Thirty-one athletes to represent Concordia at outdoor national championships

SEWARD, Neb. – Head coach Kregg Einspahr will take a group of 31 athletes to the 2015 NAIA Outdoor National Championships, held in Gulf Shores, Ala., May 21-23. Ranked in the top five nationally by the USTFCCCA, the Bulldogs hope to build upon the momentum they established less than two weeks ago at the GPAC championships.

The Bulldog men, ranked No. 3 in the NAIA, will showcase 15 athletes in the Cotton State, including 2015 indoor shot put national champion Zach Lurz. The native of Torrington, Wyo., leads all NAIA performers in the shot put and is one of seven Concordia men’s hammer throwers to punch a ticket to the national meet. Eight Bulldog throwers put up a combined 12 automatic national qualifying marks. School record holder Cody Boellstorff also tops the country in the hammer.

On the women’s side, 16 Concordia competitors are set to test themselves against the best in the NAIA. Three different athletes qualified in three events: Stephanie Coley, Kali Robb and Kim Wood. In addition, junior Liz King is the defending national champion in the javelin. Like the men, the Bulldog women, ranked fourth in the NAIA, are strong in the hammer throw with seven national qualifiers in the event.

At the 2015 indoor national championships, Concordia recorded team finishes of fifth (men) and 11th (women). Eleven Bulldogs combined on a total of 13 All-America placements.

NOTE: Two Concordia female athletes will not compete in events in which they qualified for nationals in: Erika Schroeder (steeplechase) and Kim Wood (1,500 meter run).

Stretch Internet, the NAIA’s official video-streaming company of 17 select NAIA national championship events, will be broadcasting the championships on www.NAIANetwork.com. A subscription package to view the entire three-day event is $10. For more information, including how to register and sign-up for an account, click here.

For more information on the men’s national championships, click here. For additional information on the women’s national championships, click here.

2015 NAIA Men’s Outdoor Track and Field National Championships Qualifiers
Men’s Qualifiers by School – HTML
Men’s Qualifiers by Event – HTML

2015 NAIA Women’s Outdoor Track and Field National Championships Qualifiers
Women’s Qualifiers by School – HTML
Women’s Qualifiers by Event - HTML

2015 Concordia outdoor national qualifiers

*Current national ranking in parentheses

MEN

• Trey Barnes, freshman
  -Discus (13th, 165’ 3”)

• Cody Boellstorff, junior
  -Hammer throw (1st, 205’ 8”)
  -Shot put (26th, 51’ ¼”)

• Brock Braniff, junior
  -Hammer throw (12th, 177’)

• Matthew Chapa, senior
  -4x400 meter relay (17th, 3:16.65)

• Brandon Cook, sophomore
  -Decathlon (9th, 6,183 points)

• Trey Farmer, senior
  -Hammer throw (8th, 179’ 2”)
  -Shot put (14th, 52’ 1 ¼”)

• Philip Kreutzer, sophomore
  -Hammer throw (13th, 175’ 9”)

• Zach Lurz, sophomore
  -Shot put (1st, 56’ 5 ¼”)
  -Hammer throw (2nd, 198’ 3”)
  -Discus (7th, 174’ 1”)

• CJ Muller, sophomore
  -400 meter dash (27th, 48.44)
  -4x400 meter relay (17th, 3:16.65)

• Tai Pleasant, senior
  -400 meter hurdles (17th, 53.70)
  -4x400 meter relay (17th, 3:16.65)

• Brandon Ramos, junior
  -Pole vault (12th, 15’ 5”)

• Jose Rojas, junior
  -Hammer throw (9th, 178’ 9”)
  -Shot put (10th, 52’ 10”)

• Josh Slechta, junior
  -Hammer throw (4th, 192’ 5”)

• Jaap van Gaalen, sophomore
  -4x400 meter relay (17th, 3:16.65)

• Lucas Wiechman, sophomore
  -Decathlon (3rd, 6,513 points)
  -Pole vault (7th, 16’ ¾”)

WOMEN

• Kattie Cleveland, junior
  -Hammer throw (6th, 177’ 10”)
  -Discus (11th, 150’ 5”)

• Stephanie Coley, junior
  -Shot put (5th, 47’ 2 ½”)
  -Hammer throw (9th, 172’ 10”)
  -Discus (13th, 149’ 9”)

• Brittany Erdmann, senior
  -Hammer throw (11th, 170’)
  -Shot put (14th, 44’ 10 ¾”)

• Randi Janzen, sophomore
  -4x800 meter relay (14th, 9:18.46)

• Liz King, junior
  -Hammer throw (2nd, 189’ 10”)
  -Javelin (3rd, 151’)

• Sydney Meyer, sophomore
  -Hammer throw (12th, 169’ 8”)

• Cynthia Mick, sophomore
  -Pole vault (6th, 12’ 2 ½”)

• Nicole Perry, junior
  -Hammer throw (16th, 164’ 9”)

• Kali Robb, sophomore
  -Hammer throw (3rd, 187’)
  -Shot put (8th, 46’ 7 ½”)
  -Discus (14th, 149’ 4”)

• Erika Schroeder, senior
  -4x800 meter relay (14th, 9:18.46)

• Katelyn Shoup, junior
  -Triple jump (18th, 38’ 1 ¼”)

• Cassie Starks, senior
  -Pole vault (2nd, 12’ 6 ¼”)

• Shelby Stolze, junior
  -100 meter hurdles (25th, 14.70)

• Katricia Svoboda, sophomore
  -Discus (6th, 157’ 6”)
  -Javelin (13th, 135’ 3”)

• Marti Vlasin, sophomore
  -4x800 meter relay (14th, 9:18.46)

• Kim Wood, junior
  -800 meter run (7th, 2:09.66)
  -4x800 meter relay (14th, 9:18.46)