Forty Bulldogs officially earn indoor all-conference recognition

By on Feb. 26, 2015 in Track & Field

Forty Bulldogs officially earn indoor all-conference recognition

SEWARD, Neb. – A combined 40 Concordia men’s and women’s track and field athletes were officially recognized on Thursday as all-conference honorees based on their performances at the 2015 GPAC Indoor Track and Field Championships (Feb. 20-21) hosted by the Bulldogs. The GPAC awards all-conference accolades to the top eight finishers in each event (see Concordia list at bottom).

The GPAC runner-up women totaled 21 all-conference athletes and 28 combined all-conference performances. Ten different Bulldogs collected all-GPAC recognition in more than one event. The list includes junior Kim Wood, who won three GPAC titles (600m, 1,000m, 1 mile) and also ran a leg for the all-conference 4x400 meter relay, as well as school record breaking pole vaulter Cassie Starks (12’ 6 ¼”). Sophomore Randi Janzen served both all-conference relays and placed seventh in the 600 meter run.

Ranked fourth nationally, the men placed 19 different athletes in all-conference territory. They combined on 25 all-GPAC performances. Sophomore Zach Lurz led the way for the Bulldogs with his NAIA-leading and school record toss of 58’ 4” in the shot put. Lurz also placed second in the weight throw. Lurz is one of nine Bulldog men to earn conference honors in multiple events.

The women’s 4x800 meter relay of Marti Vlasen, Janzen, Erika Schroeder and Talitha Elbert clocked in at 9:29.84 for a GPAC meet record time. They were four of seven GPAC title winning-individuals for Concordia. Runner-up finishes were delivered by Lurz (weight throw), Cynthia Mick (pole vault), Kali Robb (weight throw), Jose Rojas (shot put), Katelyn Shoup (triple jump) and Lucas Wiechman (pole vault and heptathlon).

Official 2015 NAIA Indoor Track and Field National Championships qualifiers will be announced on Friday. The national championships will take place March 5-7 at the SPIRE Institute in Geneva, Ohio.

MEN (19)

  • Simon Brummond (seventh in pole vault)
  • Matthew Chapa (fifth in 4x400 meter relay; fifth in 4x800 meter relay; sixth in 800 meter run)
  • Brandon Cook (sixth in heptathlon)
  • Trey Farmer (fifth in shot put)
  • Thomas Hinrichs (eighth in 60 meter hurdles)
  • Jacob Kettner (fifth in 4x800 meter relay)
  • Philip Kreutzer (eighth in shot put and weight throw)
  • Zach Lurz (first in shot put; second in weight throw)
  • CJ Muller (fifth in 400 meter dash and 4x400 meter relay)
  • Tai Pleasant (fifth in 4x400 meter relay)
  • Jordan Potrzeba (fifth in 5,000 meter run; sixth in 3,000 meter run)
  • Brandon Ramos (fourth in pole vault and heptathlon)
  • Jose Rojas (second in shot put; fourth in weight throw)
  • Ben Sievert (sixth in 5,000 meter run)
  • Josh Slechta (fifth in weight throw)
  • Zachary Spresser (seventh in triple jump)
  • Jaap van Gaalen (fifth in 4x400 meter relay; fifth in 4x800 meter relay; sixth in 600 meter run)
  • Lucas Wiechman (second in pole vault and heptathlon; sixth in 60 meter hurdles)
  • Patrick Wortmann (fifth in 4x800 meter relay)

WOMEN (21)

  • Kierstyn Besel (eighth in long jump)
  • Anna Beune (eighth in 60 meter dash)
  • Christine Beune (seventh in 60 meter dash)
  • Megan Burma (sixth in 5,000 meter run; eighth in 3,000 meter run)
  • Stephanie Coley (fourth in shot put and weight throw)
  • Talitha Elbert (first in 4x800 meter relay)
  • Paige Getz (third in long jump; sixth in pentathlon)
  • Randi Janzen (first in 4x800 meter relay; third in 4x400 meter relay; seventh in 600 meter run)
  • Liz King (fifth in weight throw)
  • Cynthia Mick (second in pole vault)
  • Nicole Perry (sixth in weight throw)
  • Marielle Plunk (third in 4x400 meter relay; eighth in 400 meter dash)
  • Kali Robb (second in weight throw; third in shot put)
  • Erika Schroeder (first in 4x800 meter relay; eighth in 800 meter run)
  • Jill Schroeder (eighth in triple jump)
  • Karissa Segelke (seventh in pentathlon)
  • Katelyn Shoup (second in triple jump)
  • Emily Sievert (third in 3,000 meter run and 5,000 meter run)
  • Cassie Starks (first in pole vault)
  • Shelby Stolze (sixth in 60 meter hurdles)
  • Marti Vlasin (first in 4x800 meter relay; third in 4x400 meter relay)
  • Kim Wood (first in 600 meter run, 1,000 meter run and one mile; third in 4x400 meter relay)