Sievert selected to NAIA Nationals along with Bulldog women's squad

The 2011 NAIA National Championship individual and team qualifiers were announced on Monday.  The Concordia women will represent the GPAC at Nationals following a second place finish at the GPAC Championships over the weekend.  The Bulldog men did not receive an at-large berth into Nationals, but freshman Ben Sievert was selected to Nationals following his fourth place finish at the GPAC Championships. 

Sarah Kortze (Rockford, Ill.) and Jena Schwalenberg (Columbus, Neb.) finished fourth and sixth overall, respectively, to lead Concordia to their second place finish at the GPAC Championships.  Both Kortze and Schwalenberg earned All-GPAC honors for their efforts.  All five of Concordia’s top runners finished in the top 30 overall at the GPAC Championships, and the Concordia women have now advanced to Nationals 17 times in the last 18 years. 

Sievert (Frankenmuth, Mich.) has enjoyed a very impressive freshman campaign for the Bulldog men’s squad.  He finished fourth at the GPAC Championships to earn All-GPAC recognition.  Sievert had a top 20 finish in the Woody Greeno Invite earlier this season.  He also finished in the top 25 at the highly competitive Roy Griak Invite in Minnesota.  Sievert ended the regular season strong, finishing second at the Hastings Invite and first at the Mount Marty Invite.  He earned GPAC Runner-of-the-Week honors after the Mount Marty Invite.  Sievert was one of five individual competitors selected to Nationals from the Great Plains Athletic Conference.   

The 2011 NAIA National Meet will be held on November 19 in Vancouver, Washington.