Story by UNK Athletic Communications
The 2023 MIAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships will be this Friday-Sunday (May 5-7) in Jefferson City, Mo.
The meet is hosted by Lincoln University at Dwight T. Reed Stadium and the surrounding area with the decathlon and heptathlon getting things started on Friday afternoon. The meet begins in earnest on Saturday at 10 a.m. and runs until Sunday night. Go HERE for the complete schedule; weather could alter times and events. Fans not in attendance can watch via The MIAA Network with live results via Midwest Timing.
Last year the UNK women had its highest-ever point total (72.0) and finish (fifth) at this event with the Loper men coming in sixth (62.50). They've been in the top six at this meet six times since UNK joined in the MIAA in 2012-2013.
In the most recent National Team Ratings, Pittsburg State men are No. 1, Missouri Southern is No. 9, UNK is ranked 15th with Central Missouri (16), Northwest Missouri (20) and Lincoln (24) all in the Top 25. The Gorillas won the NCAA Indoor National Title this year and are defending champs.
Pitt (6th), Northwest (9th), Mo Southern (11th), Fort Hays State (13th), LU, (16th), UCM (17th), Washburn (24th) and UNK (27th) are all in the women's Top 30. The Gorillas won the title last spring with 145 points.
Fremont junior Wes Ferguson is defending 800-meter champ with Kearney senior Brayden Sorensen having won the high jump in 2021. The UNK women are looking for its first individual MIAA outdoor title since Morgan Benesch took the steeplechase in 2017.
York freshman Brynn Hirschfeld (11:01.55) currently ranks second in the steeple with Stamford freshman Brianna Russell (5-9.25) first in all of Division II in the high jump. Next, Kearney redshirt freshman Lily Novacek is first in the discus (159-6) and fourth in the hammer (185-0) while Taylor redshirt sophomore Jordan Dockweiler is fifth in the shot (45-7). Finally, Kearney super senior Haley Schall (long jump), Kansas junior Jaida McEwen (javelin) and Mackenzie Smith (hammer) all enter the weekend ranked sixth in their respective event.
Ferguson is first in the men's 800 (1:46.95), with McCool Junction senior Luke Stuckey first in the 1,500 (3:44.76) and Ainsworth junior Ben Arens second in both the 5,000 (14:15.50) and the steeple (8:47.50). Next, the 4x4 relay team that includes Ferguson ranks third (3:11.87) with Sorensen tops in the high jump (7-0.50) and Creighton junior Alex Homan fourth in the vault (16-1.25).
The top three finishers in each individual and relay event will receive MIAA medals and are recognized as "All-MIAA" for the 2023 spring season.