KEARNEY, Neb. — Eli Etherton made history Sunday at the Loper Invitational, becoming the first Nebraska Wesleyan athlete to break the 14-second barrier in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 13.94 seconds that shattered a 30-year-old school record and ranks fifth in the nation in NCAA Division III.
The senior's performance headlined a strong day for the Prairie Wolves that included multiple all-time marks and lifetime bests across both the men's and women's programs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Etherton's 13.94, run with a 0.7 meters-per-second wind, bested the field of 11 competitors and stands as one of the landmark individual performances in NWU track and field history. Teammate Noah Smith also turned in a career day in the same event, crossing in 14.35 seconds for a lifetime best that places him seventh in program history and 12th in the country.
On the women's side, Chloe Mooberry won the long jump with a leap of 5.62 meters (18 feet, 5.25 inches) that moved her into fifth on the NWU all-time list and checks in 27th nationally. Freshman MaKenzie Noellette made history of her own in the javelin, uncorking a throw of 38.42 meters (126 feet) that stands as the farthest throw by a freshman to crack the program's all-time charts, landing eighth in school history.
Reed Emsick added a lifetime best in the men's 1500 meters, finishing second with a time of 3:53.18 that moves him into sixth on the all-time NWU charts.
Danny Richardson led a group of Prairie Wolves in the men's 400 meters with a 10th-place effort of 49.84 seconds, while Mathew Siegel, Cole Duba and Brennan Steenson all finished within a second of Richardson in a tight race. Ghaith Taha paced the men's 200 meters with a 21.77 effort, and the 'A' squad of the men's 4x100 relay finished third in 41.68 seconds.
Garett Regier won the men's shot put with a top mark of 13.83 meters (45 feet, 4.5 inches), and Drake Ferris took second in the hammer throw at 51.02 meters (167 feet, 4 inches). Colin Wojtkiewicz competed in the invite section of the hammer, reaching 57.32 meters (188 feet), and posted 16.18 meters (53 feet, 1 inch) in the shot put invite.
Raegan Levi led the women's 200 meters with a ninth-place finish of 25.96 seconds, and Jadah Laughlin paced the women's 100-meter hurdles in 14.80 seconds. Kaelyn Means highlighted the women's field events with throws of 52.28 meters (171 feet, 6 inches) in the hammer and 43.21 meters (141 feet, 9 inches) in the discus in the invite sections.
UP NEXT
Nebraska Wesleyan returns to action April 23 at the Prairie Wolf Invite in Lincoln, Neb.
