SEWARD, Neb. – For the first time this 2023-24 indoor season, Concordia University Track & Field will compete at a venue other than its home Walz Fieldhouse. The program will be represented this weekend at the Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational (Feb. 2-3) and the Fred Beile Classic (Feb. 3) hosted by Doane. More specific information on those meets can be found below. Head Coach Matt Beisel’s squads have navigated three weekends of action so far this indoor season.
Meet Info – weekend of Feb. 2-3
Sevigne Husker Invite – Feb. 2-3
Devaney Center Indoor Track | Lincoln, Neb.
--Meet Schedule
--Live Coverage: Results | Video
Fred Beile Classic – Feb. 3
Fuhrer Field House | Crete, Neb.
--Meet Schedule
--Live Coverage: Results
The Bulldogs continue to rank highly in the computer ratings calculated by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). In the ratings released on Wednesday (Jan. 31), the Bulldogs checked in with NAIA national ratings of No. 2 on the women’s side and No. 10 on the men’s side. The ratings are based on the individual national performance lists. Through three meets, Concordia athletes have combined for 21 automatic national qualifying standards (full list below). The newest ‘A’ standard came at last week’s Concordia Classic via the women’s distance medley relay that was made up of Rylee Haecker, Isabelle Salters, Jenna Esch and Julie McIntyre. The group’s converted time of 12:11.86 ranks No. 3 in the NAIA. Haecker also moved up to No. 2 nationally in the 1,000 meters (2:54.91) while Esch climbed to No. 6 in the NAIA in the 600 meters (1:34.84).
It should be noted that the list below does not include the multi events. The Concordia women currently boast four athletes who rank among the top 16 nationally in the pentathlon: No. 9 Josi Noble, No. 10 Zoey Walker, No. 14 Amanda Steinke and No. 16 Faith Espinosa.
Automatic National Qualifiers (21)
· Women’s 4x400m Relay (3:54.71) – Esch, Kirchner, Tuls, Koepke
· Women’s 4x800m Relay (9:08.93) – Esch, Freiberg, McIntyre, Haecker
· Women’s Distance Medley Relay (12:11.86) – Haecker, Salters, Esch, McIntyre
· Amira Cummings – Pole Vault (11’ 8 ½”)
· Jenna Esch – 400 Meters (56.89); 600 Meters (1:34.84)
· Kylahn Freiberg – 5,000 Meters (17:40.14)
· Abigail Gerber – Weight Throw (53’ 10 ½”); Shot Put (45’ 9”)
· Rylee Haecker – 1,000 Meters (2:54.91)
· Jordan Koepke – 600 Meters (1:35.56)
· Hayley Miles – Long Jump (19’ 4 ¼”)
· Kamryn Pokorney – Weight Throw (53’ 7 ¾”)
· Josie Puelz – Pole Vault (11’ 8 ½”)
· Joel Rathe – Long Jump (23’ 6 ¾”)
· Sydney Reichert – Pole Vault (11’ 8 ½”)
· Adrianna Rodencal – 60 Hurdles (8.57)
· Chris Wren – Weight throw (64’ 5”)
· Zoey Walker – High Jump (5’ 6”)
· Abi Wohlgemuth – Weight Throw (58’ 10 ¼”)
· Zach Zohner – Pole Vault (17’ ¾”)
In another major highlight of the Concordia Classic, Zach Zohner cleared 17 feet (17’ ¾”) in the pole vault and moved back to No. 1 on the NAIA national list. As a result, Zohner was named the NAIA Men’s National Athlete of the Week by the USTFCCCA and the GPAC Men’s Field Athlete of the Week. Bulldogs who rank in the top three nationally are listed below.
Top three of NAIA
· No. 1 – Women’s 4x800m relay
· No. 1 – Zach Zohner (Pole Vault)
· No. 2 – Rylee Haecker (1,000 meters)
· No. 3 – Women’s Distance Medley Relay
· No. 3 – Abi Wohlgemuth (Weight Throw)
· No. 3 – Chris Wren (Weight Throw)
In addition to the overall team national rankings, the USTFCCCA also calculates event squad rankings. According to those rankings, Concordia owns the NAIA’s best event groups in the women’s weight throw, women’s pentathlon and men’s pole vault. In addition, the Bulldogs land at No. 2 nationally in the women’s pole vault and men’s weight throw. The event squad rankings can be found HERE.
The all-time Concordia Track & Field performance lists are updated periodically and are available to the public HERE. Current Bulldogs who own school indoor records are Hayley Miles (long jump), Josie Puelz (pole vault), Amy Richert (pentathlon) and Adrianna Rodencal (60 hurdles).
The home meets this season have included the Bulldog Early Bird (Dec. 8-9), the Polar Dog Invite (Jan. 19) and the Concordia Classic (Jan. 26-27). One additional home meet is coming up: the Concordia Indoor Invite on Feb. 9. The tentative meet schedule for the Concordia Invite can be found HERE.