SEWARD, Neb. – A total of five nationally-ranked men’s squads and three top-25 women’s teams will be in action inside the Fieldhouse on Sunday when the annual Concordia Indoor Classic plays out. It will be the first official home meet of the 2017 indoor season for first-year head coach Matt Beisel’s program. Concordia has competed at the Scott Nisely Memorial Classic (hosted by Doane) and the Prairie Wolf Invitational (hosted by Nebraska Wesleyan) so far in 2017.
Sunday’s meet will be carried live on the Concordia Sports Network. Select events will be shown. The meet event schedule can be viewed HERE.
Both Bulldog teams appeared in the first NAIA national rankings of the season, which were released on Wednesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. The Concordia men, led by national weight throw leader Cody Boellstorff, appeared at No. 4 in the ratings. Meanwhile, the women checked in at No. 12. Both programs garnered top-five USTFCCCA national ratings throughout the entire 2016 indoor season.
Not only does the defending weight throw national champion Boellstorff own a No. 1 NAIA ranking, the Bulldogs hold down eight additional spots among the top five in specific event categories: Kali Robb (second in the shot put), Lucas Wiechman (second in the 60 meter hurdles and third in the pole vault), third in the men’s 4x400 meter relay, Zach Lurz (third in the shot put and fifth in the weight throw), CJ Muller (fourth in the 600 meters) and Allie Brooks (fifth in the pole vault). Lurz is the defending national champ in both the indoor and outdoor shot put.
The Concordia Classic will welcome other NAIA top-ranked athletes such as Doane’s Dakarai Hightower (high jump), Kylie Gokie (pentathlon), Andrew Klein (pole vault) and De’Andre Miller (triple jump) and Hastings’ Kelbie Lyon (shot put) and Sara Olsen (weight throw). The field of teams includes four GPAC schools and former conference member Nebraska Wesleyan.
The Bulldogs return to action again next weekend at the Fred Beile Invitational hosted by Doane on Saturday (Feb. 4). Some members of the Concordia program will also be at the Sevigne Husker Invite at the Devaney Center in Lincoln on Friday (Feb. 3).
Concordia competitors with No. 1 GPAC rankings
Men’s 4x400 meter relay
Men’s 4x800 meter relay
Cody Boellstorff – weight throw
Allie Brooks – pole vault
Scott Johnson – long jump
CJ Muller – 600 meters
Lucas Wiechman – 60 meter hurdles
Concordia Classic field
Concordia University | National ranks: M – 4; W – 12
Creighton University
Doane Univeristy | National ranks: M – 3; W – 3
Hastings College | National ranks: M – 22; W – 4
Midland University | National ranks: M – 11
Nebraska Wesleyan University
University of Nebraska-Kearney
Northwest Missouri State University
University of Saint Mary (Kan.)
Tabor College (Kan.)
Wayne State College
York College | National ranks: M – 21