LINCOLN, Neb. — Nebraska Wesleyan's men's and women's track and field teams split squads for the final time this indoor season Friday, sharpening race tactics in Lincoln and piling up field event victories in Kearney as the calendar turns toward the American Rivers Conference Championships.
Competing at both the Nebraska Tune-Up at the University of Nebraska's Devaney Sports Center and the Loper Tune-Up hosted by the University of Nebraska-Kearney, the Prairie Wolves combined for six event titles, all in Kearney, while posting a string of personal bests and nationally relevant marks across the two meets. Neither competition kept team scores.
For Nebraska Wesleyan, the meets served as a final dress rehearsal before next weekend's conference championships in Decorah, Iowa.
HOW IT HAPPENED - NEBRASKA TUNE-UP
At the Devaney Center in Lincoln, the Prairie Wolves focused exclusively on running events, using the fast track and deep fields to fine-tune performances.
The Nebraska Wesleyan men were paced by a strong showing in the 60-meter dash. Ghaith Taha, a junior from Alexandria, Virginia, placed second in 6.90 seconds, continuing a steady climb as the postseason approaches. Taha's finish came in a tightly contested field and marked one of the top sprint performances in program history.
Max Lyon, a Lincoln native, delivered a personal-best 7.01 to place fifth overall. Teammate Steven Dalmeida matched that 7.01 clocking, giving the Prairie Wolves three sprinters clustered near the top of the standings and showcasing the depth in the short sprints heading into the conference meet.
In the 60-meter hurdles, Eli Etherton turned in one of the day's most significant results. The Lincoln East product ran a season-best 8.04 to earn a top-three finish. The mark currently ranks second in the American Rivers Conference and sixth nationally in NCAA Division III, positioning Etherton as a legitimate contender for both conference gold and national qualification. His rhythm between hurdles appeared sharp, and the performance capped a steady progression throughout the indoor campaign.
On the women's side, Ainsley Galyen clocked 58.30 in the 400 meters, delivering one of her strongest two-lapper of the season on the Devaney Center's 200 meter banked track.
Raegan Levi posted a season-best 8.02 in the 60 meters, trimming eight-hundredths of a second off her previous season mark. Levi's acceleration phase showed improvement from earlier meets, and the result marked a step forward after her previous season best of 8.10 at the Prairie Wolf Invitational in January.
Though no Prairie Wolves captured event titles in Lincoln, the performances reflected a team trending upward at the right time. With conference competition looming, Nebraska Wesleyan used the opportunity to compete in high-level fields and refine execution.
HOW IT HAPPENED - LOPER TUNE-UP
While the sprinters and hurdlers raced in Lincoln, a larger contingent traveled west to Kearney for the Loper Tune-Up, where Nebraska Wesleyan's field event athletes dominated.
The Prairie Wolves secured six event victories in Kearney, four by the women and two by the men.
On the men's side, Reed Emsick claimed the 800-meter run in 1:54.87, controlling the race over the final lap. The Omaha Burke product surged down the homestretch to seal the win, giving Nebraska Wesleyan its first title of the day.
Sam Clements followed with a milestone performance in the shot put. The Elmwood native uncorked a personal-best indoor throw of 17.10 meters (56 feet, 1.25 inches), winning the event and moving into second in the American Rivers Conference standings. Nationally, the mark ranks 11th in NCAA Division III and places Clements third in program history indoors. The throw came on his second throw in finals.
The Prairie Wolves added depth in the men's throws. Senior Colin Wojtkiewicz recorded a personal-best 17.61 meters (57-9.50) to place second in the weight throw, while Jonathan Lee finished third at 17.36 meters (56-11.50). Wojtkiewicz also took third in the shot put with a toss of 15.95 meters (52-4), contributing to a productive afternoon for the throwing corps.
In the pole vault, Graham Peterson cleared 4.43 meters (14-6.25) for third place, with Robbie Rist finishing fourth at 4.28 meters (14-0.50), giving Nebraska Wesleyan two scorers in a competitive field.
The women's team accounted for four of the six victories in Kearney.
Aayliah Franklin led the charge on the track, winning the 60 meters in a season-best 7.93. The Omaha Burke sprinter displayed a quick start and maintained separation through the line to secure the title. Franklin later added a third-place finish in the long jump, leaping 5.46 meters in the finals to showcase her versatility.
Chloe Mooberry captured the long jump with a mark of 5.65 meters (18-6.50), taking control of the competition with her best effort coming on her third jump. In the triple jump, Kaylee Taylor delivered a winning leap of 10.92 meters (35-10), giving the Prairie Wolves another field event crown.
Emmilly Berglund rounded out the women's victories in the shot put, recording a top throw of 13.20 meters (43-3.75). Teammate Ava Larmon placed third in the event at 12.64 meters, while Kaelyn Means added a fourth-place finish in the weight throw with a mark of 16.41 meters (53-10.25).
Makenna Meyer also turned in a personal-best performance in the weight throw, reaching 16.08 meters (52-9.25), signaling additional depth for the Prairie Wolves heading into the conference championships.
UP NEXT
With the regular season complete, the Prairie Wolves now turn their attention to the American Rivers Conference Indoor Championships, scheduled for Feb. 27-28 in Decorah, Iowa, hosted by Luther College.
