CRETE, Neb. – In the final full-scale road meet of the 2022-23 indoor season, Concordia University Track & Field padded its list of national qualifying marks. The specific yields from Saturday (Jan. 28)’s Fred Beile Classic hosted by Doane included four fresh automatic marks, seven new ‘B’ standards and 14 event championships. The new automatic qualifiers were delivered by Rachel Battershell, Zach Bennetts, Calvin Rohde and Zach Zohner.
Through four weekends of indoor competition, Head Coach Matt Beisel’s squads have combined for 16 automatic national qualifying standards. Beisel and company believe there are more to come over the next few weeks.
“At the Polar Dog (last week) we saw a large percentage of the team earn personal bests,” Beisel said. “I was surprised to see us have almost as much success as we did the week before. We had tons of event winners, which builds confidence. Overall I’m very pleased.”
Pole vault coach Jason Berry is working on building up a small army of qualifiers in his event grouping. On the men’s side of things, three Bulldogs got over 15 feet at the Beile Classic, including the aforementioned new automatic qualifiers in Bennetts (15’ 11”) and Zohner (15’ 7”). Bennetts and Zohner placed 1-2 in the meet with teammates Chase Berry (15’ 3”) and Mayson Ostermeyer (14’ 11”) coming in third and fourth place, respectively. On the women’s side, Josie Puelz (12’ 4 ½”) and Erin Mapson (12’ ½”) were the top two place finishers while Amira Cummings (11’ 2 ½”) cleared the ‘B’ standard for the first time this season.
The Reed City, Mich., native Rohde is enjoying a tremendous indoor season. He won the mile race on Saturday while clocking a time of 4:16.10 (converted to 4:12.88 on the national list). He’s now qualified for nationals in the 1,000 meters, the mile and as part of the distance medley relay. Rohde even doubled up with the 3,000 meters at the Beile Classic and wound up placing third in a time of 8:54.28.
In the 60 meter hurdles, the 10-time All-American Battershell has qualified for nationals thanks to her running a Beile Classic winning time of 8.94. She edged out freshman teammate Adrianna Rodencal (8.96), also a qualifier in the event. The Lincoln Lutheran alum Rodencal also ran the 60 meters in 8.01, good for third place.
Additional winners on the track at Doane were Hannah Beintema (1,000 meters), Lauren Dawson (5,000 meters), Jenna Esch (400 and 800 meters), Kylahn Freiberg (3,000 meters), Rylee Haecker (mile) and Micah Willweber (1,000 meters). In those performances, Esch, Haecker and Freiberg all ran ‘B’ standard times as they gave chase of auto qualifying times. The six-time All-American Haecker just missed the ‘A’ standard in the mile while clocking in at 5:09.13. She was followed in that race by Rhaya Kaschinske, who ran a personal best of 5:28.07.
In highlighting the jumps crew, Wyatt Loga (6’ 7”) and Amy Richert (5’ 4 ½”) turned in new ‘B’ standards. Richert held off teammate Hannah Newton (5’ 4 ½”) to win the women’s high jump competition at the Beile Classic. Meanwhile, Joel Rathe placed first in the men’s long jump by landing at 22’ 8.” Standout freshman Josi Noble took first in the women’s triple jump with a mark of 35’ 4.”
In the throws, the consistently excellent Chris Wren again whirled past the ‘A’ standard in the weight throw and placed second at the Beile Classic with a toss of 61’ 5 ¾.” Josiah Edwards placed sixth in the same event with his new ‘B’ standard and personal best of 54 feet. Just off the ‘A’ standard in the shot put last week, Darien Semedo paced the Concordia men’s shot put crew with a mark of 49 8 ½” (fourth place). On the women’s side, Maddie Robinson topped all Bulldogs with throws of 50’ 10 ¼” (fourth) in the weight throw and 44 feet in the shot put. Kamryn Pokorney was the next best Concordia competitor in both events.
The Bulldogs did not run any relays this weekend and held back select athletes in hopes of keeping them fresh for the most significant portion of the season. Concordia entered the weekend with NAIA national rankings of No. 2 on the women’s side and No. 5 on the men’s side, according to the ratings calculated by the USTFCCCA.
Automatic National Qualifying Standards Achieved
· *Rachel Battershell – 60 Hurdles (8.94)
· *Zach Bennetts – Pole Vault (15’ 11”)
· Erin Mapson – Pole Vault (12’ ½”)
· Josie Puelz – Pole Vault (12’ 4 ½”)
· Adrianna Rodencal – 60 Hurdles (8.96)
· *Calvin Rohde – Mile (4:16.10)
· Chris Wren – Weight Throw (61’ 5 ¾”)
· *Zach Zohner – Pole Vault (15’ 7”)
Fred Beile Classic Event Championships
· Rachel Battershell – 60 Hurdles (8.94)
· Hannah Beintema – 1,000 Meters (3:12.99)
· Zach Bennetts – Pole Vault (15’ 11”)
· Lauren Dawson – 5,000 Meters (22:57.94)
· Jenna Esch – 400 Meters (59.39); 800 Meters (2:24.40)
· Kylahn Freiberg – 3,000 Meters (10:29.80)
· Rylee Haecker – Mile (5:09.13)
· Josi Noble – Triple Jump (35’ 4”)
· Josie Puelz – Pole Vault (12’ 4 ½”)
· Joel Rathe – Long Jump (22’ 8”)
· Amy Richert – High Jump (5’ 4 ½”)
· Calvin Rohde – Mile (4:16.10)
· Micah Willweber – 1,000 Meters (2:41.90)
The Bulldogs will be able to get comfortable at home now as they prepare to host the Concordia Classic (Feb. 3), the Concordia Invite (Feb. 10) and the GPAC Indoor Championships (Feb. 17-18). Those meets are part of a 2022-23 indoor slate featuring five total home meets.