NORTH SIOUX CITY, S.D. – It was day for winning championships as Concordia University Cross Country emerged with first place finishes for both women and men at the Briar Cliff Invite on Saturday (Oct. 5). The Bulldogs defeated fields of six complete teams on the women’s side and eight on the men’s side in action that took place at Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve in North Sioux City, S.D. The race featured a women’s 6k and men’s 8k on a warm and breezy morning.
The venture to the Siouxland area marked meet No. 3 of the season for Head Coach Matt Beisel’s squads. Both Concordia teams entered the meet listed among others “receiving votes” in the NAIA coaches’ poll released this week. There were 41 runners who wore the Bulldog colors at the Briar Cliff Invite. As a major highlight, freshman Vaughn Hendrickson came away with the individual championship in building upon a strong start to his college career.
“For the past four weeks, our team has been dealing with respiratory illness, and it definitely affected our performance two weeks ago,” Beisel said. “We’ve come out the other side and we’re getting better. We had two weeks of really good training. I went into this meet feeling cautiously optimistic about our chances. I told both of our teams that I thought we could win. We went out aggressively and controlled the race from the start. Whatever happens, it’s all God. He gives us the breath in our lungs and the strength in our muscles.”
Women’s Summary
In claiming the Briar Cliff Invite championship, the women’s program earned its first team meet title since claiming first place at the Dean White Invite in 2022. Concordia improved upon its third-place finish at the 2023 Briar Cliff Invite. The first-place team point total on Saturday came in at 33 points as the Bulldogs defeated College of Saint Mary (54), Northwestern (82), Morningside (82), Hastings (102) and Peru State College (190). The Bulldogs were able to make up for the absence of senior Rhaya Kaschinske, who was away from the team for a wedding.
Said Beisel, “Last year being the first time the women started running the 6k, they were all pretty nervous about it. They all said after the first 6k that it wasn’t that much different from a 5k. That’s what they were telling the freshmen, and everybody did great. We wanted to re-establish that we are definitely a dominant force in the GPAC and we were able to beat College of Saint Mary pretty soundly.
“Hannah Beintema has been our consistent No. 1 and she was able to secure that again. She had a very strong, gutsy race. She competed well. Keegan came in second and was not far behind her.”
Top Dawgs – 6k time
5. Hannah Beintema: 23.31.90
7. Keegan Beisel: 23:52.42
10. Annika Staab: 24:05.77
12. Alison Stepanek: 24:17.42
16. Annaka Schlacter: 24:39.45
22. Kelsie Heins: 24:55.06
24. Ellie Jander: 25:04.33
The Bettendorf, Iowa, native Hannah Beintema has paced Concordia at all three meets this fall. In the first 6k race of 2024, Beintema clocked a time of 23:31.90 and placed fifth out of 85 runners in the Briar Cliff Invite field. She was roughly a minute-and-a-half behind individual champion Karen Kiratu of Southeast Community College. Beintema was joined in the top 10 by teammates in junior Keegan Beisel (23:52.42; 7th) and freshman Annika Staab (24:05.77; 10th).
The team’s three through five spots in the lineup were held down by freshmen. Staab was followed by classmates in Alison Stepanek (24:17.42; 12th) and Annaka Schlachter (24:39.45; 16th) in the first 6k race of their collegiate careers. The Bulldog seven was rounded out by sophomore Kelsie Heins (24:55.06) and junior Ellie Jander (25:04.33; 24th). The rest of the top 10 included sophomores Claire Beikmann (25:15.98; 28th), Christina Martinson (25:44.22; 40th) and Josie Smith (25:52.39; 41st).
Men’s Summary
On the men’s side, the performance at the Briar Cliff Invite marked the team’s first meet title since winning the Morningside Invite in 2021. In this championship winning outing, Concordia finished with 27 team points as it outran Northwestern (77), Hastings (106), University of Sioux Falls (110), Mount Marty (124), Morningside (128), Southeast Community College (146) and Peru State College (225). The Bulldogs placed sixth at the 2023 Briar Cliff Invite.
Said Beisel, “We really needed a really strong performance to back up what we did at Augustana (on Sept. 6). Being able to beat Northwestern and Hastings like we did was very good stuff. The two teams that are a big question are Doane and Dordt, and we’ll run against them next week. I think this gives our guys a boost of confidence. I know both teams can run a lot better. I’m excited to see what the future brings.
“Vaughn and Trey went 1-2 and that’s a big deal. Those guys had a big day. For Vaughn’s second 8k, that was a tremendous performance. Both of those guys would give glory to God for that.”
Top Dawgs – 8k time
1. Vaughn Hendrickson: 25:26.64
2. Trey Robertson: 25:29.04
8. Trevor Kuncl: 26:47.17
9. Cole Yunker: 27:01.85
10. Aaron Jendro: 27:04.46
11. Jack Ellis: 27:12.63
12. Aidan Limback: 27:14.34
Named the GPAC Runner of the Week after his efforts at the Greeno/Dirksen Invite, the Fort Wayne, Ind., native Hendrickson has adapted impressively to the collegiate ranks. As compared to his 8k at Mahoney Golf Course on Sept. 21, Hendrickson cut down on his time and finished in 25:26.64 in a close race for first place with teammate Trey Robertson. The Wallace, Neb., native Robertson was less than three seconds behind Hendrickson while crossing the finish line in 25:29.04.
Concordia held down five of the top 10 and seven of the top 12 spots on the individual leaderboard that included 96 runners in North Sioux City. The eight through 12 place finishes overall were dominated by Bulldogs: junior Trevor Kuncl (26:47.17), freshman Cole Yunker (27:01.85), junior Aaron Jendro (27:04.46), senior Jack Ellis (27:12.63) and sophomore Aidan Limback (27:14.34). The remainder of the Bulldog top 10 featured sophomore Ransom Watts (27:29.90; 20th), senior Nathan Pennekamp (27:33.86; 21st) and freshman Ethan Sholey (27:48.29; 26th).
Up Next
The Bulldogs will be in action back-to-back Saturdays as they look ahead to the Holiday Inn Express Classic hosted by Dordt on Oct. 12. The meet will get underway at 10 a.m. CT from the Dordt campus. Concordia competed in this meet in 2022 and came away with place finishes of second on the women’s side and third on the men’s side.