University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
Central Invitational
UNI track and field claims eight titles at Central Invitational
3/28/2026 9:37:00 PM | Track and Field
PELLA, Iowa --- The bulk of the UNI track and field team opened its 2026 outdoor competition season on Saturday at Ron and Joyce Schipper Stadium for the Central Invitational, where the Panthers captured eight individual event titles.
Northern Iowa's outdoor season opener was highlighted by 26 career-best marks on the day, as well as strong showings in the short sprints and hurdle events.
HOW IT HAPPENED
UNI opened its first full outdoor meet of the spring season by sweeping the women's pole vault and men's pole vault invitational. Erica Miner (11' 6 ½) and Sydnee Scott (11' ¾) finished in first and second places respectively, while Jacob Yoerger (15' 9 ¼) and Carter Pheifer (14' 3 ½) placed first and tied for third.
Elsewhere in the field, the Panthers put on a strong showing in both discus events with Carson Lienau taking second in the men's competition (173' 2) and Nolan Dempsey (169' 60 and David Russell (167' 4) following in fourth and fifth, as Emma Joens took second in the women's discus (145' 10), followed by Breanna Hackman (142' 6) in third and Kileigh Lachacz (141' 1) in fifth. Brylie Lorence also won the women's shot put for UNI (45' 7) with Hackman following in third (44' 11). Carson Lineau clinched the men's shot put title with a 58' 4 ½ toss as Tory Wash took fourth (55').
Katy Stephens placed second in the women's javelin throw (127' 2), as Russell finished fourth in the men's hammer throw with a career-best mark of 185' 3, with Lachacz taking fifth in the women's hammer with a career-best throw of 171' 8. Carter Morton also placed seventh in the men's javelin for UNI (167' 6).
On the track, Northern Iowa dominated the women's 100-meter hurdles, claiming five of the top six spots on the podium led by Joey Perry winning and career-best time of 13.99 seconds. Katy Stephens also ran a career-best time to take second (14.03), followed by Olivia Kramer in fourth (14.48), Paige Paup in fifth (15.02) and Katy Hand in sixth (15.36). Carter Accola meanwhile ran a career-best time of 14.35 seconds to finish fourth in the men's 110-meter hurdles.
In the sprints, Tyler Sickerson (10.52) and Luke Nevitt (10.59) placed third and fourth respectively in the men's 100-meter dash, while Jessica Kyne (12.21) and Giada Grimes (12.36) took fourth and sixth respectively in the women's 100 meters. Emma Randecker clocked the second-fastest women's 200-meter time in program history in 23.58 to win the event, with Jersey Jones in fifth with a career-best time of 24.91 seconds. UNI also swept the top four positions in the men's 200 meters, led by Parker Kiewiet in first (21.02), Tinashe Chigudu in second (21.14), Zach Fall with a career-best time in third (21.23) and Luke Meyers in fourth (21.34).
Derek Woods (48.74) and Kamryn Lande (1:00.26) each placed fourth respectively in the men's and women's 400-meter dash events, Carlie Jo Fusco led the way with a first place showing in the women's 400-meter hurdles (1:01.53) with Eden Moore following in third (1:02.83). Gabe Funk meanwhile took second in the men's 400-meter hurdles (55.51) as Zach Van Wychen took third with a career-best time of 55.74 seconds.
Sarah Feddersen finished sixth in the women's mile run in 4:48.71 with Micaiah Ellis taking seventh in the men's race (4:06.65). UNI's women's 4x100-meter relay team of Maleah Walker, Stephens, Perry and Josey Dunbar placed second (46.88), while the men's relay squad of Tye Hardin, Morton, T.Y. Pour and Ryan Stiglic finished fourth (42.44).
UP NEXT
The Panthers return to action next Thursday and Friday, April 2-3 at the Wartburg Outdoor Select in Waverly, as well as the Husker Spring Kickoff at Nebraska, April 3-4 in Lincoln.
UNI track and field action can be followed all season long on social media on Facebook (UNI Track and Field), X (@UNITrackFieldXC) and on Instagram (@uni_tf_xc). Schedules and rosters, along with the latest Panther news and information can be found online at UNIpanthers.com.
Players Mentioned
