KEARNEY, Neb. — Nebraska Wesleyan track and field made a statement Sunday at the Central Nebraska Challenge hosted by the University of Nebraska-Kearney, as the Prairie Wolves shattered a 46-year-old school record, won three events and recorded 10 top-10 marks in program history.
HOW IT HAPPENED
It was that kind of day. The headliner was sophomore Samuel Clements, who rewrote the Nebraska Wesleyan record books in the men's shot put. Clements uncorked a massive throw of 17.54 meters (57 feet, 6.5 inches) to demolish the previous school record of 17.29 meters set in 1980. The mark currently stands as the second-farthest throw in NCAA Division III this season. Clements did not just break the record, he obliterated it, putting up the kind of throw that turns heads across the division. Fellow Prairie Wolf Colin Wojtkiewicz was equally sharp, placing third in the event with a lifetime best of 16.31 meters (53-6.25), the ninth-best mark in Nebraska Wesleyan history.
If the shot put was the story of the field events, Reed Emsick was the story of the track. Making his outdoor season debut, the 2026 indoor Second Team All-American ran away, literally, with the men's 800 meters. Emsick posted a time of 1:50.74, winning the event by more than two seconds and moving into fourth place in Nebraska Wesleyan history in the event. The time currently ranks second in the nation this outdoor season. For a guy stepping onto an outdoor track for the first time this spring, it was a commanding performance.
Junior Aydon McDonald added to the men's highlight reel in the javelin. McDonald, who also competes as a hurdler, launched the second-farthest throw in school history with a mark of 58.07 meters (190-6) to place ninth in the event.
On the women's side, freshman Ainsley Galyen delivered one of the top performances of the day, winning the 400 meters in a lifetime best of 57.09 seconds. The time moves her to ninth in Nebraska Wesleyan history in the event.
Junior Kaelyn Means continued what has been a sensational start to her season. In the first outdoor meet of the year, Means surpassed the 50-meter barrier for the first time in her career, throwing 51.63 meters (169-5) in the hammer to finish fourth and improve her own spot to No. 6 on the all-time Nebraska Wesleyan list. Sophomore Lyndsie Bosquez added a personal best of 48.30 meters (158-5) for 10th place, which slots in at No. 10 in program history.
Junior Arynn Spence turned in a massive lifetime best in the women's javelin, uncorking a throw of 38.90 meters (127-7) to place fourth. Freshman Angelina Schademann cleared 3.23 meters (10-7) in the pole vault for 10th place, a lifetime best that ranks eighth in school history. Sophomore Jadah Laughlin placed third in the women's 100 hurdles in 14.78 seconds, a time that is ninth in Nebraska Wesleyan history.
The women's 4x400 relay team of McKenna Smith, Chloe Mooberry, Ainsley Galyen and Averie Hike were runners-up in the event in 4:00.62 to cap a strong day for the Prairie Wolf women.
UP NEXT
The Prairie Wolves will split into three groups next weekend, sending athletes to the Concordia Invite on April 2-3, the South Dakota Early Bird on April 3 and the Husker Spring Kickoff on April 3-4.
