SEWARD, Neb. – The Concordia University track and field program nearly swept conference weekly awards. On Wednesday (Jan. 29), the league announced sophomore Rachel Battershell (women’s track), sophomore Xavier Ross (men’s track) and senior Adrianna Shaw (women’s field) as GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports GPAC Indoor Athletes of the Week. Bulldog athletes have now combined for six GPAC weekly honors during this indoor season.
Battershell continues to raise the bar. All three of her performances at last week’s Polar Dog Invite eclipsed automatic national qualifying times. In the 60 meter hurdles, Battershell once again broke her own school record while clocking in at 8.96 in the preliminary round. The native of Wheatland, Wyo., also blazed to a time of 56.40 in the 400 meters for a new personal best, first-place finish and the No. 1 time in the NAIA (second on the program’s all-time list). Finally, Battershell teamed up on a national qualifying time of 3:58.20 in the 4x400 meter relay (second best in the NAIA).
Ross broke through with a fresh ‘A’ standard in the 400 meters at the Polar Dog while winning the race in 49.03, placing him at No. 3 on the NAIA national list. That time also moved him all the way up to No. 4 on the program’s all-time indoor 400 meter list. Ross also collaborated on a 4x400 meter relay finish in 3:23.25 (.75 seconds off the ‘B’ standard).
In the throws, Shaw continues to achieve at a level that puts her among the best in school history. She broke the school record in the weight throw with a toss of 62’ 6” in the weight throw. Not only did that mark surpass Kali Robb on the all-time list, it placed Shaw at No. 2 in the NAIA. The native of Bassett, Neb., also placed second at the Polar Dog in the shot put with a whirl of 46’ ½.” Shaw ranks second nationally in the shot put as well. She sits fourth on the school’s indoor shot put list.
Head coach Matt Beisel’s Bulldogs will return to action this Thursday and Friday by hosting the Concordia Classic inside the Fieldhouse.