SEWARD, Neb. – Members of the Concordia University Track & Field program are eager to get back to action after inclement wintry weather canceled their scheduled participation in meets held the weekend of Jan. 12-13. The Bulldogs will host the Concordia Polar Dog Invite inside the Walz Fieldhouse on Friday in what will be their first action since the Bulldog Early Bird Meet in December. Head Coach Matt Beisel and his staff will welcome athletes from 11 institutions to Seward for the Polar Dog.
Concordia Polar Dog Invite
Friday (Jan. 19) | Walz Fieldhouse
--Meet Schedule (PDF) | Live Results
--Live Streams:
· Running Events (and Friday Women’s Pentathlon): https://www.youtube.com/c/BulldogTrackandField
· Men’s & Women’s High Jump (Men’s Heptathlon): 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
Briar Cliff University
Central Methodist University
College of Saint Mary
Concordia University
Doane University
Friends University (racewalk only)
Hastings College
Morningside University
Northwestern College
Wayne State College
York University
Concordia will be looking to build upon a stellar start to the 2023-24 indoor season. Back at the Early Bird (Dec. 8-9), Bulldog athletes combined for 18 automatic national qualifying standards, six NAIA ‘B’ standards and 16 event championships. Most notably, sophomores Hayley Miles and Adrianna Rodencal both broke school records. Miles surpassed the previous long jump standard of 19’ ¼” by Carol Bailey (1989) with a mark of 19’ 4 ¼” at the Early Bird. That measurement currently tops the NAIA. As for the Lincoln Lutheran alum Rodencal, she bested her own record in the 60 hurdles by running times of 8.65 in the prelims and 8.57 in the finals. Other Concordia athletes with national best marks are Rylee Haecker (2:59.05 in the 1,000 meters) and Zach Zohner (16’ 7 ¼” in the pole vault). It was also a fine start for junior Jenna Esch, who turned in automatic times in the 400 meters, 600 meters and as part of the 4x400 meter relay. The 18 NAIA auto marks as a team are a big improvement from the 2022 Early Bird meet when Concordia posted four ‘A’ standards.
Automatic National Qualifiers
· Women’s 4x400m Relay (3:57.82) – Esch, Kirchner, Tuls, Koepke
· Amira Cummings – Pole Vault (11’ 8 ½”)
· Jenna Esch – 400 Meters (57.64); 600 Meters (1:36.35)
· Abigail Gerber – Weight Throw (53’ 10 ½”); Shot Put (45’ 9”)
· Rylee Haecker – 1,000 Meters (3:01.00)
· Jordan Koepke – 600 Meters (1:36.73)
· 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 (16’ 7 ¼”)
The all-time Concordia Track & Field performance lists are updated periodically and are available to the public HERE. Current Bulldogs other than Miles and Rodencal who own school indoor records are Josie Puelz (pole vault) and Amy Richert (pentathlon). A Lincoln Lutheran alum like Rodencal, Puelz will be looking to add to her five career NAIA pole vault national titles. Puelz has already qualified for nationals along with pole vault teammates Amira Cummings and Sydney Reichert.
The Bulldogs are also prepared to host the Concordia Classic the weekend of Jan. 26-27. The final home meet of the 2023-24 indoor season is slated to be the Concordia Invite on Feb. 9.