SEWARD, Neb. – The pieces are coming together at just about the right time for athletes from the nationally ranked Concordia University Track & Field squads. While hosting their final home meet of the 2022 indoor season, the Bulldog men’s and women's teams combined for four fresh automatic national qualifying standards and nine event championships as part of the annual Concordia Indoor Invite. Saturday (Feb. 12)’s meet featured athletes from 13 institutions.
Heading into the conference meet, Head Coach Matt Beisel’s program has totaled 20 ‘A’ standards on the season. The goal is to peak next week. Concordia sports current NAIA national rankings of second on the women’s side and 20th on the men’s side (according to the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association).
“In most of our event areas, we saw some big marks happen and some big improvements,” Beisel said. “This is where we want to be as we head into the GPAC meet. There are always some people who didn’t have their best day, but I think they took it with a good attitude. Everyone had lessons that they learned and now they know what to do differently next time. I think that’s really important going forward.”
A lot was accomplished on the track on Saturday. Rylee Haecker (800 meters), Jordan Koepke (600 meters) and Calvin Rohde (1,000 meters) each hit new NAIA auto times in starring performances. A freshman from Gulf Breeze, Fla., Koepke ran the 600 meters for the first time in her life and won the race with a time of 1:36.02. In that same event, teammates Keri Bauer (1:37.69) and Jacee Pfeifer (1:38.12) ran solid times (‘B’ standards) and placed second and third, respectively.
Well-rounded as an athlete, Koepke has been a key piece of the 4x400 meter relay that has also qualified for nationals. Said Koepke, “Everyone pushes everyone. Even in the 600, my teammates really wanted to win, and they were so excited for me for doing well. I know that the more we push each other and are excited for each other doing well, we’ll succeed more at conference.”
Haecker is now a national qualifier in both the 800 and 1,000 meter runs. The Davenport, Neb., native clocked in at 2:17.91 on Saturday while taking first place in the 800. Haecker and Rohde have carried over their success from cross country season. Rohde can also boast a pair of individual national qualifying times on the season. The Reed City, Mich., native completed the 1,000 meters in 2:31.05 and was the Concordia Invite champion.
The results continue to indicate the powerhouse stature of the women’s program. One of the nation’s top pentathlon athletes, Amy Richert added her name to the qualifying field in the long jump by landing at 18’ 5 ¾” (second place). She entered the day ranked fifth nationally in the pentathlon while also holding a top 10 NAIA mark in the high jump. Three of Richert’s teammates also reached 17 feet or better in the long jump (Gabby Diamond, Katie Severt and Jamey Broman). On the men’s side of the jumps, All-American Wyatt Loga cleared 6’ 5” in the high jump and placed third at the Concordia Invite.
In the throws, sophomore Abigail Gerber shined. She popped off a personal best of 55’ 9 ¾” in the weight throw and seized first place at the meet. She was also the runner up in the shot put with an indoor PR (43’ 3 ¼”). On the men’s side, Andy Amos was the team’s top performer in the shot put while Brady Klute paced the Bulldogs in the weight throw, an event which also saw Ben Moll notch a fresh ‘B’ mark. Concordia held back some of its top throwers. Gerber took advantage of the moment for the NAIA’s top-rated weight throw crew.
Said Gerber, “It’s really nice having that environment where you’re being pushed. You have that healthy competition where you’re just pushing each other to be the best you can be … You work so hard in practice all year just to get those big throws. When it finally happens in the meet – it’s what you’ve been working for. It’s just relief.”
An entertaining battle took place in the women’s pole vault as accomplished Bulldogs Josie Puelz and Erin Mapson went toe-to-toe. Both All-Americans cleared 12’ 8 ¼” and just missed out on their attempts at 13 feet. This was a low pressure meet with both having already been qualified for nationals. On the men’s side, Zach Bennetts placed first with a season best of 15’ 3,” good for a ‘B’ standard. Bennetts and Chase Berry have both produced ‘B’ standards this season.
Additional first-place races were achieved by Rachel Battershell (400 meters), Kylahn Heritage (mile) and Xavier Ross (400 meters). Battershell shaved her time down to 58.69 for a season best that again moves her a tad closer to the ‘A’ standard. For Heritage, her mile of 5:13.82 was also a season best and met the ‘B’ standard. Meanwhile, Ross ran the 400 in 50.04, beating out teammate Jacob Jennings (50.46) for the win. Battershell and teammates Sarah Lewis, Trinity Tuls and Emily Loseke went 1-2-3-4 in the women’s 400.
The list of runners up at the Concordia Invite included Battershell (200 meters), Bauer (600 meters), Gerber (shot put), Jennings (400 meters), Lewis (400 meters), Mapson (pole vault), Grace Reiman (1,000 meters) and Richert (60 hurdles – PR). In addition, cross country national qualifier Camden Sesna ran a mile of 4:26.16 and placed third. In the 60 meter dash, Brittney Aitken ran 7.90 in the prelims and wound up in third place.
There was a strategy behind the way the Bulldogs approached the meet. They did not enter any relays and put select athletes into unfamiliar events. Said Beisel, “We put some people in new events to add some depth, such as Jordan Koepke in the 600 and Rachel Battershell and Jenna Esch in the 200 – and Mark Cooke in the 200. We wanted to get some marks so we have more options to consider going into the conference in order to maximize our point scoring potential.”
It’s time to shift complete focus to the 2022 GPAC Indoor Track & Field Championships. The Concordia women’s program will enter next week having won five-straight GPAC championship meets. Meanwhile, the men’s program turned in 2021 GPAC placements of third for indoor and fourth for outdoor. Doane will host the 2022 conference meet next Friday and Saturday (Feb. 18-19). The meet schedule can be found HERE.
Meet Highlights
Automatic National Qualifying Standards
· Abigail Gerber – weight throw (55’ 9 ¾”)
· *Rylee Haecker – 800 meters (2:17.91)
· *Jordan Koepke – 600 meters (1:36.02)
· Erin Mapson – pole vault (12’ 8 ¼”)
· Josie Puelz – pole vault (12’ 8 ¼”)
· *Amy Richert – long jump (18’ 5 ¾”)
· *Calvin Rohde – 1,000 meters (2:31.05)
*Fresh ‘A’ standard
Event Champions
· Rachel Battershell – 400 meters (58.69)
· Zach Bennetts – pole vault (15’ 3”)
· Abigail Gerber – weight throw (55’ 9 ¾”)
· Rylee Haecker – 800 meters (2:17.91)
· Kylahn Heritage – mile (5:13.82)
· Jordan Koepke – 600 meters (1:36.02)
· Josie Puelz – pole vault (12’ 8 ¼”)
· Calvin Rohde – 1,000 meters (2:31.05)
· Xavier Ross – 400 meters (50.04)