Story by UNK Athletic Communications
The Nebraska-Kearney track and field team has qualified one relay, one woman and five men for the 2024 NCAA Division II Indoor Championships March 8-9 in Pittsburg, Kan.
The list of qualifiers was released this evening with Pitt State and the Crawford County Visitor's Bureau serving as co-hosts.Returning to the NCAA's are high jumpers Brianna Russell (Stamford) and Brayden Sorensen (Kearney), thrower Alex Goracke (Giltner), vaulter Alex Homan (Creighton) and runner Wes Ferguson (Fremont). The newcomer is runner Zach Van Brocklin (Cortland).Additionally, the men's distance medley relay team made the cut with the qualifying foursome being Ferguson, Van Brocklin, Payton Davis (David City), and Micah Swedberg (Gothenburg). UNK has placed eighth in the event each of the past two years, thus Swedberg has earned two AA honors and Davis one. The Lopers can turn in a different lineup next weekend if needed.
Sitting out last weekend's MIAA Championships, Ferguson is a seven-time All-American who was national runner-up in the 800 last March after winning the national title in 2022. He also has two 800-outdoor national titles to his credit. Next, Sorensen is a four-time All-American with Homan earning second-team AA honors last March and Goracke qualifying both indoors and outdoors last year. Finally, Russell qualified for the NCAA Outdoor championships last May with Van Brocklin a first-year Loper after running at UNL. Just missing out on qualifying this time around were Hastings freshman high jumper Nolan Studley (high jump), runner Nicole Messbarger (400), Goracke in shot put, Swedberg in the 400, Ferguson in the mile and freshman Sydney Davis (Dannebrog) in the high jump. She was one of six that reached 5-7.75 (1.72 meters) but they only took four from that group with the next best height, or the one after that, being the tiebreak. Friday, March 82:25 p.m. – Men's Weight Throw (Goracke/12th; 66-8.50)
3:40 p.m. – Women's High Jump (Russell/11th; 5-8)
4:40 p.m. – Men's 800-Prelims (Ferguson/1st; 1:47.32 & Van Brocklin/17th; 1:50.46)
6:40 p.m. – Men's DMR (12th/9:46.34)Saturday, March 93:30 p.m. – Men's High Jump (Sorensen/6th; 7-2.25)
4:00 p.m. – Men's Pole Vault (Homan/13th; 16-7.25)
6:25 p.m. – Men's 800 Finals