SEWARD, Neb. – Courtesy of their performances at last week’s GPAC Indoor Track & Field Championships, 51 members of the Concordia University Track & Field program have collected all-conference honors. In addition, Matt Beisel has been named the GPAC Women’s Coach of the Year after guiding the women’s team to a fourth-straight conference title.
In addition, junior Rachel Battershell was honored with the GPAC Women’s Track Performance of the Meet for clocking in at 56.67 in a winning effort in the 400 meters. It marked her third career GPAC title in the 400. The top eight individuals and top three relays in each event are considered All-GPAC honorees. The GPAC announced major awards for the 2021 indoor season on Friday (Feb. 26).
Currently in his fifth season leading the cross country and track programs, Beisel has been chosen as a GPAC Coach of the Year five times. In addition to the four GPAC women’s track and field titles, Beisel oversaw the 2019 GPAC women’s cross country conference championship. The Concordia alum is also a three-time NAIA Midwest Region Women’s Track & Field Coach of the Year (as awarded by the USTFCCCA).
Below is a list of each of the all-conference individuals for the Bulldogs. The group includes GPAC champions in Battershell (400 meters), Morgan De Jong (weight throw), Kylahn Heritage (1,000 meters) and Cody Williams (heptathlon). In terms of team point scoring, Cora Olson led the way with 24 points via her four top-five event finishes (second in both the 55 meters and long jump). Fifteen Concordia athletes earned All-GPAC recognition in multiple events.
The 2021 indoor season will culminate next week (March 3-6) with the NAIA Indoor Track & Field National Championships in Yankton, S.D. The list of Bulldog national qualifiers can be viewed HERE.
2021 GPAC Indoor All-Conference Performers
MEN
· Andy Amos – shot put (6th); weight throw (7th)
· Zach Bennetts – pole vault (3rd)
· Chase Berry – pole vault (4th)
· Jayson Frank – high jump (7th)
· Cameron Gray - 4x800m relay (2nd)
· Jacob Jennings – 400 meters (4th)
· Cade Kleckner – 200 meters (6th)
· Wyatt Loga – high jump (3rd)
· Cade Lutz – triple jump (8th)
· Nick Price – 4x800m relay (2nd)
· Jeremiah Reeser – heptathlon (6th)
· Calvin Rohde – 4x800m relay (2nd)
· Camden Sesna – 4x800m relay (2nd); mile (7th)
· Christian Van Cleave – 600 meters (7th)
· Cody Williams – heptathlon (1st)
· Chris Wren – weight throw (3rd)
· Zach Zohner – pole vault (2nd)
WOMEN
· Jordyn Anderson – shot put (5th)
· Rachel Battershell – 400 meters (1st); 55 hurdles (2nd); 4x400m relay (2nd)
· Keri Bauer – 4x400m relay (2nd); 600 meters (3rd)
· Kaylee Boyle – 55 hurdles (7th)
· Jamey Broman – long jump (4th)
· Olivia Buschow – weight throw (7th)
· Sydney Clark – 5,000 meters (3rd)
· Lydia Cook – 3,000 meters (8th); 5,000 meters (8th)
· Amira Cummings – pole vault (5th)
· Morgan De Jong – weight throw (1st)
· Gabby Diamond – long jump (6th)
· Alyssa Fye – 4x800m relay (3rd); 1,000 meters (8th)
· Abby Gerber – shot put (6th)
· Rylee Haecker – 1,000 meters (3rd); mile (6th)
· Kylahn Heritage – 1,000 meters (1st); mile (2nd)
· Jordan Hilyard – 4x800m relay (3rd)
· Sarah Lewis – 4x400m relay (2nd); 400 meters (3rd); 55 hurdles (4th)
· Emily Loy – pentathlon (3rd); 55 hurdles (8th)
· Elle Luehr – shot put (2nd)
· Erin Mapson – pole vault (7th)
· Amie Martin – 5,000 meters (5th)
· Taylor Moes – triple jump (3rd)
· Kennedy Mogul – 4x400m relay (2nd); pentathlon (6th); 600 meters (7th)
· Hannah Mulligan – 200 meters (8th)
· Cora Olson – 55 meters (2nd); long jump (2nd); 200 meters (5th); triple jump (5th)
· Jacee Pfeifer – 600 meters (4th)
· Josie Puelz – pole vault (2nd)
· Sarah Ragland – weight throw (3rd)
· Mollie Rathjen – 4x800m relay (3rd)
· Grace Reiman – 1,000 meters (6th); mile (8th)
· Amy Richert – high jump (4th); pentathlon (4th)
· Katie Severt – long jump (3rd)
· Kailey Weichel – 4x800m relay (3rd); 600 meters (8th)
· Lainey Werts – 600 meters (6th)