UNK athletes Tanquary, Deer shine at Graduate Classic in Lincoln

LINCOLN, Neb. — University of Nebraska at Kearney sophomore Talissa Tanquary and senior Mitchell Deer turned in standout performances as the Lopers returned to competition at the annual Graduate Classic following the holiday break.

Tanquary, a Sidney native, placed herself among the program’s all-time best with a strong showing in the women’s 1,000 meters. She ran a time of 3:03.03, earning a spot in UNK’s top 10 all-time list in the event during a meet that featured competition ranging from junior colleges to NCAA Division I programs.

On the men’s side, Deer delivered one of the top performances of the weekend for UNK. The senior finished third in the 600 meters, posting a time of 1:20.35, which ranks as the fourth-fastest in program history. 

UNK recorded 18 top-six finishes over the two-day meet in Lincoln. Kassidy Stuckey led the women’s side by breaking her own school record in the mile, while multiple Lopers cracked all-time top-10 lists across several events.

UNK is scheduled to continue its indoor season next Saturday at the MIAA/NSIC Showdown hosted by Wayne State.