Cross Country

2001 Bulldog Cross Country

Three runners All-American scholar athletes

Three student athletes from Concordia University were named NAIA All-American scholar-athletes for 1999 in men’s and women’s cross country. Brandon Seifert, a senior, had the highest GPA of any cross country athlete in the Nebraska-Iowa Athletic Conference with a 3.96 in biology.

The national honor list requires a minimum 3.50 cumulative grade-point average for students of junior year standing or above.

Also honored from Concordia were Rachael Geidel, junior, 3.76 in biology, and Stacey Hain, senior, in elementary education.

The NIAC had nine individuals honored, also including three from Midland Lutheran College, two from Doane College and one from Hastings College. Dana College was honored for its Scholar Team.

Women's team places 8th at UNL meet

The Concordia University’s women’s cross country team earned eighth place Sept. 16 in the college division at the Woody Greeno Invitational. More than 300 runners in both men’s and women’s university and college divisions ran the race sponsored by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln at Pioneers Park in Lincoln. Rachael Geidel placed 18th among all the women runners and seventh in the college division. Three Great Plains Athletic Conference rivals placed ahead of the Bulldogs – Hastings College third, Doane fifth and Nebraska Wesleyan seventh. Central Missouri State topped the college division. The Concordia women's team was ranked #4 in the Sept. 15 NAIA voting. Concordia places and times:

  • 18. Rachael Geidel, 19:00.30
  • 67. Sara Schuelke, 20:03.50
  • 68. Laree David, 20:03.90
  • 111. Andrea Overstreet, 20:42.60
  • 123. Sarah Seefeldt, 20:52.30
  • 142. Catherine Heider, 21:05.00
  • 146. Taunya Frauendorfer, 21:07.70
  • 154. Brie Zydial, 21:17.60
  • 176. Leah Klepacki, 21:35.50
  • 194. Elizabeth Rodgers, 21:45.60
  • 230. Danielle Wilson, 23:08.90

The men’s race found the Bulldog team finishing 18th in the college division, which was won by Truman State of Missouri. The strength of the GPAC was tested and found Nebraska Wesleyan sixth, Dana 10th, Sioux Falls 11th, Doane 12th and Hastings, 14th. Northwestern was 22nd among the 23 teams. Brian Greeves was the first Bulldog to cross the finish line in a time of 27:44.40. Concordia placing and times:

  • 109. Brian Greeves, 27:44.40
  • 146. Mark Heider, 28:24:10
  • 169. Paul Linde, 28:45.20
  • 179. George Schroll, 28:59.50
  • 189. Jon Krenz, 29:20.60
  • 190. Mike Kersten, 29:23.50
  • 210. Aqndy Schermbeck, 29:49.80
  • 244. Matt Buns, 30:57.50
  • 257. Josh Maxson, 31:59.30

#16 women's team wins at Doane Invite Sept. 23

The Concordia University’s women’s cross country team, No. 16 in the Sept. 22 NAIA ratings, won first place Sept. 23 at the Dean White Invitational at Doane College in Crete. Rachael Geidel placed second at 18:50.61.

The men's team finished fourth with Brian Greeves the top Bulldog runner in fourth place at 27:26.66 “Our women ran much better this weekend," Coach Kregg Einspahr said. “Laree David and Sarah Seefeldt are really coming around now and running with some confidence." Concordia places and times at Doane:

  • 1. Rachael Geidel, 18:50.61
  • 5. Laree David, 19:38.55
  • 6. Andrea Overstreet, 19:41.56
  • 7. Sarah Seefeldt, 19:43.92
  • 9. Sara Schuelke, 19:55.10
  • 13. Brie Zydiak, 20:29.83
  • 14. Catherine Heider, 20:31.23
  • 16. Taunya Frauendorfer, 20:34.27
  • 23. Elizabeth Rodgers, 20:57.54
  • 29. Leah Klepacki, 21:17.18
  • 43. Danielle Wilson, 23:23.70

The NAIA rated the women’s team No. 4 in Sept. 15 poll; No. 6 in the preseason.

Andrea Overstreet is beginning to return to health after suffering with an upper respiratory tract infection the last two weeks.

“Our women’s team depth really started to have an impact Saturday," Einspahr said. “Our No. 5-11 runners are really starting to make a huge contribution to the team."

Other women’s team scores at Doane:

Doane 48; Northwest Missouri 73; Nebraska Wesleyan 79; Hutchinson Community College 151; College of St. Mary 186.

“Our men are also improving," the coach said. “I was very pleased our men. Mark Heider and Jon Krenz had signficant improvements this week."

After an open week, the Concordia teams will entertain a large invitational on Saturday, Oct. 7. In addition to the Bulldogs, teams expected to compete include Doane, Hastings, Nebraska Wesleyan, Graceland, College of St. Mary, Creighton, Dakota Wesleyan, York and Northwest Missouri State.

Concordia women win Oct. 7 home invitational

The Concordia women's cross country team topped six other schools at the Concordia Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 7. Hastings was second and Doane third. Rachael Geidel with an 18:25 placed second to Mary Livengood of Doane, who ran it in 18:04. See full women's results.

The University of Nebraska at Kearney won the men's title among nine entries. The Concordia team finished sixth. Brian Greeves was the top Bulldog runner, 19th at 26:58 in the race won by Zach Reeves of Doane in 25:49. See full men's results.

Concordia women top Mt. Marty Invite

The Concordia women's team ran away with the Mount Marty Invitational cross country on Saturday at Yankton, S.D.

Senior Rachael Geidel of Loveland, Colo., won the event in a time 9f 18:04.76 with Laree David eighth in 18:57.95. Concordia's 58 points bettered the totals of Doane College, 94; Black Hills State, 105; Hastings College, 106, and the University of Sioux Falls 141.

Catherine Heider was 18th at 19:12.30; Sara Schuelke, 19th in 19:20.10; Andrea Oversteet 20th in 19:20.72; Sarah Seefeldt in 19:23.94; Taunya Frauendorfer, 31st in 19:48.88; Brie Zydiak 55th in 20:13.56; Elizabeth Rogers, 77th in 20:43.54; Leah Klepacki, 88th in 20:58.78; and Danielle Wilsohn, 121st in 22.47.98. Men's scores were not available.

Bulldogs compete in Wisconsin races

Rachael Geidel, senior from Loveland, Colo., placed ninth in the Tori Neubauer Maroon Women’s 5K race Saturday at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse with a time of 18:40.4.

Coach Kregg Einspahr’s Bulldog women’s team, rated No. 2 in the NAIA on Friday, finished in 11th place among 31 teams and 323 runners.

The Concordia men’s team finished 28th in the Jim Drews Maroon Men’s 8K.

“We had a very poor race both by the men’s team and the women’s team," Coach Kregg Einspahr said. “We were disappointed not to have run better against such outstanding competition. These were some of the best cross country programs in the country and we did not step up to the challenge."

Sophomore Mark Heider turned in the best men’s performance, placing 66th with a time of 26:40.6. Brian Greeves was 122nd with a 27:18.2.

Other women running for Concordia, with placing and times:

  • 45 Sara Schuelke 19:36.5
  • 48 Laree David 19:37.3
  • 72 Andrea Overstreet 19:54.7
  • 99 Catherine Heider 20:14.0
  • 105 Sarah Seefeldt 20:19.3

Other men running for Concordia, with placing and times:

  • 195 George Schroll 28:49.3
  • 205 Mike Kersten 25:05.9
  • 210 Paul Linde 29:17.7
  • 212 Jon Krenz 29:22.8
  • 223 Andy Schermbeck 30:09.1

“I did think that two of our runners had excellent races," the coach said, “and that was Mark Heider and Sara Schuelke."

The teams enter the Mount Marty Invitational Saturday at Yankton, S.D. Einsphar said the Wisconsin performance probably will cost the Bulldogs to drop from the No. 2 rating, which was based on outstanding performances the previous two weekends.

“However, I remain confident that we have the teams to re-group and run much better at Yankton this weekend," he said. The meet will feature a number of the best teams in the NAIA.

Women qualify for national championship Nov. 18 in Wisconsin with finish in GPAC

The Concordia women’s cross country team earned an automatic qualifier spot in the NAIA Women’s Cross Country championship with a second-place finish in the GPAC championships on Nov. 4 at Yankton, S.D. The national meet is Nov. 18 at Kenosha, Wis.

Rachel Geidel was second to Mary Livengood of Doane, who set a 5K course record with a winning time of 17:37.08. Geidel ran it in 18:12.68.

Coach Kregg Einspahr said he was pleased with the performances of the Bulldog men and women at the GPAC meet.

Three teams finished within 11 points of the championship won by Nebraska Wesleyan, which competes in the NCAA. The Prairie Wolves had three finishers in the top 10 for 49 points while Concordia, with two in the top 10, totaled 55 and Hastings, with three in the top 10, scored 50.

Other team totals were Doane 83; Sioux Falls 157; Dordt 168; Northwestern 199; Dana 240; Mount Marty 248; Dakota Wesleyan 297; and Midland 311.

Concordia is ranked third nationally in the NAIA while Hastings is fourth and Doane seventh. Bulldog finishers:

  • Rachael Geidel, second, 18:12.68
  • Andrea Overstreet, seventh, 18:47.31
  • Sara Schuelke, 11th, 19:02.62
  • Laree David, 17th, 19:13.3
  • Catherine Heider, 18th, 19:20.87
  • Sarah Seefeldt, 22nd, 19:41.39
  • Tanya Frauendorfer, 29th, 20:02.96

Nebraska Wesleyan had five runners in the top 10 of the 8K GPAC men’s race to win the championship. Thor Esbensen was first in 25:36.31. As Wesleyan competes in the NCAA, Dana earned the GPAC automatic bid to the national meet with a second-place finish.

The Concordia team finished fifth with 134 points. Mark Heider was 14th with a time of 26:37.88, followed by Brian Greeves in 15th with 26:38.66. Their marks were seventh and eighth in the national qualification. Team scores included Wesleyan 23; Dana 77; Doane 104; Sioux Falls 119; Concordia 134; Hastings 152; Dordt 176; Midland 229; Northwestern 239; Dakota Wesleyan 240; Mount Marty 259.

The Bulldog finishers:

  • Mark Heider, 14th, 26:37.88
  • Brian Greeves, 15th, 26:38.66
  • Paul Linde, 27th, 27:30.27
  • Jon Krenz, 33rd, 27:39.24
  • George Schroll, 45th, 28:21.75
  • Mike Kersten, 54th, 29:01.83
  • Andy Schermbeck, 57th, 29:22.57

Women's team competes Nov. 18 at NAIA championships in Kenosha, Wis.

Kenosha, Wis., is the place where the Concordia women’s cross-country team hopes to excel Nov. 18 . The NAIA championship run will be Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside.

Making the trip for Coach Kregg Einspahr will be Rachael Geidel, Andrea Overstreet, Sara Schuelke, Laree David, Catherine Heider, Sarah Seefeldt and Taunya Frauendorfer.

The team qualified for the national with a second-place finish at the GPAC championships on Nov. 4 in Yankton, S.D. They finished behind Nebraska Wesleyan, which competes in NCAA Division III.

“We ran very well," Einspahr said of the GPAC competition. “We had personal best times from Andrea Overstreet and Sara Schuelke." Laree David was hampered with cramps in her calves.

The coach said he was not surprised by the GPAC results. “Nebraska Wesleyan is very talented on the women’s side. But obviously it was very close and we were disappointed not to win. The times of the top five Bulldogs runners were just three seconds behind the top five Wesleyan runners.

What a conference," Einspahr said. “We are now rated #3 NAIA, Hastings #4 and Doane #7."

Women finish 2nd at national

The Concordia University women’s cross country team ran to a second-place finish at the NAIA national championships Saturday at Kenosha, Wis. The Bulldogs, coach by Kregg Einspahr, scored 188 points to trail winning Concordia Irvine, a sister Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod school in California that had a 133-point total.

Rachael Geidel paced the Concordia team with a sixth-place finish with an 18:26 in the 5K race. It was the third year for Geidel, a senior from Loveland, Colo., to earn All-American honors by finishing in the top 30. A total of 248 runners finished the race.

Others counting in the Concordia scoring were Andrea Overstreet, 32nd with a 19:09; Sara Schuelke, 64th with a 19:41; Laree David, 75th with a 19:51; Sarah Seefeldt, 83rd with a 19:56; Catherine Heider, 87th with a 19:57; and Taunya Frauendorfer, 100th with a 20:08.

Great Plains Athletic Conference teams fared well at the women’s meet with Doane College finishing 10th and Hastings College 11th. Mary Livengood of Doane finished second in a time of 18:15.

Team, Geidel recognized for GPA standing

Rachael Geidel was named an NAIA Academic All-American (scholar athlete) with a 3.85 grade-point average in a biology/pre-physician assistant major. The women's cross country team was named one of the 12 cross country scholar-teams in the NAIA with a 3.62 GPA.

Concordia's women's cross country team finished second in the NAIA championships Nov. 18 at Kenosha, Wis. Senior Rachael Geidel earned her third All-American honor with a sixth-place finish. Shown at the awards ceremony are (from left) Andrea Overstreet, Sarah Seefeldt, Laree David, Rachael Geidel, Sara Schuelke, Taunya Frauendorfer, Catherine Heider and Coach Kregg Einspahr.