SEWARD, Neb. – Two of the biggest standouts from the Concordia University Men’s Track & Field program, Jacob Jennings and Zach Bennetts have collected major awards. On Wednesday (June 22), Jennings (first team) and Bennetts (second team) were recognized as 2021-22 NAIA Academic All-America ® Team Men’s Track & Field / Cross Country Team honorees, as selected by College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Jennings has picked up his second career Academic All-America award while Bennetts is a first-time recipient of the award.
The 2021-22 Academic All-America® Men’s Track & Field/Cross Country Teams, selected by CoSIDA, recognize the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances in athletic competition and in the classroom. The CoSIDA Academic All-America® program separately recognizes honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA.
Jennings, a native of Shawnee, Kan., owns a degree in Business Administration from Concordia and has studied as a graduate student in the MBA program. He was recognized as both a CoSIDA Academic All-District and Second Team Academic All-American in 2021. He’s a three-time All-American as part of the 4x400 meter relay and helped the 4x100 meter relay to a GPAC title in 2021. This past outdoor national meet, Jennings collaborated on a new school record time of 3:12.59 in the 4x4. Jennings’ career accolades include seven all-conference awards, four trips to national meets and status as an NAIA Scholar-Athlete in both basketball and track and field.
Bennetts, who hails from Denton, Neb., garnered Academic All-District and Academic All-America honors for the first time in his career in 2022. The junior Biology and Exercise Science major swept 2022 GPAC indoor/outdoor titles in the pole vault and qualified for nationals for the third time. Bennetts achieved 2021 NAIA indoor All-America status in the pole vault and has claimed four career All-GPAC awards. His all-time personal best clearance in the pole vault is 15’ 11.”