LINCOLN, Neb. - The Nebraska Wesleyan University men's and women's track and field teams opened the 2025–26 indoor season in impressive fashion Friday and Saturday at the Bulldog Early Bird, hosted by Concordia University inside the Walz Human Performance Complex in Seward. The two-day meet served as a tune-up before the holiday break, and the Prairie Wolves wasted no time making noise, collecting event wins, personal bests, and national-caliber marks in the first competition of the year.
The seventh annual Early Bird featured athletes from 15 institutions and provided an early measuring stick for a Prairie Wolf program entering year three under head coach Derrick McKenzie. By the end of the weekend, Nebraska Wesleyan had secured four event titles and multiple performances that immediately placed athletes among the best in Division III.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Women's Highlights
Picking up right where she left off, Emmilly Berglund opened her season with authority. The junior claimed the shot put title with a throw of 14.02 meters (46'0"), a mark that currently sits atop the national leaderboard and set the tone for Nebraska Wesleyan's weekend.
The Prairie Wolves also shined in the multi-events. Freshman Kaylee Taylor made an immediate impact in her collegiate debut, recording the fifth-best pentathlon score in school history. She was joined by Sarah Kolterman, who turned in a personal best that ranks 10th all-time at Nebraska Wesleyan.
In the field, freshman Angelina Schademann announced her arrival by clearing 3.40 meters (11'1.75") in the pole vault, moving into fifth on the Prairie Wolves' all-time list. Chloe Mooberry added another historic performance, leaping a personal-best 5.48 meters (17'11.75") in the long jump to climb to seventh in program history. Kaelyn Means continued the momentum in the throws, opening the season with a lifetime-best 16.54 meters (54'3.25") in the weight throw, improving her own seventh-place mark on the all-time chart.
On the track, Rachel Smith and Jadah Laughlin both posted lifetime bests in the 60-meter hurdles, clocking times of 9.01 and 9.14, respectively. The duo now sits sixth and ninth in school history, giving the Prairie Wolves immediate depth in the event.
Men's Highlights
The men's squad matched the women's energy with standout performances across the board. One of the weekend's most anticipated moments came in the 60-meter hurdles, where 2023 national champion Eli Etherton made his long-awaited return after missing last season due to injury. Etherton wasted no time reminding the field who he is, winning the event in 8.08.
Freshman Connor Halde added to the excitement, improving on his preliminary time to run 8.28 in the finals. That performance places him eighth on Nebraska Wesleyan's all-time list, a strong debut in his first collegiate meet.
Speed was on full display in the 60 meters, where Ghaith Taha powered to the win in 6.84. The time ranks second in program history and currently places him eighth nationally, signaling another strong season ahead for the Prairie Wolves' sprinters.
In the throws, consistency ruled the day. Sam Clements continued his trend of delivering when it counts, uncorking a new indoor lifetime best of 17.01 meters (55'9.75") to win the shot put. His mark currently ranks second in the country. In the multis, Gabriel Price and Hudson Vetrovsky impressed in their first collegiate heptathlons, posting the third- and fourth-best scores in school history.
Up Next
Nebraska Wesleyan will resume the indoor season after the start of the spring semester, returning to action at the Northwest Missouri State Richard Aslup Open on January 17. The Prairie Wolves will then host the Prairie Wolf Indoor Invitational at the Devaney Center on Friday, January 23, bringing collegiate track and field back to Lincoln.
