Lopers Compete at National Meet

Lopers Compete at National Meet
May 27th, 2021 | Peter Yazvac-UNK Sports Information

Kearney, Neb. – Nebraska-Kearney redshirt junior Tiara Schmidt earned her fifth All-American honor by placing ninth in the hammer at the 2021 NCAA Division II Outdoor Championships Friday evening in Allendale, Mich.
The three-day meet began this morning and is being hosted by Grand Valley State. 

Schmidt (McCook) and fellow veteran Logan Prater (Colorado Springs) are two of UNK’s five qualifiers and they entered the hammer ring just after 4 p.m. local time. Conditions were a bit cooler than normal as it was overcast, 55 degrees with a 15 mile per hour wind.

Becoming UNK’s first All-American in the hammer since Danyell Coons in 2015, Schmidt’s first two throws traveled 180-1 and 183-7. That briefly moved her into fifth place with her third attempt going 177-3. All of Prater’s attempts were fouls so she didn’t make finals (top nine) and finished 17th overall. 

In her final three attempts, Schmidt had two fouls and an effort of 175-10. The first eight finishers are first-team All-Americans with places nine through 12 being on the second-team. Previously, Schmidt was 11th in the shot put (2019/outdoors) and sixth in the shot (2021/indoors). Her two other AA honors came with last year’s indoor meet which was canceled; select qualifiers earned the honor in events they were qualified in. Schmidt made the cut in the shot and weight throw.

She joins throwers Janet Boettcher (’01/10-time), long jumper Kelli Dring (’06/6-time) and thrower Shauna Birchard (’06/5-time) as UNK women to earn at least five AA honors at the D2 level. Schmidt hopes to join Dring as she throws the shot Saturday at 4 p.m. Central.

GVSU sophomore Judith Essemiah won the national title (205-5) with Wayne State sophomore Mackenzie Schell the runner up (193-10). They came into the meet ranked first and third, respectively. Finally, Missouri Southern senior Kirsten Leisinger placed fifth (186-6). Schmidt’s career-best toss is 191-1. 

On Friday, Kearney redshirt freshman Brayden Sorensen takes part in the high jump (1 p.m. Central) with Prater throwing the discus at 4 p.m. Central. Rain The forecast is calling for temps in the mid-50’s with strong winds.
 

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