NAIA Championships Live Results | Concordia T&F YouTube
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Following a unique journey to the southeast, Concordia University, Nebraska Track & Field opened the 2025 NAIA Indoor Track & Field National Championships on Thursday (Feb. 27) by showcasing a total of 11 athletes. In action at Alachua County Sports & Events Center at Celebration Pointe in Gainesville, Fla., Jonny ‘The Jet’ Jurchen sped to a finals qualifying time in the race walk, marking the first event of the meet for the Bulldogs. Concordia was also represented on Thursday by two relays and Jaxon Lipker in the high jump.
In his first experience at a national meet, Jurchen placed sixth in heat two while crossing the finish line in 14:44.13 for 12th place overall in the prelims of the 3,000-meter race walk. A fine freshman indoor season for the Seward High School product has included a GPAC title and a spot near the top of the program record books. Teammate Luke Hammang (DQ) also qualified for nationals in the race walk. Jurchen will be back on the track on Friday.
Meanwhile, the Bulldog men’s distance medley relay put forth a season best performance. The crew featured sophomore Trey Robertson in the 1,200 meters, junior Liam Fagan in the 400 meters, sophomore Justin Sherman in the 800 meters and freshman Vaughn Hendrickson in the 1,600 meters. The first three all ran personal best splits with Hendrickson just off a PR while battling through sickness. The team time came in at 10:06.53, placing Concordia in 13th out of 28 relays in the national field. That time is fifth fastest in program history.
On the women’s side, Concordia’s GPAC championship 4x400-meter relay took the track late in the afternoon on Thursday. Despite a solid time of 3:52.63, the Bulldogs fell short (11th place) of qualifying for the finals. The 4x4 was made up of Adrianna Rodencal, Trinity Tuls, Isabelle Salters and Kayla Kirchner. Collectively, they placed second in their heat.
As Concordia’s lone field event athlete in action on Friday, Lipker (Albion, Neb.) made his first national appearance. Lipker cleared the opening height of 6’ 6” in the high jump and placed 10th. Lipker qualified for nationals with his personal best of 6’ 7 ¾” achieved at the Beile Classic.
Concordia will continue action from Gainesville on Friday. First up will be Jurchen in the finals of the race walk. In addition, the Bulldogs will be well represented in the weight throw with a combined six qualifiers between men and women. Early in the afternoon, the GPAC Athlete of the Year Rodencal will take on the 60 hurdles.
Concordia Friday (Feb. 28) Nationals Schedule:
Times are EST to reflect local time in Gainesville.
· 11:15 a.m. – Men’s 3,000m Race Walk Finals: Jonny Jurchen
· 12 p.m. – Women’s Weight Throw: Abby Gerber, Brittni Kinne and Abi Wohlgemuth
· 12:30 p.m. – Women’s 60 Hurdles Prelims: Adrianna Rodencal
· 12:50 p.m. – Men’s 60 Hurdles Prelims: Easton Fries
· 1:05 p.m. – Women’s 400 Meter Prelims: Emily Loseke
· 3 p.m. – Men’s Weight Throw: Connor Asche, Carson Fehlhafer and Austen Rozelle
· 4 p.m. – Women’s High Jump: Addie Reimer and Amanda Steinke