SEWARD, Neb. – The Concordia men’s and women’s track and field teams, both ranked second nationally, will compete in the GPAC meet this weekend in Hastings, Neb. The two-day event will take place May 6-7 at the Osborne Family Sports Complex. The men’s team looks to claim their third-straight and third overall conference title. After tying with Doane for the title in 2010 and winning it in 2012, the women also aim to grab their third GPAC title.
EVENT INFO
GPAC Track & Field Championships
Friday, May 6 | 5 p.m.
Saturday, May 7 | 12:30 p.m.
Hastings, Neb. | Osborne Family Sports Complex
Full Schedule: HERE
Heat Sheets: HERE
NAIA Rankings
With both the men’s and women’s teams ranked second in the country, several Bulldogs are ranked individually in their events. Many athletes have also reached NAIA qualifying marks over the season. Below is a list of all national qualifiers heading into the GPAC Championships.
Women
Anna Beune – heptathlon, 23rd (3,823) (B mark)
Allison Brooks – pole vault, 17th (11-05.75) (B mark)
Kattie Cleveland – discus, ninth (145-11); hammer throw, fourth (181-09)
Stephanie Coley – shot put, fourth (46-01.50); discus, first (160-03); hammer throw, third (181-11)
McKenzie Gravo – pole vault, seventh (12-0); long jump, 27th (18-01.75) (B mark)
Liz King – hammer throw, second (183-09); javelin, third (154-01)
Samantha Liermann – shot put, second (46-06.75); hammer throw, 26th (156-04) (B mark)
Sydney Meyer – hammer throw, sixth (175-00)
Nicole Perry – hammer throw, 15th (165-04)
Kali Robb – shot put, first (47-07.75); discus, 15th (139-11) (B mark); hammer throw, eighth (172-07)
Jan Steinbrueck – discus, 10th (144-05)
Katricia Svoboda – discus, third (158-00); hammer throw, 16th (163-06) (B mark)
Kim Wood – 800 meters, fourth (2:10.56); 1,500 meters, 22nd (4:38.12)
Men
Adam Aschenbrenner – hammer throw, 24th (168-01) (B mark)
Trey Barnes – shot put, fifth (55-06.50); discus, 13th (164-11)
Philip Kreutzer – shot put, 17th (51-04.50); hammer throw, 10th (177-03)
Zach Lurz – shot put, first (59-01.25); discus, fourth (175-11); hammer throw, fourth (194-07)
Thomas Matik – decathlon, 27th (5,360) (B mark)
Jose Rojas – shot put, 11th (52-09.50); discus, 15th (162-07); hammer throw, third (195-02)
Ben Schulteis – hammer throw, 19th (172-09)
Josh Slechta – discus, third (179-09); hammer throw, first (210-10)
Lucas Wiechman – 110 meter hurdles, 17th (14.88) (B mark); pole vault, seventh (15-09); decathlon, sixth (6,400) (B mark)
GPAC Athletes of the Week
This outdoor season, Concordia has raked in five weekly GPAC honors and one national weekly honor. The athletes honored are listed below:
Stephanie Coley – April 6 (National Athlete of the Week)
Samantha Liermann – May 4
Trevor Bresson – April 27
Josh Slechta – April 27
Lucas Wiechman – April 6
Returning all-conference
The Bulldog track and field team is returning over 30 All-GPAC athletes from 2015’s outdoor season. Thirteen of those went on to become All-Americans last year. After adding in several all-conference performances from the 2016 indoor season, the Bulldogs look to carry that momentum into this year’s GPAC Championships and NAIA Championships.
Up next
Concordia will compete in the Nebraska Wesleyan University Prairie Wolf Invite on Friday, May 13 to gear up for the NAIA Championships. The national meet in Gulf Shores, Ala., will take place on May 26-28.