USTFCCCA Rankings: Men | Women
SEWARD, Neb. – In the initial 2021 NAIA indoor national rankings tabulated by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA), the Concordia University Track & Field men’s and women’s teams appeared amongst the top five of the NAIA. The Bulldog women landed at No. 2 while the men checked in at No. 4. The ratings are calculated based on the current NAIA national performance lists.
Head Coach Matt Beisel’s squads have combined for 36 marks that rank inside the top 10 of the NAIA performance lists. Those marks have been achieved over the course of the first three indoor meets of the 2020-21 season. Earlier on Wednesday (Jan. 27), sophomore Josie Puelz was named the GPAC Field Athlete of the Week. The text below came directly from the USTFCCCA release.
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Women: Concordia will start the season at No. 2 for the third straight year. The Bulldogs have compiled 23 top-10 nationally ranked marks, including the No. 1 mark in the pole vault by Josie Puelz (3.85/12-7½). The Bulldogs also boast multiple athletes ranked in the top-10 in the 400, 600, pole vault, long jump, shot put, weight throw and pentathlon.
Men: Concordia is the fourth-ranked team to begin the 2021 season with 12 marks that sit within the top-10 nationally. Cody Williams leads the Bulldogs with a No. 1 ranking in the heptathlon (5030) and the 4×400 has the second fastest time this season (3:19.01c). The Bulldogs also have four athletes ranked in the top-8 in the pole vault, including the aforementioned Williams.
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Concordia finished the 2020 indoor season with GPAC place finishes of first on the women’s side and third on the men’s side. The Bulldogs went on to earn NAIA national placements of fourth for the women and 17th for the men. Rachel Battershell won the national title in the 400 meters while Jacob Cornelio did the same in the weight throw.
The season will resume this Friday and Saturday with the Fred Beile Classic hosted by Doane. The Bulldogs will also host two additional meets prior to the GPAC Championships later in February.