SEWARD, Neb. – There were no blizzards to worry about on Saturday (April 27), but Concordia University track and field athletes did have to bust through strong wind gusts on a chilly day at the Blizzard Buster meet hosted by the Bulldogs. Due to the cold, some athletes in running events were pulled from the field. However, Concordia senior Leah Larson managed a new personal best and automatic national qualifying mark in the triple jump as one of the day’s highlights.
Opposing competitors included athletes from Dakota Wesleyan, Doane, Hastings and NCAA Division II Wayne State College at the Blizzard Buster. Head coach Matt Beisel had certainly hoped for more favorable weather conditions, but there’s still an overall positive feeling within the Bulldog programs. Concordia entered the meet with NAIA national rankings of second on the women’s side and 14th on the men’s side.
An indoor All-American and school record holder in the indoor triple jump, Larson had been coming up just shy of the ‘A’ standard throughout this outdoor season. She broke through with a PR of 38’ 3 ½” on Saturday that will send her to Alabama for the second year in a row. In the long jump, junior Jessica Deterding just missed an automatic mark by landing in at 18’ 9.” That mark puts her No. 10 on the NAIA national list. Deterding also achieved a season best of 36’ 1 ½” in the triple.
A couple of throwers improved existing ‘A’ or ‘B’ standards at the Blizzard Buster. In the discus, Carley Weisser threw 150’ 3” (No. 5 nationally) and Samantha Liermann increased her ‘B’ mark to 141’ 9.” Concordia throwers have combined for 11 automatic national qualifying marks so far this season. The 2018 NAIA discus national champion, Addie Shaw again eclipsed the ‘A’ standard in the discus.
Some other significant happenings at the Blizzard Buster were a little bit more under the radar. The meet was the first chance for some Bulldogs to put times/marks on the board that would ensure a spot at next week’s conference championships. For instance, freshmen Rachel Battershell (26.36 in the 200 meters) and Jacee Pfeifer (10’ in the pole vault) were able to do enough to give them a shot in the conference meet. Both standouts have battled through injuries this spring.
On the men’s side of the pole vault, Sam Sisco again cleared the ‘B’ standard of 15’ 3.” He beat out a large group of teammates in the competition. Gavin DeHaai eclipsed 14’ 9.” Cody Williams did not compete in the pole vault, but he did post marks of 22’ 11 ¾” in the long jump (personal best and No. 2 in the GPAC) and 6’ 5 ½” in the high jump.
One other performance of particular note was a 15.24 run by freshman Sarah Lewis in the 100 meter hurdles. She is currently sitting sixth in the GPAC with that time.
The Blizzard Buster was the culmination of a week that also saw Bulldogs compete at the Prairie Wolf Outdoor Invitational (April 25) and at the prestigious Drake Relays (April 26). At the Drake Relays, Concordia clocked a new automatic national qualifying time in the women’s 4x400 meter relay. Meanwhile, Weisser earned a fresh ‘A’ standard in the hammer throw at the Prairie Wolf Invite.
Next up are the 2019 GPAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships. The meet will be hosted by Mount Marty in Yankton, S.D., next Friday and Saturday (May 3-4). More details about the conference meet can be found HERE.