SEWARD, Neb. – Sophomore Rachel Battershell and head coach Matt Beisel have collected major awards from the GPAC and 44 total athletes from the Concordia University track and field program have officially been recognized as all-conference performers (announced on Feb. 27). The honors come courtesy of their efforts at last week’s GPAC Indoor Track and Field Championships. The top eight individuals in each event (top three relays) receive all-conference accolades. The complete list of all-conference Bulldogs can be viewed at bottom.
Battershell is the GPAC Women’s Indoor Track and Field Athlete of the Year while Beisel is the GPAC Women’s Coach of the Year. In addition, the Concordia women’s 4x400 meter relay of Jacee Pfeifer, Sarah Lewis, Kennedy Mogul and Battershell was honored with the GPAC Women’s Track Performance of the Meet award.
At the 2020 GPAC Indoor Track and Field Championships, the Bulldogs won the conference championship on the women’s side and placed third on the men’s side. The Concordia women’s team has won three-straight conference track and field titles.
Battershell is the first Bulldog women’s performer to earn the GPAC Athlete of the Year since Kim Wood in 2016. A native of Wheatland, Wyo., Battershell appears on a path to similar greatness. At the 2020 conference indoor meet, Battershell won titles in the 60 meter hurdles and 400 meters and also anchored the championship 4x400 meter relay. Her 22.5 team points scored were the most among all GPAC female athletes. Battershell’s time of 8.81 in the hurdles broke her own school record. In addition, the 4x400 relay time of 3:56.28 eclipsed the GPAC indoor meet record.
Beisel, a four-time GPAC Coach of the Year (including cross country), has helped orchestrate the building of a powerful women’s program. He also guided the women’s cross country team to a GPAC title and 12th-place NAIA national finish this past fall. At the 2020 GPAC track championships, the Concordia women combined for seven conference event titles. Besides Battershell and the 4x4, additional Bulldog female GPAC champions were Kylahn Heritage (3,000 meters), Kennedy Mogul (pentathlon), Josie Puelz (pole vault) and Addie Shaw (weight throw).
Battershell was one of 15 Bulldogs (between men and women) to collect all-conference honors in multiple events. On the men’s side, senior Jacob Cornelio seized the GPAC weight throw title for the second year in a row. Sophomore Cora Olson put together a noteworthy meet in that she achieved top six placements in four different events. Sarah Lewis and Mogul picked up all-conference recognition in three events.
For qualifying athletes, the indoor season will continue at the 2020 NAIA Indoor Track & Field National Championships in Brookings, S.D., March 5-7. All qualifiers are scheduled to be announced by the NAIA by Feb. 28.
2020 GPAC Indoor All-Conference
MEN
· Andy Amos – shot put (6th)
· Taylor Beck – triple jump (5th)
· Chase Berry – pole vault (2nd)
· Jacob Cornelio – weight throw (1st)
· Gavin DeHaai – pole vault (2nd)
· Liam Hennessy – shot put (5th); weight throw (6th)
· Wyatt Lehr – 5,000 meters (7th)
· Wyatt Loga – high jump (6th)
· Jordan Lorenz – 5,000 meters (2nd); 3,000 meters (8th)
· Colton Meyer – 4x400 relay (3rd); 60 hurdles (4th)
· Camden Miller – 4x400 relay (3rd)
· Jerod Peters – shot put (4th)
· Tucker Platt – pole vault (4th)
· Ben Pratt – high jump (5th)
· Jeremiah Reeser – heptathlon (5th)
· Henry Reimer – 4x400 relay (3rd)
· Xavier Ross – 4x400 relay (3rd); 400 meters (7th)
· Austin Schneider – long jump (8th)
WOMEN
· Jordyn Anderson – shot put (5th)
· Rachel Battershell – 400 meters (1st); 60 hurdles (1st); 4x400 relay (1st)
· Mika Brees – 200 meters (6th)
· Kaylee Boyle – pentathlon (8th)
· Jamey Broman – long jump (6th)
· Allie Brooks – pole vault (2nd)
· Olivia Buschow – weight throw (7th)
· Lydia Cook – 5,000 meters (6th)
· Morgan De Jong – weight throw (4th); shot put (7th)
· Alyssa Fye – 1,000 meters (6th); mile (6th)
· Kylahn Heritage – 3,000 meters (1st); mile (3rd)
· Rebeka Hinrichs – 1,000 meters (5th); mile (5th)
· Sarah Lewis – 4x400 relay (1st); 60 hurdles (4th); 400 meters (5th)
· Emily Loy – pentathlon (2nd); 60 hurdles (7th)
· Amie Martin – 5,000 meters (7th); 3,000 meters (8th)
· Taylor Moes – triple jump (4th)
· Kennedy Mogul – pentathlon (1st); 4x400 relay (1st); 60 hurdles (5th)
· Hannah Mulligan – 60 meters (6th)
· Cora Olson – 60 meters (3rd); 200 meters (4th); long jump (4th); triple jump (6th)
· Ali Owings – shot put (6th)
· Jacee Pfeifer – 4x400 relay (1st); 400 meters (3rd)
· Josie Puelz – pole vault (1st)
· Miranda Rathjen – 600 meters (6th)
· Katie Severt – long jump (7th)
· Addie Shaw – weight throw (1st)
· Adrianna Sims – triple jump (7th)