CRETE, Neb. – A school record was rewritten and six new automatic national qualifying marks were turned in over a successful weekend for the Concordia University track and field squads. A group of throwers appeared Thursday (April 18) at the University of Kansas Relays while most Bulldog athletes focused on the Jim Dutcher Memorial Classic hosted by Doane on Friday and Saturday (April 19-20).
Head coach Matt Beisel’s squads entered the weekend with NAIA national rankings of second for the women and 29th for the men. Concordia certainly had the look of a national threat over the past few days.
“We got what we needed,” Beisel said. “Coming in I’ve been saying a lot of prayers. We needed a meet that we could really hit hard and make some big gains. We got what we were hoping for in almost every event area. We had a lot of huge personal best that will also help us at conference. Today should move us up in the rankings on the guys’ side and solidify the women. It was beautiful weather and that helped everything click.”
Eustis, Neb., native Jessica Deterding has risen to star status as a junior. She already owned the program indoor record in the pentathlon. By day’s end in Crete, Neb., Deterding pushed her name to the top of the school leaderboard in the heptathlon by accumulating 4,707 points, toppling the previous program standard of 4,671 by Lydia Pomerenke. As part of the heptathlon competition, Deterding narrowly missed a ‘B’ mark in the long jump by landing at 18’ 4 ½.” At the moment, Deterding ranks No. 2 nationally in the heptathlon.
It was a fruitful weekend in the throws with Jazzy Eickhoff (javelin), Liam Hennessy (hammer throw), Johanna Ragland (hammer throw), Bethany Shaw (discus) and Carley Weisser (discus) each turning in fresh ‘A’ standards. In addition, Samantha Liermann won the shot put competition at the Dutcher Memorial with a season best of 48’ 10 ¼” that moved her up to No. 2 on the national list. Also in the shot put, Ragland hit a ‘B’ mark (43’ 9 ¼”). Concordia throwers have combined for 11 automatic national qualifying marks this outdoor season.
One of the NAIA’s top all-around athletes, sophomore Cody Williams is now a national qualifier in the high jump after he cleared 6’ 9 ¾” (second place) at the Dutcher Memorial. The school record is 6’ 10” by David Fiala in 1997. In addition to the breakthrough in the high jump, Williams won the pole vault title on Saturday by again eclipsing 15’ 7” and also equaled his ‘B’ time in the 110 meter hurdles (14.80).
On the women’s side of the pole vault, Erin Mapson was an event champion with a clearance of 12’ 5 ½” (meet record) that now puts her at No. 1 in the NAIA. Mapson moved herself to the top of the heap for a Concordia women’s pole vault crew that has also qualified McKenzie Gravo and Tristen Mosier for nationals. For the men, Sam Sisco put a PR of 15’ 3” (‘B’ mark) on the board.
When the dust settled, the Bulldogs captured 10 event titles at the Dutcher Memorial. Not previously mentioned event winners were the men’s 4x800 meter relay, Rebekah Hinrichs (1,500 meters), Jacy Johnston (steeplechase), Sarah Lewis (400 hurdles), Jordan Lorenz (5,000 meters) and Josiah McAllister (800 meters). The men’s 4x8 achieved a ‘B’ standard that currently sits No. 4 nationally. It was a fine day for Lewis, who ran 1:05.43 in the 400 hurdles and 15.34 in the 100 hurdles (third place).
There were many other noteworthy performances throughout the weekend. Xavier Ross ran a time of 49.25 in the 400 meters (third place), Hannah Mulligan continues to progress in the sprints (ran 12.67 in the 100 and 26.68 in the 200), Cora Olson broke out a PR in the long jump (18’ 1 ¾”) and Kennedy Mogul (4,172 points), Emily Loy (4,100 points) and Claire Cornell (4,048 points) met the minimum national qualifying standard in the heptathlon. In the 1,500 meters, Alyssa Fye was just behind Hinrichs with a personal best of 5:06.27.
A series of meets next week will have Bulldog athletes scattered in different places. Concordia will have entries at the prestigious Drake Relays in Des Moines, Iowa, and will be at Nebraska Wesleyan for an invite on Thursday. Then on Saturday (April 27), the Bulldogs will host the Concordia Blizzard Buster. The meet schedule can be viewed HERE.
Added Beisel, “As head coach, I have been praying daily for our athletes to be healthy and to be able to achieve their goals. God answered with a lot of yeses this weekend.”
CRETE, Neb. – A school record was rewritten and six new automatic national qualifying marks were turned in over a successful weekend for the Concordia University track and field squads. A group of throwers appeared Thursday (April 18) at the University of Kansas Relays while most Bulldog athletes focused on the Jim Dutcher Memorial Classic hosted by Doane on Friday and Saturday (April 19-20).
Head coach Matt Beisel’s squads entered the weekend with NAIA national rankings of second for the women and 29th for the men. Concordia certainly had the look of a national threat over the past few days.
“We got what we needed,” Beisel said. “Coming in I’ve been saying a lot of prayers. We needed a meet that we could really hit hard and make some big gains. We got what we were hoping for in almost every event area. We had a lot of huge personal best that will also help us at conference. Today should move us up in the rankings on the guys’ side and solidify the women. It was beautiful weather and that helped everything click.”
Eustis, Neb., native Jessica Deterding has risen to star status as a junior. She already owned the program indoor record in the pentathlon. By day’s end in Crete, Neb., Deterding pushed her name to the top of the school leaderboard in the heptathlon by accumulating 4,707 points, toppling the previous program standard of 4,671 by Lydia Pomerenke. As part of the heptathlon competition, Deterding narrowly missed a ‘B’ mark in the long jump by landing at 18’ 4 ½.” At the moment, Deterding ranks No. 2 nationally in the heptathlon.
It was a fruitful weekend in the throws with Jazzy Eickhoff (javelin), Liam Hennessy (hammer throw), Johanna Ragland (hammer throw), Bethany Shaw (discus) and Carley Weisser (discus) each turning in fresh ‘A’ standards. In addition, Samantha Liermann won the shot put competition at the Dutcher Memorial with a season best of 48’ 10 ¼” that moved her up to No. 2 on the national list. Also in the shot put, Ragland hit a ‘B’ mark (43’ 9 ¼”). Concordia throwers have combined for 11 automatic national qualifying marks this outdoor season.
One of the NAIA’s top all-around athletes, sophomore Cody Williams is now a national qualifier in the high jump after he cleared 6’ 9 ¾” (second place) at the Dutcher Memorial. The school record is 6’ 10” by David Fiala in 1997. In addition to the breakthrough in the high jump, Williams won the pole vault title on Saturday by again eclipsing 15’ 7” and also equaled his ‘B’ time in the 110 meter hurdles (14.80).
On the women’s side of the pole vault, Erin Mapson was an event champion with a clearance of 12’ 5 ½” (meet record) that now puts her at No. 1 in the NAIA. Mapson moved herself to the top of the heap for a Concordia women’s pole vault crew that has also qualified McKenzie Gravo and Tristen Mosier for nationals. For the men, Sam Sisco put a PR of 15’ 3” (‘B’ mark) on the board.
When the dust settled, the Bulldogs captured 10 event titles at the Dutcher Memorial. Not previously mentioned event winners were the men’s 4x800 meter relay, Rebekah Hinrichs (1,500 meters), Jacy Johnston (steeplechase), Sarah Lewis (400 hurdles), Jordan Lorenz (5,000 meters) and Josiah McAllister (800 meters). The men’s 4x8 achieved a ‘B’ standard that currently sits No. 4 nationally. It was a fine day for Lewis, who ran 1:05.43 in the 400 hurdles and 15.34 in the 100 hurdles (third place).
There were many other noteworthy performances throughout the weekend. Xavier Ross ran a time of 49.25 in the 400 meters (third place), Hannah Mulligan continues to progress in the sprints (ran 12.67 in the 100 and 26.68 in the 200), Cora Olson broke out a PR in the long jump (18’ 1 ¾”) and Kennedy Mogul (4,172 points), Emily Loy (4,100 points) and Claire Cornell (4,048 points) met the minimum national qualifying standard in the heptathlon. In the 1,500 meters, Alyssa Fye was just behind Hinrichs with a personal best of 5:06.27.
A series of meets next week will have Bulldog athletes scattered in different places. Concordia will have entries at the prestigious Drake Relays in Des Moines, Iowa, and will be at Nebraska Wesleyan for an invite on Thursday. Then on Saturday (April 27), the Bulldogs will host the Concordia Blizzard Buster. The meet schedule can be viewed HERE.
Added Beisel, “As head coach, I have been praying daily for our athletes to be healthy and to be able to achieve their goals. God answered with a lot of yeses this weekend.”