UNI track & field: Sumners, Kessel, Safely compete on opening day of NCAA Prelims

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — A trio of Panther track and field athletes competed on the opening night of the 2024 NCAA Outdoor West Preliminary Round. Athletes with the top-48 marks in their respective regions were selected to compete in the Preliminary Round in hopes of qualifying for the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Oregon on June 5-8.

Jack Sumners was the first Panther to take to the track in the 110-meter hurdles after qualifying for competition in Fayetteville with a career-beat time of 13.89 seconds earlier this season at the Jim Duncan Invitational. Sumners clocked a 14.31 in Wednesday's opening heats to take 42nd place, wrapping his senior season with the fifth-fastest time in the event in program history.

In the field, Spencer Kessel qualified for the men's shot put after a season-best throw of 17.70 meters at the Badger Challenge earlier this month. Kessel's first throw proved to be his best of the day with a 16.97-meter throw, enough to finish the competition in 38th place.

Brendan Safley came into the Preliminary Round of the men's pole vault with the 15th-best mark in the west region with a 5.36-meter jump at the Badger Challenge. Safely cleared both 4.92 and 5.07 meters on his second vault at each height before clearing 5.22 meters on his first attempt. He would come up short on his three attempts at 5.32 meters, finishing the competition in 22nd place.

Distance runner Emma Hoins is scheduled to compete in the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase on Saturday at 5:40 p.m. CT. Live coverage of the meet can be found on ESPN+.

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