SEWARD, Neb. – Concordia University track and field standouts Zach Lurz and Kim Wood continue to be showered in prestigious awards. On Thursday the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) named Lurz its Midwest Regional Men’s Field Athlete of the Year and Wood the Midwest Women’s Track Athlete of the Year. Each of the five regions honored both genders’ top track athletes and field athletes, and the top men’s and women’s head coaches and assistant coaches.
It’s been a historical week for Wood, who is fresh off four conference titles and three meet records at last week’s GPAC indoor championship meet. The native of Greeley, Neb., totaled 41 points and garnered GPAC Female Indoor Track and Field Athlete of the Year and GPAC Female Outstanding Performance of the Meet honors for her unprecedented quadruple win on the track. The on Wednesday she was also named the NAIA National Track Athlete of the Year for the second time this season. Wood currently owns four times that rank inside the top four on the NAIA national list.
Lurz, named NAIA most valuable performer in leading the Bulldog men to an outdoor national team national championship in 2015, claimed the GPAC title last week in the shot put with his meet record toss of 59’ 3 ½”. He also placed runner up in the weight throw with a personal best toss of 63’ 4 ¾.” Lurz currently ranks No. 1 nationally in the shot put and second in the weight throw. He’s the defending indoor national champion in the shot put. Lurz is a four-time GPAC champion in the shot put. He was named the NAIA’s indoor field athlete of the week on Jan. 27.
Lurz, Wood and the rest of head coach Kregg Einspahr’s Bulldog national qualifiers will head to the national championships in Johnson City, Tenn., next week. The annual event will take place March 3-5 at David E. Walker Track at Gentry Field.