CRETE / LINCOLN, Neb. – Members of the NAIA second-ranked Concordia University track and field programs convened this weekend upon both the Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational (Feb. 1-2) hosted by the University of Nebraska and the Fred Beile Classic (Feb. 2) hosted by Doane. By the time the dust settled, Abi DeLoach (5,000 meters) and McKenzie Gravo (pole vault) emerged as Beile Classic event champions and a school relay record was nearly broken.
This is week four of the indoor season for head coach Matt Beisel’s squads, which have made a big splash on the national scene. The Bulldogs entered the day with 21 combined automatic national qualifying marks. On Saturday, Morgan De Jong added her name to the qualifying field in the weight throw.
“Almost everyone who ran at UNL had personal bests,” Beisel said. “I was really proud of how they competed. The only downside was that the conversions from a banked track to a flat track prevented us from moving up in the rankings. There were more good takeaways than bad.”
The women’s 4x400 meter relay group went to the Devaney Center for the Husker Invite with a school record on its mind. The Bulldogs would have set a new standard if not for being disqualified. The quartet of Rachel Battershell, Sarah Lewis, Jamie Nikodym and Jacee Pfeifer finished in 3:53.03. Because of the disqualification, the school record of 3:57.93 achieved in 2009 still stands.
Said Beisel, “It’s a tough learning experience. At least those kids know they can do it, and that’s a big confidence booster. I’m sure the girls are disappointed but they know they can do it. Now we’re looking at a potential All-American and even national champion 4x4 if they run their best.”
Sixteen total Concordia athletes made their way to the Devaney Center over the two-day meet. The result was a plethora of personal bests. Even with the conversions due to the banked track at Nebraska, senior Nathan Matters managed to improve upon an existing ‘A’ standard in the 600 meters. He clocked in at 1:20.64 (which converted to 1:21.85 on the NAIA performance list). Matters placed fourth in the event while finishing in front of runners from the likes of Illinois, Lipscomb, Maryland and Nebraska.
Also on the track, Josiah McAllister (mile) and Thomas Taylor (800 meters) both galloped to times that rank them among the top 20 nationally, even after conversions. McAllister and Matters teamed up with Gavin Davis and Xavier Ross for a time of 3:20.13 in the 4x400 meter relay at the Devaney Center. In addition, Davis ran well in the 400 meters, finishing in 49.36 (13th out of 38 competitors).
On the women’s side, Pfeifer (58.58), Battersell (58.83) and Lewis (59.84) each ran under 60 seconds in the open 400 in Lincoln. In the mile, Rebekah Hinrichs posted a new personal best of 5:19.27. Elsewhere, Emily Loy threw out a time of 9.31 in the 60 meter hurdles. DeLoach’s winning time in the 5,000 registered at 19:55.79.
Gravo has now moved to the top of the heap among Bulldog women’s pole vaulters after clearing a season best of 12’ 2 ½” to best the field at the Beile Classic. Based on the NAIA leaderboard going into the weekend, that figure would rank No. 2 nationally. Allie Brooks (11’ 2 ½”) and Erin Mapson (11’ 2 ½”) finished second and fourth, respectively, in the pole vault competition. On the men’s side, Dalton Berry cleared a ‘B’ standard of 15’ 1.”
In the throws, senior Samantha Liermann bumped up her season best in the weight throw to 55’ ¾” while in action at the Husker Invite. Liermann is still working on finding the touch that has made her a two-time national champ in the shot put. She placed sixth in the event, just behind teammate Addie Shaw, at the Beile Classic. Shaw was a third place finisher in the weight throw (57’ 7”) in front of De Jong’s new ‘A’ standard of 53’ 5” in Crete. On the men’s side, Jacob Cornelio again hit the ‘A’ standard in the weight throw and Liam Hennessy was just shy of an ‘A’ mark in the shot put (51’ 4 ½”).
Leader of a women’s triple jump group rated No. 1 in the NAIA, school record holder Leah Larson jumped 37’ 7 ¾” on Saturday and placed second. Adrianna Sims and Jessica Deterding placed seventh and eighth, respectively. Also in the jumps, Ben Pratt equaled his personal best ‘B’ standard high jump.
The Bulldogs now prep for their final meet leading up the GPAC championships. They will host the Concordia Invite next Friday (Feb. 8) inside the Fieldhouse. It will mark the third home event of the 2019 indoor season for the Bulldogs.