SEWARD, Neb. – Twice already this season speed walker Jonny Jurchen has earned GPAC weekly accolades. Meanwhile, sophomore Adysen McCarter is now a four-time GPAC Athlete of the Week in 2025-26. On Wednesday (April 15), the league office honored Jurchen as GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports Men’s Outdoor Track Athlete of the Week and McCarter as GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports Women’s Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week. Collectively, Concordia University, Nebraska Track & Field Athletes have earned 10 conference athlete of the week awards during the 2025-26 academic year.
This past week, Jurchen twice eclipsed the NAIA automatic national qualifying standard in the 5,000-meter race walk. At the Concordia Invite on April 6, the Seward native clocked in at 22:52.13 and beat out a field of five competitors. Five days later at the Hastings Invite, Jurchen won the race walk with a new personal best of 21:44.43. The two-time All-American Jurchen currently ranks sixth in the NAIA (first in the GPAC) in the event. His outdoor PR places him second on Concordia’s all-time list. Jurchen is majoring in Chemistry.
The Overton, Neb., native McCarter continues to re-break her own triple jump records. At the Concordia Invite, McCarter jumped 39' 6 1/2" in raising the standard once again. That mark places her at No. 1 in the GPAC and at No. 6 in the NAIA. McCarter also ran a personal best of 24.88 in the 200 meters and was part of a 4x100-meter relay that recorded a time of 47.17 (B standard). At the Hastings Invite, McCarter won the triple jump with a mark of 38' 9 3/4." She has qualified for nationals for a fourth time in her career. McCarter is a Pre-Chiropractic major.
The outdoor season will continue this week with the Dutcher Memorial hosted by Doane. Select Bulldogs will also be headed to the Red Raider Open. More details on those meets can be found HERE.
2025-26 GPAC Athletes of the Week
April 15 – Jonny Jurchen (track); Adysen McCarter (field)
April 1 – *Adrianna Rodencal (track)
March 25 – Jonny Jurchen (track)
Feb. 18 – Makenna Starkey (field)
Feb. 11 – Adysen McCarter (field); Adrianna Rodencal (track)
Jan. 28 – Adysen McCarter (field)
Jan. 21 – Adrianna Rodencal (track)
Dec. 17 – Josiah Edwards (field); Adysen McCarter (field)
*NAIA National Athlete of the Week