SEWARD, Neb. – One meet into the 2023 outdoor season, Rylee Haecker has already picked up an award. On Wednesday (March 28), the conference recognized the Davenport, Neb., native as the GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports Women’s Outdoor Track Athlete of the Week. Counting the indoor season, Concordia University Track & Field athletes have combined for six GPAC Athlete of the Week awards during the 2022-23 academic year.
The seven-time NAIA All-American Haecker emerged as an event champion in two separate races at the Grand View Viking Relays held on March 25. She clocked a time of 4:47.50 in the 1,500 meters and placed first in a field of 20 runners. Haecker also teamed up with a group of Bulldogs on a first-place time of 10:02.47 in the 4x800 meter relay. Haecker ran the leadoff leg and was followed by Rhaya Kaschinske, Hannah Beintema and Keegan Beisel. This past indoor season, Haecker won GPAC titles in the 1,000 meters and the mile and was an All-American in the 1,000 meters.
Haecker and the Bulldogs will resume outdoor action this Saturday at the Central Nebraska Challenge co-hosted by the University of Nebraska-Kearney and Hastings. The first events are slated to get underway at 11 a.m. CT from Kearney High School.
2022-23 GPAC Athletes of the Week
March 29 – Rylee Haecker (Track)
Feb. 15 – Josie Puelz (Field); Adrianna Rodencal (Track)
Feb. 8 – Calvin Rohde (Track)
Feb. 1 – Calvin Rohde (Track)
Dec. 14 – Amy Richert (Field)