SEWARD, Neb. – Both Concordia University track and field teams rose in this week’s NAIA national rankings released on Wednesday (Jan. 31) by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). The men made a meteoric rise, moving from 27th all the way up to No. 13 in the national rankings. Meanwhile, the women have leapt to ninth by bumping up three spots.
The USTFCCCA’s national rankings are based upon marks that have been turned in so far this indoor season. Entering this week, the Bulldog women have recorded eight automatic national qualifying marks and three ‘B’ standard marks. Meanwhile, the men have put two automatic marks and three ‘B’ standard marks on the board. Additionally, Cody Williams, a qualifier in the high jump, ranks third nationally in the heptathlon.
Head coach Matt Beisel’s women’s squad carries a top 10 national ranking thanks in large part to its impressive group in the shot put. Four Bulldogs rank inside the top 12 on the shot put national list: Adrianna Shaw (third), Samantha Liermann (fourth), Johanna Ragland (seventh) and Jazzy Eickhoff (12th). Additionally, both McKenzie Gravo (second) and Anna Baack (seventh) have qualified for nationals in the pole vault. Shaw collected GPAC field athlete of the week accolades.
Lofty national rankings are nothing new for the Concordia track and field programs. At the 2017 indoor national championships, the Bulldogs were the runner up on the men’s side and placed seventh on the women’s side. They went on to place fifth and sixth, respectively, at the 2017 outdoor national championships.
The indoor campaign will continue on Saturday when Concordia is set to compete at the Fred Beile Invitational hosted by Doane inside the Fuhrer Field House.
Bulldogs on national qualifying list
‘A’ standard
Anna Baack – pole vault (11’ 6 ½”)
Jacob Cornelio – weight throw (56’ 6 ½”)
Jazzy Eickhoff – shot put (44’ 7 ½”)
McKenzie Gravo – pole vault (12’ 4 ½”)
Samantha Liermann – shot put (46’ 10 ¼”); weight throw (54’ 9 ½”)
Johanna Ragland – shot put (45’ 1 ½”)
Adrianna Shaw – shot put (46’ 11”); weight throw (53’ 1 ¾”)
Cody Williams – high jump (6’ 7”)
‘B’ standard
Men’s distance medley (10:25.56)
Simon Brummond – pole vault (15’ 1”)
Jodi Fry – shot put (43’ 3 ¾”)
Leah Larson – triple jump (36’ 11”)
Josiah McAllister – 1,000 meters (2:33.58)
Tyrell Reichert – pole vault (15’ 1”)
Mutli events
Blake Becher ranks 15th in the heptathlon (4,314)
Jessica Deterding ranks 14th in the pentathlon (3,020)
Cody Williams ranks 3rd in heptathlon (4,723)