LINCOLN, Neb. — Nebraska Wesleyan track and field hosted its annual Prairie Wolf Invite on Friday (Apr. 24) at home, with the Prairie Wolves turning in several standout performances across the board. The day was highlighted by a school record in the hammer throw, a top-10 national ranking in the 110m hurdles, and a historic women's relay performance, plus a school record set on Saturday at the Drake Relays in Des Moines.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Leading the charge on the men's side was senior Noah Smith, who delivered a massive race in the 110-meter hurdles, winning the event in 14.15 seconds. That time checks in third in school history and seventh in the country at the NCAA Division III level this season. Fellow hurdler Connor Halde was equally impressive in the 400-meter hurdles, taking first place in a time of 53.92, a new 2026 Division III top-40 mark that ranks 32nd in the country. Jacob Young added a fourth-place finish in the 110m hurdles, crossing in 14.65 seconds.
In the sprints, senior McClain Meyer won the men's 400-meter dash in 48.47 seconds, a new 2026 Division III top-65 mark, with freshman Barrett Mayfield right behind him in second at 49.29. Ghaith Taha took second in the 100-meter dash with a time of 10.63, and freshman Tyrell Fennell was third in 10.83.
The men's distance events saw junior Alex Ienn (1:55.97) and freshman Brennan Steenson (1:56.05) finish second and third in the 800-meter run, respectively. In the 1500-meter run, sophomore Lawson Tjardes placed second in 4:03.46 and junior Evan Brown was fourth in 4:06.84. Freshman Diego Chojolan took second in the 5,000-meter run with a time of 16:11.85.
In the field events, senior Colin Wojtkiewicz was the story of the day. The shot put and hammer specialist first was runner-up in the shot put with a throw of 16.24m (53-3.50), then turned around and broke his own school record in the hammer throw with a toss of 60.72m (199-2), a new Division III #3 mark in the country this season. Drake Ferris also ranked nationally in the hammer, finishing eighth with a throw of 52.73m (173-0), and Samuel Clements added a top-100 Division III mark at 51.33m (168-5). Clements won the men's shot put with a toss of 17.15m (56-3.25) Junior Aydon McDonald placed second in the javelin at 50.26m (164-10).
On the women's side, sophomore Jadah Laughlin had a spectacular afternoon. She was runner-up in the 100-meter hurdles in 14.71, a new 2026 Division III top-40 mark, and then came back to get runner-up in the 200-meter dash in 25.35, which ranks 89th in the country this season. Senior Raegan Levi finished third in the 100-meter dash in 12.53 seconds, and Chloe Mooberry earned first place in the long jump with a leap of 5.45m (17-10.75).
The biggest team moment of the day came in the women's 4x100-meter relay, where the quartet of Laughlin, Levi, Mooberry, and Rachel Smith combined to win the event in 47.52 seconds, the sixth-fastest time in school history and a new 2026 Division III top-30 mark. Smith also placed sixth in the 100-meter hurdles and fourth in the 400-meter hurdles in 1:05.64, another new national ranking mark.
In the women's distance events, senior Delaney Vacek won the 800-meter run in 2:21.90, with freshman McKenna Smith right behind in second at 2:23.15. Sophomore Aspin Collins posted a fifth-place finish in the discus at 42.98m (141-0), ranking 34th in the country.
The men's 4x400-meter relay 'A' squad of Meyer, Halde, Mayfield, and Reed Emsick won the event in 3:15.79, a new 2026 Division III top-25 mark that ranks 23rd nationally.
On Saturday, at the Drake Relays in Des Moines, the Prairie Wolves' 4x110-meter shuttle hurdle relay team of Eli Etherton, Jacob Young, Connor Halde, and Noah Smith broke the school record with a time of 59.37, finishing fourth out of 10 teams.
UP NEXT
The Prairie Wolves return to action next week at the American Rivers Conference Outdoor Championships, hosted by Central in Pella, Iowa, Thursday through Saturday, April 30–May 2.
