SEWARD, Neb. – In the aftermath of second (men) and third (women) place finishes at the 2017 GPAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships, 40 athletes (complete list below) from the Concordia University track and field programs were officially named all-conference honorees by the GPAC on Thursday (May 11).
Major awards went to seniors Zach Lurz and Lucas Wiechman. Winner of four individual GPAC outdoor titles, Wiechman collected the Men’s GPAC Outdoor Track and Field Outstanding Athlete of the Year award. Meanwhile, Lurz took home the honor of Men’s Field Performance of the Meet courtesy of his winning mark of 202’ 1” in the hammer throw.
Wiechman is enjoying a senior season unlike any other in program history. He also earned the GPAC outstanding athlete of the year award for indoor track. Additionally, he’s raked in 2017 honors for outstanding athlete of the meet at the GPAC indoor and outdoor championships and at the NAIA indoor national championships. His 2017 tally includes seven individual GPAC titles and two other conference championships as part of relay teams. At indoor nationals, Wiechman won the heptathlon and was also an All-American in the pole vault and 60 meter hurdles.
Lurz put together a stellar meet of his own, winning GPAC titles in the hammer and discus while placing fourth in the shot put. The native of Chadron, Neb., has captured eight conference and four national titles during his impressive throwing career. He earned the GPAC Outdoor Track and Field Outstanding Athlete of the Year award in 2014, helping lead the Bulldogs to a team conference championship.
The list of all-conference performers includes additional GPAC champions in members of the men’s 4x400 meter relay, Samantha Liermann (shot put), Kali Robb (hammer) and Tricia Svoboda (discus). Sixteen of the 40 Bulldog All-GPAC honorees posted top-eight finishes in two or more events. The following Concordia athletes were All-GPAC place finishers in three or more events: Cody Boellstorff, Lurz, CJ Muller, Svoboda and Wiechman.
Before focusing on the outdoor national championships (May 25-27), the Bulldogs will host the Concordia Twilight Meet on Friday (May 12). The event schedule can be viewed HERE.
Concordia All-GPAC athletes
- Evan Asche (8th in 10,000 meters)
- Taylor Beck (7th in triple jump)
- Anna Beune (7th in heptathlon)
- Christy Beune (7th in 100 meters)
- Cody Boellstorff (2nd in hammer; 3rd in discus; 7th in shot put)
- Allie Brooks (2nd in pole vault)
- Simon Brummond (8th in pole vault)
- JC Cornelio (8th in hammer)
- Jessica Deterding (4th in triple jump; 6th in heptathlon)
- Jazzy Eickhoff (4th in javelin; 8th in shot put)
- Nathan Elbert (6th in javelin)
- Kohlton Gabehart (6th in 3,000 meter steeplechase)
- McKenzie Gravo (3rd in pole vault; 7th in long jump)
- Taylor Grove (4th in 10,000 meters; 4th in 5,000 meters)
- Ben Hulett (3rd in 110 meter hurdles; 5th in 400 meter hurdles)
- Jacy Johnston (8th in 3,000 meter steeplechase)
- Philip Kreutzer (7th in hammer)
- Leah Larson (5th in triple jump)
- Samantha Liermann (1st in shot put; 7th in hammer)
- Zach Lurz (1st in hammer; 1st in discus; 4th in shot put)
- Thomas Matik (8th in decathlon)
- Nathan Matters (1st in 4x400 meter relay)
- Josiah McAllister (1st in 4x400 meter relay; 6th in 800 meters)
- Sydney Meyer (2nd in hammer; 6th in javelin)
- Tristen Mosier (7th in pole vault)
- Taylor Mueller (3rd in 3,000 meter steeplechase)
- CJ Muller (1st in 4x400 meter relay; 2nd in 400 meters; 8th in 800 meters)
- Jamie Nikodym (7th in 110 meter hurdles)
- Benjamin Pratt (7th in high jump)
- Tyrell Reichert (7th in pole vault)
- Kali Robb (1st in hammer; 2nd in shot put)
- Jake Rodgers (5th in javelin; 5th in decathlon)
- Addie Shaw (4th in discus; 6th in shot put)
- Chris Shelton (8th in 3,000 meter steeplechase)
- Emily Sievert (5th in 10,000 meters; 5th in 5,000 meters)
- Carley Skopera (7th in discus)
- Jan Steinbrueck (8th in discus)
- Tricia Svoboda (1st in discus; 4th in hammer; 5th in javelin)
- Lucas Wiechman (1st in pole vault; 1st in long jump; 1st in 110 meter hurdles; 1st in 400 meter hurdles; 1st in 4x400 meter relay)
- Quinn Wragge (4th in 400 meters)