SEWARD, Neb. – For the first time this season, the Concordia University Cross Country men’s and women’s squads will compete in back-to-back weeks. On the heels of sweeping team championships at the Briar Cliff Invite, the Bulldogs will be headed to the Holiday Inn Express Classic hosted by Dordt on Saturday. The meet is one Concordia competed at in 2022 and then skipped out on in 2023. The 2024 version is slated to get underway with the women’s 6k at 10 a.m. CT.
Holiday Inn Express Classic – Saturday, Oct. 12
Dordt University Prairie (Dordt campus) | Sioux Center, Iowa
-10 a.m. – women’s 6k
-10:45 a.m. – men’s 8k
-Live coverage: Results | Webcast
-Meet Info
Head Coach Matt Beisel’s squads are both receiving votes in the official NAIA national ratings released on Oct. 3. Based on their spots in the “receiving votes” category, the Bulldogs sit 28th on the women’s side and 30th on the men’s side. Within the GPAC, the top 25 teams in the men’s ratings are No. 12 Dordt and No. 14 Doane. The league’s lone top 25 women’s team is No. 8 Dordt.
The results last week were encouraging for Concordia. The women took first place out of six squads and the men emerged victorious in a field of eight teams. As a result of his individual Briar Cliff Invite championship, freshman Vaughn Hendrickson was named the GPAC Runner of the Week for the second time this season. He completed the 8k race in North Sioux City, S.D., in a time of 25:26.64. Hendrickson was followed closely by teammate Trey Robertson, the runner up (25:29.04). Seven Bulldogs placed inside the top 12. As for the women, Hannah Beintema again led the way as she clocked a 6k time of 23:31.90, good for fifth place. Next in line on the team were junior Keegan Beisel (23:52.40) and freshman Annika Staab (24:05.77).
In winning the Briar Cliff Invite title, the Concordia men beat out GPAC rivals Northwestern, Hastings, Mount Marty and Morningside. Meanwhile, the women outkicked College of Saint Mary, Northwestern, Morningside and Hastings, among GPAC competitors. For the first time this season, the Bulldogs will see Dordt as part of the meet this Saturday.
The location for the Holiday Inn Express Classic will be the Dordt University Prairie. According to the meet information sheet, “The course is a grass loop that is located on Dordt University’s campus. The course has rolling elevation change with good footing and broad corners. It is located directly south of the campus buildings in the area known as Dordt University Prairie.” Awards will be given to individuals who place inside the top 10 for both men and women.
Once the Holiday Inn Express Classic wraps up, the Blazing Tiger Classic on Oct. 26 will be the final remaining meet on the regular season schedule. The 2024 GPAC Championships are set for Nov. 9 in Ashland, Neb., the same location for the Blazing Tiger Classic.