Simpson College (Thursday) and the 114th annual Drake Relays (Friday and Saturday). The Alex Francis meet was moved up a day to beat the weather with the annual Prairie Wolf Invite at Nebraska Wesleyan (Thursday) canceled.
At Drake on Saturday afternoon, Fremont senior Wes Ferguson won the elite 800-meter run in a time of 1:46.08. Running against Division I and professionals, he came in just ahead of Iowa State’s Darius Kipyego (1:46.27) and former Division II rival Reece Sharman-Newell (1:46.79). On Friday, Ferguson was the anchor for the 4×4 relay team that placed fifth in prelims and qualified for finals. They didn’t run on Saturday but managed a 3:13.30 to rank fourth in school history and get on the national list. Ravenna senior Jack Drahota, Wallace senior Micah Swedberg and Sidney sophomore Mitchell Deer ran the first three legs.
The women also ran and managed a time (3:51.74) just outside the top 10. That foursome was Kearney senior Nicole Messbarger, Gothenburg senior Hannah Harrison, Overton sophomore Maeli Meier and Aurora senior Kyla Carlson. Next, Kearney senior Brayden Sorensen went a season-best 7-0.50 to rank fourth in the University/College Champ high jump. In the university/college high jump, Hastings freshman Nolan Studley reached 6-7.75. Finally at Drake, Creighton junior Alex Homan was fourth in the pole vault (16-3.50) and David City junior Payton Davis was seventh in the 1,500 (career-best 3:48.25).
Down the road in Indianola, Central City sophomore Ella Buhlke was runner up in the steeplechase (11:20.70) with Albion junior Jordan Soto-Stopak 10th in the 5,000 (17:50.58). Buhlke’s time moves her up one spot to seventh on the all-time list.
At Hays on Wednesday, Kansas senior Evan Prohaska won the hammer (177-6) with Kansas sophomore Rylan Basart first in the javelin (207-5). The women had four third place efforts including Kearney sophomore Lily Novacek in the hammer (166-10) and Hershey freshman Michalee Brownawell in the shot put (43-0.25).
The MIAA Championships are next weekend in Maryville, Mo.
