After qualifying one individual to last year’s NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championship, UNK finished this season’s indoor stretch with six All-Americans. Luke Brachle, McKenzie Campbell, Clayton Kelly, Lily Novacek, Brianna Russell, Kassidy Stuckey, Nolan Studley and Conner Wells represented the Lopers across six events.
The two-day meet began on Friday, when senior Novacek became a three-time All-American with a fourth-place finish in the women’s weight throw. With an eighth-place finish at indoor nationals last season in the weight throw and winning the hammer throw during the outdoor championships in May, Novacek said she knew she was capable of another level.
“I’d been really consistent all year, but it wasn’t the consistent I wanted,” Novacek said. “So, I feel these last two weeks, I was confident enough in what we were doing to know that when we got to the nationals, it was going to be a huge season best for me.”
Novacek stepped into the ring for her final throw in seventh place before crushing her previous best throw of the day by two feet and topping the school record she set in February with a throw of 19.99 meters.
“I feel like I couldn’t have gone out any better with how my season has gone so far,” Novacek said. It’s just been a slow climb up all year, and so I’m happy with that. Everyone wants to end their season with a personal best. I’m just fortunate enough that I moved my school record up and can hopefully hold that for a little longer now.”
Campbell also competed in the women’s weight throw and finished 17th with a throw of 16.23.
In the women’s high jump, Russell became a two-time All-American on Friday. Russell previously finished fourth in the high jump at indoor nationals in 2024. After clearing 1.68 meters, Russell and seven others were eliminated at 1.73 to finish tied for 11th.
“The biggest thing is I want to have fun and still do good in my last season as a track athlete,” Russell said. “I’m trying to balance that, and I’ve been doing a really good job at it. If you ask me, I’ve been having a great time, but I’ve also been doing the best I’ve ever done, and I’m really happy about that. I think I can do even better and come back really awesome in the outdoor season.”
On the track, Wells competed in the men’s 400-meter run prelims and finished 18th with a time of 1:54.46.
Stuckey was the lone Loper to compete on both days. In the women’s mile prelims on Friday, Stuckey ran a 4:48.33 to qualify for finals on Saturday. After an eighth-place finish the day before, Stuckey improved her time to 4:47.99 and moved up two spots to place sixth and become an All-American for the first time.
“Coming in and knowing that you’re competing against some amazing girls, I just honestly couldn’t have asked for a better race,” Stuckey said. “It just all worked out that I got to compete in the finals and then got to walk away as an All-American.”
On Saturday, Brachle and Studley competed in the men’s high jump. Studley cleared 2.06 meters on the first try but was unable to get past 2.11 and finished tied for ninth to secure his first All-American honor. Brachle, however, cleared 2.11 on his third try before bowing out on 2.14 for a seventh-place finish.
“It’s a good feeling to know that you’re a top-level collegiate athlete and to be able to show your skills at a very high-pressure meet and to be able to come out and perform at that level,” Studley said.
Studley and Brachle were neck and neck for most of the season, which they said helped lead to their success.
“It’s just been a great time at UNK,” Brachle said. “I’m really glad that I was able to come here and compete at the next level for collegiate athletes. So it’s been great having amazing teammates to push each other and just get better every day.”
Kelly also became an All-American for the first time, finishing tenth in the men’s triple jump. With a best jump of 14.88 meters in the opening flight, Kelly narrowly missed out on making the finals, which would have given him three more attempts.
“Falling short of finals in triple jump, it definitely gives me things to be hungry about and excited about more towards the outdoor season here,” Kelly said.
With the conclusion of the indoor portion of the season, UNK track and field will begin outdoor competition on Saturday, March 28, at Kearney High School for the Central Nebraska Challenge.
