Schmidt wins individual championship as Concordia men qualify for Nationals

The Concordia University cross country teams competed in the 2010 GPAC Championships on Saturday in Yankton.  Nebraska Wesleyan won the women’s and men’s team titles, while the Morningside women and the Concordia men claimed the NAIA Qualifier automatic berths. 

On the men’s side, Concordia’s Dana Schmidt was the individual champion as Concordia was the team winner in the NAIA Qualifier portion of the meet.  Schmidt (Grundy Center, Iowa) won the event with a time of 25:41 on the 8k course.  Colin Morrissey (Omaha, Neb.) came in second overall with a time of 25:54.  Tyson Billings and Beau Billings (Valentine, Neb.) came in seventh and ninth, respectively, for the Bulldogs.  Tyson ran a time of 26:11, and Beau finished with a time of 26:39.  Aaron Kortze (Rockford, Ill.) was 17th at 26:58.  Adam Prahlow (St. Louis, Mo.) was 19th at 27:03, and Matt Trampe (Kearney, Neb.) was 26th with a time of 27:29.

On the women’s side, Concordia finished third in the NAIA Qualifier portion of the meet.  Morningside College and Northwestern College finished in front of the Bulldogs.  Sarah Kortze (Rockford, Ill.) finished fourth overall with a time of 18:36 on the 5k course.  Alicia Marteney (Pawnee City, Neb.) was sixth at 18:50, and Emilie Bourret was 14th at 19:19.  Anna Meyer came in 19th at 19:30, and Allison Mitchell (Aurora, Neb.) was 25th at 19:50.  Other finishers for the Bulldogs were Martha Meineke (Denver, Colo.) in 33rd at 20:12 and Toni Hulinsky (Bayard, Neb.) in 35th at 20:15. 

The NAIA National Championships will be held on Saturday, Nov. 20 at the Fort Vancouver Historical Site in Vancouver, Wash.  The Concordia men have already qualified.  The Bulldog women will hope for an at-large berth.  At-large team berths will be announced by the NAIA next week.