SEWARD, Neb. – Concordia University Track & Field is back in the swing of things with the second semester underway on campus. The Bulldogs are preparing to host the Concordia Polar Dog Invite inside the Fieldhouse on Saturday when athletes from nine institutions will be in action. Head Coach Matt Beisel’s squads resumed the 2022-23 indoor season last week with representation at the Graduate Classic hosted by the University of Nebraska and the Scott Nisely Memorial Classic hosted by Doane. The Polar Dog will mark the second of five home meets this indoor campaign for Concordia.
Meet Info
Concordia Polar Dog Invite
Saturday, Jan. 21 | Walz Fieldhouse
--Meet Schedule (PDF) | Live Results (field events will update mark-by-mark)
--Live Streams:
· Running Events: https://www.youtube.com/c/BulldogTrackandField
· Men’s & Women’s High Jump: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCnWh95Lz6dW3OUosomZyoA
· Women’s Jumps (north runway): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChWMXJ0G97vIWXuBqGS3Iww
· Men’s & Women’s Throwing Events: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqn-dBHnX9YmlOunOX9cweA
· Men’s & Women’s Pole Vault: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIerIQe-tQv53fnpGwp_wTQ
· Men’s Jumps (infield jumping events): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIerIQe-tQv53fnpGwp_wTQ
Competing Institutions
Concordia University Nebraska
College of Saint Mary
Concordia University Irvine
Doane University
Friends University
Hastings College
Kansas Wesleyan University
Wayne State College
York College
Through two weekends of indoor competition, Bulldog athletes have combined for eight automatic national qualifying standards and 11 ‘B’ standards. Fresh auto marks were delivered last week by two Concordia women’s relays, the distance medley relay and the 4x400 meter relay. Other ‘A’ standards this season have come from Chase Berry (pole vault), Josie Puelz (pole vault), Amy Richert (pentathlon), Maddie Robinson (shot put), Adrianna Rodencal (60 hurdles) and Chris Wren (weight throw). The Lincoln Lutheran High School alum Rodencal was named Concordia’s Bulldog Athletic Association Member (BAAM) Athlete of the Month for December after she won three events at the Bulldog Early Bird meet.
On day two of the Graduate Classic, the women’s DMR won the race while clocking in at 12:20.68. The group included Rylee Haecker, Kayla Kirchner, Rhaya Kaschinske and Kylahn Freiberg. That crew became the first DMR in the entire NAIA to post an ‘A’ standard this indoor season. Meanwhile, the 4x4 placed seventh (out of 16) with a time of 3:55.92. The 4x4 was made up of Jenna Esch, Jordan Koepke, Trinity Tuls and Rachel Battershell. On the program’s all-time lists, the DMR time ranks seventh and the 4x4 time ranks 11th.
The Polar Dog Invite field features seven NAIA institutions and two schools affiliated with NCAA Division II. Once again, Concordia University Irvine will be present. The Eagles are led by CUNE alum Keegan Bloomfield. GPAC competition will include College of Saint Mary, Doane and Hastings. Among current Bulldogs, Rachel Battershell (3:58.20 as part of 4x4), Kylahn Freiberg (9:44.40 as part of 4x8), Rylee Haecker (9:44.40 as part of 4x8), Josie Puelz (12’ 7 ½”) and Calvin Rohde (4:18.43 in the mile) each hold Polar Dog Invite meet records. The inaugural Polar Dog was held in 2012.
Concordia will be right back at Doane next Saturday (Jan. 28) for the Fred Beile Classic. Remaining home meets on the 2022-23 indoor schedule include the Concordia Classic (Feb. 3), the Concordia Invite (Feb. 10) and the GPAC Championships (Feb. 17-18).