BROOKINGS, S.D. – Junior Jacob Cornelio and sophomore Cody Williams continue to validate their statuses as rising stars for the Concordia University track and field programs. Both Bulldogs notched NAIA national runner up finishes while competing on day two (March 1) of the 2019 NAIA Indoor Track & Field National Championships. Nearly 1,000 athletes have descended upon the Sanford Jackrabbit Athletic Complex in Brookings, S.D., for the three-day meet.
By the end of the day, head coach Matt Beisel’s squads had produced All-America awards in five events with a total of nine Concordia athletes earning plaques for top-eight finishes. Twenty-one Bulldogs competed on Friday. With one day left in Brookings, the Bulldogs are sitting in second place on the men’s side (19 points) and fourth place on the women’s side (13.5 points).
“I’m mostly pleased with what happened,” Beisel said. “Every coach you talk to can say the same thing (in regards to ups and downs). It’s a big stage and a lot can happen. I’m overall happy with today and excited about tomorrow. Cody went from seventh place last year to second and I think he learned a lot. We’re in a good place to be.”
Williams recovered nicely after having a tough go in the high jump on Friday. The Imperial, Neb., native made a push for a national title in the heptathlon by scoring big in the 60 meter hurdles and pole vault. Those performances vaulted him all the way up to second after he sat in sixth at the conclusion of Thursday’s action. Williams wound up with 5,231 points, 42 points behind national champion Levi Sudbeck of Doane.
The upward trajectory of Cornelio is a continuing theme. Cornelio nearly matched his personal best of more than 65 feet while moving up significantly from his All-America claim from a year ago. He’s the leader of the men’s throws group and the next in an impressive line of All-Americans.
“It was great. I came in fourth overall and had a really good throw,” Cornelio said. “It landed me second. It was a great opportunity – a great, great feeling.”
The Bulldogs were busy in the women’s pole vault. All five Concordia competitors cleared bars while stating a case as the top even group in the nation. In the end, Erin Mapson placed fourth (3.67 meters) and Jacee Pfeifer (3.50 meters) tied for fifth. Three other Bulldogs placed: McKenzie Gravo (10th), Tristen Mosier (14th) and Allie Brooks (16th).
A native of Holdrege, Neb., Pfeifer also competed in the 400 meters on Friday, along with fellow freshman Rachel Battershell. Pfeifer placed 18th (58.76) and Battershell 11th (57.28). Those are also two of the stars of the women’s 4x400 meter relay that broke its own school record on Thursday.
“Having four other girls in the vault here was amazing,” Pfeifer said after Friday’s conclusion. “We just banded together as a team. It was great to get to compete with them one more time in indoor. It just excites us for outdoor to see what we can do.”
A 2018 discus national champion, Addie Shaw entered the weekend ranked No. 1 in the NAIA in the weight throw. She acquitted herself well on Friday by unleashing a toss of nearly 18 meters. She placed fourth while earning the fourth All-America award of her career. Concordia had five competitors in the women’s weight throw, including Samantha Liermann, a two-time shot put national champion.
The day ended for the Bulldogs with the men’s 4x800 meter relay, which had qualified for the finals a day earlier by clocking in at 7:46.59. The quartet then placed sixth in the finals on Friday, this time running the race in 7:51.49. That made All-Americans out of Nathan Matters, Christian Van Cleave, Thomas Taylor and Josiah McAllister.
This is the last hurrah for the senior McAllister as far as indoor national championships go. The native of Atkinson, Neb., has guaranteed a spot on the podium in the 1,000 meters by checking in at No. 4 in the preliminary round. He put up a personal best of 2:29.58. In the 600, Matters placed 10th in a time of 1:20.76 in another solid performance.
Concordia also had athletes in the men’s 400 meters (Gavin Davis), the men’s high jump (Ben Pratt) and the women’s long jump (Jessica Deterding). Pratt cleared 1.94 meters and Davis ran a time of 49.58.
Day three will of the national championships will resume at 10 a.m. on Saturday from the Sanford Jackrabbit Complex. Sixteen Bulldogs are scheduled to be in action.
2019 Concordia All-Americans
- Jacob Cornelio – weight throw (2nd)
- Erin Mapson – pole vault (4th)
- Nathan Matters – 4x800 meter relay (6th)
- Josiah McAllister – 4x800 meter relay (6th)
- Jacee Pfeifer – pole vault (T-5th)
- Addie Shaw – weight throw (4th)
- Thomas Taylor – 4x800 meter relay (6th)
- Christian Van Cleave – 4x800 meter relay (6th)
- Cody Williams – heptathlon (2nd)
Concordia Saturday schedule
- 10 a.m. – Women’s Triple Jump (Jessica Deterding, Leah Larson, Adrianna Sims)
- 10 a.m. – Women’s Shot Put (Jodi Fry, Sam Liermann, Johanna Ragland, Addie Shaw)
- 1 p.m. – Men’s Shot Put (Liam Hennessy)
- 1:15 p.m. – Men’s Pole Vault (Gavin DeHaai, Cody Williams)
- 1:30 p.m. – Women’s High Jump (Allie Brooks)
- 2:35 p.m. – Men’s 1,000 Meters (Josiah McAllister)
- 4:55 p.m. – Women’s 4x400 Meter Relay (Battershell, Lewis, Nikodym, Pfeifer)