SEWARD, Neb. – A group of 12 athletes will represent Concordia University track and field this week at the prestigious Drake Relays. The annual event is hosted by Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. Bulldog athletes will be competing Wednesday through Saturday. For more info on the meet, click HERE.
The list of Bulldog competitors includes the likes of four-time national champion Zach Lurz and multi-event extraordinaire Lucas Wiechman, who will display his talents in the decathlon for the first time this outdoor season. Concordia also hopes to make a push for national qualifying times in the men’s 4x400 and women’s 4x800 meter relays. In the women’s pole vault, Allie Brooks and McKenzie Gravo will attempt to raise the bar in Iowa’s capitol city.
Head coach Matt Beisel’s squads entered this week with 26 total automatic national qualifying marks. In the most recent NAIA national ratings released by the USTFCCCA, Concordia checked in at No. 3 on both sides. The Bulldogs continue to boast national leaders in the men’s shot put (Lurz), men’s hammer throw (Cody Boellstorff) and women’s hammer throw (Kali Robb). Concordia has the national runner up in five events: men’s pole vault (Wiechman), women’s pole vault (Brooks), women’s shot put (Robb), men’s discus (Lurz), women’s discus (Tricia Svoboda) and men’s hammer throw (Lurz).
The Bulldogs have become well known nationally over the past few years for throwers, but they’re making big waves in the women’s pole vault as well. Brooks and Gravo both cleared 12’ 8” at last week’s Sioux City Relays and are both ranked in the top four of the nation. Brooks and Gravo are responsible for the last three GPAC women’s pole vault titles.
Wiechman figures to be a national title contender in the decathlon after coming off a national championship in the heptathlon this past indoor season. The native of Pilger, Neb., is already qualified for nationals in the pole vault and the 110 meter hurdles.
Most members of the track and field program will be at the Prairie Wolf Invite hosted by Nebraska Wesleyan on Thursday. The meet schedule can be viewed HERE.
Bulldogs competing at Drake
-Lucas Wiechman – Decathlon (Wed-11:30am, Thurs-9:30am), 4x400m Relay CD – Leg 1 (Fri-2:24pm)
-CJ Muller – 800m UD/CD (Thur-6:05pm), 4x400m Relay CD – Leg 4 (Fri-2:24pm)
-Zach Lurz – Shot Put UD/CD (Fri-11:00am), Hammer Throw UD/CD (Sat-1:00pm)
-Marti Vlasin - 4x800m Relay CD – Leg 1(Fri-10:11am)
-Quinn Wragge - 4x800m Relay CD – Leg 2 (Fri-10:11am)
-Alayna Daberkow - 4x800m Relay CD – Leg 3 (Fri-10:11am)
-Miranda Rathjen - 4x800m Relay CD – Leg 4 (Fri-10:11am)
-Tricia Svoboda – Discus UD/CD (Fri-1:00pm)
-Jake Rodgers – 4x400m Relay CD – Leg 2 (Fri-2:24pm)
-Nathan Matters – 4x400m Relay CD – Leg 3 (Fri-2:24pm)
-Allie Brooks – Pole Vault UD/CD (Sat-10:00am)
-Mckenzie Gravo – Pole Vault UD/CD (Sat-10:00am)