Story by UNK Athletic Communications
Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney track and field team had qualified three women and seven men for the 2024 NCAA Division II Outdoor Championships in Emporia, Kan. The three-day event runs from May 23-25 at Welch Stadium. A top 12 finish is good for All-American status with most individual events having a field of 19 qualifiers. Four-time national champion Wes Ferguson (Fremont) will try and end his Loper career in style with another first place finish. The eight-time All-American currently leads D2 in the 800 (1:45.85) with Harry Ross-Hughes of Lake Erie (Ohio) the only other runner to have broken 1:47.00 (1:46.99).
Next, five-time All-American Brayden Sorensen (Kearney) is currently fifth in the high jump and one of eight MIAA competitors in the field. Aiming for their second All-American accolades are junior Alex Homan (Creighton), sophomores Rylan Basart (Stockton, Kan.) and Brianna Russell (Stamford) with sophomore Lily Novacek (Kearney) a returning national hammer qualifier. Finally, making their first NCAA appearance are sophomore Kenyon Forest (Norton, Kan.) and true freshmen Sydney Davis (Dannebrog), Wyatt Hammond (Long Island, Kan.) and Nolan Studley (Hastings). Just missing the cut were Giltner graduate Alex Goracke (21st/hammer & 24th/shot put), O'Neill senior Abby Everitt (25th/high jump), Kansas senior Evan Prohaska (20th/javelin), Kearney junior Colby Spangler (23rd/triple jump) and Omaha sophomore Nick Abdalla (26th/steeplechase). Loper Qualifiers (Name/National Rank/Event/Mark or Time/Date of Competition)Rylan Basart (5th/Javelin; 233-11) – May 25, 10:30 a.m.Wes Ferguson (1st/800-meters; 1:45.85) – May 24, 6 p.m. prelims; May 25, 3:45 p.m. finalsKenyon Forest (12th/Javelin; 213-2) – May 25, 10:30 a.m.Wyatt Hammond (16th/Javelin; 211-3) – May 25, 10:30 a.m.Alex Homan (14th/Pole Vault; 16-8) – May 25, 12:30 p.m.Brayden Sorensen (5th/High Jump; 7-1.50) – May 24, 3:30 p.m.Nolan Studley (12th/High Jump; 7-0.25) – May 24, 3:30 p.m. Sydney Davis (8th/High Jump; 5-8.50) – May 25, 1:45 p.m.Lily Novacek (6th/Hammer; 192-0) – May 23, 3:30 p.m.Brianna Russell (12th/High Jump; 5-8) – May 25, 1:45 p.m.