SEWARD, Neb. – A trio of Bulldogs are set to compete at the 2015 NAIA Cross Country National Championships on Saturday. Concordia will be represented by seniors Jordan Potrzeba and Kim Wood and sophomore Emily Sievert, who will each take to the trail at McApline Creek Park in Charlotte, N.C. The men’s race will get started at 9:30 a.m. CT / 10:30 a.m. ET with the women’s race to follow at 10:30 a.m. CT / 11:30 a.m. ET.
Potrzeba, a native of Hastings, Neb., will make his third career appearance on the national stage after placing sixth at the GPAC championships hosted by Doane on Nov. 7. In his previous races at the national championships, Potrzeba has turned in finishes of 272nd (2012) and 212th (2013). He was a member of the 2012 GPAC championship team that placed 21st at the national championships. Porzeba is a two-time all-conference performer in cross country.
Both Wood and Sievert will run at the national championships for the first time in their careers. Wood placed 10th at the GPAC meet on the way to earning her second-consecutive cross country all-conference award. The Greeley, Neb., native is a four-time All-American in track and field. Meanwhile, Sievert finished right behind Wood at the conference championships, checking in at No. 11. Sievert was an indoor track national qualifier last year in both the 3,000 and 5,000 meter events. Emily is the sister of Ben, who made four-straight national championships appearances (2011-14) with an All-America finish in 2013.
Though both squads received votes in last week’s final national poll, the Concordia men and women fell short of reaching the national championships as a team. Twenty-fourth year head coach Kregg Einspahr had sent at least one team to the cross country national championships every year from 1994 – 2013, a run of 20-straight seasons. Einspahr has guided his teams to a total of 32 top 25 national finishes since taking over the cross country programs in 1992. The Bulldogs have claimed five national runner-up finishes during Einspahr’s tenure.
On the men’s side, the 2015 NAIA national championships field includes 36 teams as well as 85 individuals. The women’s race will be comprised of 36 teams and 82 individuals. For more information on the national championships, click HERE.
2015 Performances
Jordan Potrzeba
Woody Greeno Invite: 25th (27:05.5)
Roy Griak Invite: 43rd (27:30)
Briar Cliff Invite: 13th (25:57.98)
Mount Marty Invite: 4th (26:07.33)
GPAC Championships: 6th (26:18.36)
Emily Sievert
Woody Greeno Invite (6K): 58th (24:26.0)
Roy Griak Invite (6K): 40th (24:26.3)
Briar Cliff Invite (5K): 13th (18:12.18)
Mount Marty Invite (5K): 13th (19:00.03)
GPAC Championships (5K): 11th (19:00.72)
Kim Wood
Woody Greeno Invite (6K): 15th (23:42.1)
Roy Griak Invite (6K): 57th (24:40.9)
Briar Cliff Invite (5K): 12th (18:11.69)
Mount Marty Invite (5K): 4th (18:39.58)
GPAC Championships (5K): 10th (19:00.55)
