USTFCCCA NAIA national ratings
SEWARD, Neb. – The Concordia University track and field programs continue to keep company with the nation’s elite. In the debut of the 2017 U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) NAIA national rankings, the Bulldogs checked in at No. 4 on the men’s side and at No. 12 on the women’s side. The ratings are tabulated by assigning point totals to where athletes and relay teams stand on the national leaderboards.
Both Bulldog teams recorded top-five national finishes at the 2016 NAIA Indoor Track and Field National Championships. Behind national titlists Cody Boellstorff (weight throw) and Zach Lurz (shot put), the men placed third. The women finished fifth. Then at the outdoor national championships, the Concordia women won the national title and the men claimed a runner-up finish. Throughout the 2016 indoor season, the Bulldogs garnered top-five national spots in every rating released by the USTFCCCA.
Matt Beisel is in his first season leading the Concordia track and field programs. His athletes have combined for a total of 15 automatic national qualifying marks through the first two meets of the indoor season. Cody Boellstorff tops the nation in the weight throw (65’ 5”). His mark is one of nine owned by Bulldogs that ranks inside the top five on the national lists. Kali Robb ranks second in the shot put and Lucas Wiechman holds down the No. 2 spot in the 60-meter hurdles. Of the 15 auto marks, eight have been produced by throwers and another four have come in additional field events.
The USTFCCCA also ranks each of the 10 NAIA track and field conferences. According to its computer ratings, the GPAC has been the second best NAIA conference so far this indoor season. Six GPAC men’s and six GPAC women’s squads are ranked in the top 25.
Beisel’s teams will make their first home appearances on Saturday when the annual Concordia Indoor Classic takes place inside the Fieldhouse. The meet is set to get started at 1 p.m. CT. View the event schedule HERE.