Geeno/Dirksen Invite Results (PDF)
LINCOLN, Neb. – In a second largescale meet in a row to begin the 2024 season, the Concordia Cross Country squads executed their gameplan on Saturday (Sept. 21) while getting stronger as the men’s 8k and women’s 5k races progressed. The Bulldogs came away from the annual Greeno/Dirksen Invitational in Lincoln, Neb., with overall place finishes of 12th out of 26 on the men’s side and 16th out of 22 on the women’s side. This was another meet that included NCAA Division I and II competition and was co-hosted by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Nebraska Wesleyan University.
Head Coach Matt Beisel has been pleased with the development of his two squads since preseason training began in August. Beisel expected times to run a bit slower due to the hilly landscape at Mahoney Golf Course and the humidity.
“Things went really well today,” Beisel said. “We accomplished what we set out to do, which was to focus on each other during the race, communicating, working our way up, picking off people and being in a competitive mindset. We knew the conditions were going to be warm and humid and a little hillier than we’re used to racing on. We worked really hard in training this week, so I knew that was going to have an effect. Normally, we’re a front-running team that goes out hard, but I wanted to be a little more conservative and focus on the elements of running in packs and seeing where that gets us.”
Men’s Summary
Top Dawgs – 8k
31. Vaughn Hendrickson – 25:51.3
48. Trevor Kuncl – 26:19.4
83. Trey Robertson – 26:55.8
127. Cole Yunker – 27:43.2
137. Jarrett Miles – 27:50.5
161. Ransom Watts – 28:20.4
166. Nathan Pennekamp – 28:24.3
The men got the meet started on Saturday morning in what amounted to another strong showing for the freshman Vaughn Hendrickson. He emerged as the lead Dawg in finishing the 8k race in 25:51.3, good for 31st place in a field of more than 330 runners (326 completed the race). He was followed among teammates by top 100 finishers in junior Trevor Kuncl (26:19.4; 48th) and sophomore Trey Robertson (26:55.8; 83rd). For some athletes like Robertson, this was a day for gutting it out through less than 100 percent health.
The Greeno/Dirksen marked the first 8k race of the season for Concordia. In the men’s team standings at Mahoney Golf Course, the 12th-place Bulldogs finished fourth among NAIA squads behind University of Saint Mary (fifth), Doane (eighth) and Kansas Wesleyan University (10th). Concordia outran the likes of Bellevue University (14th) and Hastings (23rd) and former GPAC rival Nebraska Wesleyan (19th).
Said Beisel, “I’m 100 percent confident in both of these teams to be able to be top two teams in the GPAC. I can’t wait for two weeks from now for us to be able to really show that. All glory to God. He was with us – He’s been with us. We had a lot of illness go through our team the last couple of weeks. Everything considered, I’m super happy.”
The remainder of the Bulldogs’ top seven featured freshmen Cole Yunker (27:43.2) and Jarrett Miles (27:50.5), sophomore Ransom Watts (28:20.4) and senior Nathan Pennekamp (28:24.3). The top 10 was rounded out by junior Westley Determan (28:27.7), freshman Ethan Sholey (28:28.2) and senior Charlie Hayden (28:44.1). Concordia, who was without Thomas Gorline, had 23 competitors finish the Greeno/Dirksen Invite 8k.
Said Hendrickson, “It was important to continue to run with the guys, keep pushing each other and remember that our biggest thing is to run for the Lord. I think it’s important to keep pushing and keep talking positively to yourself.”
Women’s Summary
Top Dawgs – 5k
74. Hannah Beintema – 19:48.1
99. Annika Staab – 20:14.0
121. Alison Stepanek – 20:36.7
125. Keegan Beisel – 20:42.0
131. Rhaya Kaschinske – 20:46.6
133. Annaka Schlachter – 20:51.8
140. Kelsie Heins – 21:04.6
The 20th-ranked Concordia women sought to build upon a strong showing two weeks earlier at the Augustana Twilight. Junior Hannah Beintema came away as the highest Bulldog finisher for the second meet in a row. She clocked a 5k time of 19:48.1 and placed 74th out of the 230 runners who completed the race. Freshman Annika Staab also landed inside the top 100 overall with her 5k of 20:14.0. Each of the team’s top seven placed in the top 150, including freshman Alison Stepanek (20:36.7) and junior Keegan Beisel (20:42.0).
Concordia placed 16th when factoring in all teams. Among NAIA squads, the Bulldogs placed fourth behind University of Saint Mary (fifth), Kansas Wesleyan University (11th) and College of Saint Mary (15th). Concordia placed in front of Doane (17th) and Hastings (22nd), as well as three NCAA Division II squads. The Bulldogs were strategic about how they went about this particular race.
Said Beisel, “They did a great job. Doane got out really fast, but with a mile-and-a-quarter to go, I told the girls, you have to move now. You have to go get them – and they did. I thought we put together two great races in relatively tough conditions. I’m super proud of them and thankful to God.”
The teams Nos. 5 though 7 runners on Saturday were: senior Rhaya Kaschinske (20:46.6), freshman Annaka Schlachter (20:51.8) and sophomore Kelsie Heins (21:04.6). The rest of the Bulldog top 10 included sophomore Claire Biekmann (21:25.4), sophomore Christina Martinson (21:30.6) and freshman Lydia Edmonds (21:37.7). There were 15 total Concordia runners that completed the race.
Said Beintema, “We talked about it before that we wanted to be a back-running pack at the beginning and go out conservative. But then we really wanted to hunt them down. We were trying to stay conservative the first 2k and then work up from there as a pack … We have a really strong front pack and middle pack. We’ve really been able to use running together to our advantage.”
Up Next
The Bulldogs will take next weekend off from competition as they look ahead to the Briar Cliff Invite on Saturday, Oct. 5. The location for the meet will be Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve in North Sioux City, S.D. Three meets remain on the schedule prior to the 2024 GPAC Championships on Nov. 9.