UPDATE: A decision was made on Wednesday, April 5 to reconfigure the Concordia Invite and make it a one-day meet on Friday, April 5 only. The revised schedule is linked below. The adjustment was made due to the potential for rain and strong winds on Saturday.
SEWARD, Neb. – The first of two home meets this 2024 outdoor season will unfold Friday and Saturday as the Bulldogs host the Concordia Invitational. Eleven institutions are slated to be represented at the two-day meet, which will begin with the hammer and javelin throws on Friday. Head Coach Matt Beisel’s program hosted four meets during this past indoor campaign and is also scheduled to host the Concordia Twilight on May 10.
Concordia Invite
Friday/Saturday (April 5-6) | Bulldog Stadium/Throws Fields
--Meet Schedule (PDF) | Live Results
Competing Institutions
Bellevue University
Chadron State College
College of Saint Mary
Concordia University, Nebraska
Doane University
Hastings College
Midland University
Nebraska Wesleyan University
University of Nebraska-Kearney
Wayne State College
York University
So far this outdoor season, Concordia has competed at the Bethel Invitational (throwers only) on March 23 and the Central College Dutch Invite on March 28. Through those two meets, Bulldog athletes have combined for nine automatic national qualifying standards (full list below) and two ‘B’ standards. In addition, two school records were broken or equaled last week as Kylahn Freiberg set a new standard in the 3,000 meters (9:54.40) and Zoey Walker tied the high jump record of 5’ 6” set back in 1986. Walker currently sits in a tie for No. 1 nationally in the high jump. Five of the nine ‘A’ standards have come in the throws.
Automatic National Qualifiers (9)
· 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)
· Darien Semedo – Shot Put (52’ 5 ½”)
· Zoey Walker – High Jump (5’ 6”)
· Chris Wren – Hammer Throw (189’)
· Zach Zohner – Pole Vault (16’ ¾”)
The USTFCCCA released initial NAIA outdoor national rankings last week. The Concordia men landed at No. 10 while the women went unranked. The women are likely to move up as the outdoor season continues and more data accumulates. Both Bulldog squads placed in the top 10 at this past NAIA indoor national meet as the women took third and the men placed eighth.
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).
Next up following the Concordia Invite will be the South Dakota Track & Field Challenge in Vermillion, S.D., on April 13. View the complete schedule HERE.