SEWARD, Neb. – The third full week of the outdoor season will take members of the Concordia University Track & Field program to Vermillion, S.D., home to the University of South Dakota. USD will host the Bulldogs and a strong field of squads at Saturday’s South Dakota Challenge. The venue will be Lillibridge Track Complex on the USD campus. The Coyotes compete as part of NCAA Division I’s The Summit League.
South Dakota Challenge
Saturday (April 13) | Lillibridge Track Complex
--Meet Schedule (PDF) | Live Results
Head Coach Matt Beisel’s program is fresh off hosting its first home meet of the 2024 outdoor season. The highlights from that meet included three new automatic national qualifying standards via the women’s 4x400-meter relay, Adrianna Rodencal (100 hurdles) and Darien Semedo (hammer). There were also a host of new ‘B’ standards courtesy of the women’s 4x100-meter relay, Kylahn Freiberg (1,500 meters), Austen Rozelle (hammer) and Gretchen Stottlemyre (javelin). Concordia athletes combined for 13 event championships while going up against competitors from nine in-state institutions at the Concordia Invite. Rodencal and Chris Wren were recognized as GPAC Athletes of the Week following their performances at the meet. Wren just missed the 200-foot mark while setting a new personal best in the hammer throw.
2024 Automatic National Qualifiers (12)
· Women’s 4x400m Relay (3:53.96)
· Matthew Boyer – Javelin (196’ 10”)
· Jenna Esch – 400 Meters (56.66)
· Carson Fehlhafer – Shot Put (53’ 3 ¾”)
· Abby Gerber – Shot Put (46’ 9 ½”)
· Jordan Koepke – 400 Hurdles (1:01.93)
· Adrianna Rodencal – 100 Hurdles (13.84)
· Darien Semedo – Shot Put (52’ 5 ½”); Hammer Throw (180’ 4”)
· Zoey Walker – High Jump (5’ 6”)
· Chris Wren – Hammer Throw (198’ 6”)
· Zach Zohner – Pole Vault (16’ 4 ¾”)
In the USTFCCCA NAIA National Rating Index released on Wednesday (April 10), the Bulldogs landed at No. 11 on the women’s side and at No. 12 on the men’s side. The team ratings are based upon the current NAIA national performance lists. Concordia is the highest rated GPAC squad for both men and women.
The all-time Concordia Track & Field performance lists are updated periodically and are available to the public HERE. Current Bulldogs who own individual school outdoor records are Lauren Dawson (5,000-meter racewalk), Kylahn Freiberg (3,000 meters), Rylee Haecker (1,500 meters) Jordan Koepke (400 hurdles), Josie Puelz (pole vault), Adrianna Rodencal (100 hurdles) and Zoey Walker (high jump). In addition, the following Concordia athletes have been part of school record relays: Kayla Kirchner (4x1; 4x2), Jordan Koepke (4x4), Emily Loseke (4x2), Kellie Rhodes (4x1) and Rodencal (4x1; 4x2).
The Bulldogs will be closer to home next week for the Jim Dutcher Memorial Classic slated for April 18-20 at Doane. By the end of that meet, the GPAC Championships (May 3-4) will be less than two weeks away.