Track and Field

2023 Track & Field Schedule/Results

Men's place finishes
GPAC: 3rd indoor | 3rd outdoor
NAIA: 31st indoor | 26th outdoor

Women's place finishes
GPAC: 1st indoor | 1st outdoor
NAIA: 6th indoor | 23rd outdoor

Indoor Schedule      
Date Meet Location Results
Dec. 9-10 Bulldog Early Bird Meet Seward, Neb. Results
Jan. 13-14 University of Nebraska Graduate Classic Lincoln, Neb. Results
Jan. 14 Scott Nisely Memorial Classic Crete, Neb. Results
Jan. 21 Concordia Polar Dog Invite Seward, Neb. Results
Jan. 28 Fred Beile Classic Crete, Neb. Results
Feb. 3 Concordia University Classic Seward, Neb. Results
Feb. 3-4 Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational Lincoln, Neb. Results
Feb. 10 Concordia University Indoor Invite Seward, Neb. Results
Feb. 17-18 GPAC Indoor Track & Field Championships Seward, Neb. W - 1st | M - 3rd
Mar. 2-4 NAIA Indoor Track & Field National Championships Brookings, S.D. W - 6th | M - 31st
       
Outdoor Schedule      
Date Meet Location Results
March 25 Grand View University Viking Relays Des Moines, Iowa Results
April 1 UNK-Hastings Central Nebraska Challenge Kearney, Neb. Results
April 7 Central College Invite Pella, Iowa Results
April 14-15 Concordia Invitational Seward, Neb. Results
April 20-21, 23 Jim Dutcher Memorial Crete, Neb. Results
April 27-29 Drake Relays Des Moines, Iowa Results
April 28-29 Nebraska Wesleyan Prairie Wolf Invite Lincoln, Neb. Results
April 29 Rock Chalk Classic Lawrence, Kan. Results
May 5-6 GPAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships Sioux Center, Iowa W - 1st | M - 3rd
May 12 Concordia Twilight Meet Seward, Neb. Results
May 13 UNK Loper Twilight Meet Kearney, Neb. Results
May 24-26 NAIA Outdoor National Championships Marion, Ind. W - 23rd | M - 26th

2022-23 Roster

MEN   Eligibility      
Name Event ID OD Hometown Previous School
Logan Adam Throws Sr. Sr. Crete, Neb. Crete HS
Brayden Adams Mid-Distance Sr. Jr. Omaha, Neb. Elkhorn HS
Connor Asche Throws So. So. Geneva, Neb. Fillmore Central HS
Zach Bennetts Pole Vault Sr. Sr. Denton, Neb. Lincoln Southwest HS
Chase Berry Pole Vault Jr. Jr. Seward, Neb. Seward HS
Matthew Boyer Javelin Fr. Fr. Jefferson City, Mo. Capital City HS
Dagne' Buck Throws Sr. Sr. Plumas Lake, Calif. Whitney HS
Keanan Castillo Mid-Distance Fr. Fr. North Platte, Neb. North Platte HS
Mark Cooke Sprints/Hurdles Sr. Sr. Edison, N.J. Stevens HS / Eastern Michigan Univ.
Brett Determan Distance Fr. Fr. Cedar Falls, Iowa Valley Lutheran HS
Westley Determan Distance Fr. Fr. Cedar Falls, Iowa Valley Lutheran HS
Josiah Edwards Throws Fr. Fr. Elk Grove, Calif. Consumnes Oaks HS
Jack Ellis Distance So. So. Bend, Ore. Trinity Lutheran HS
Aaron Everett Sprints Fr. Fr. Milwaukee, Wis. Milwaukee Lutheran HS
Liam Fagan Sprints Fr. Fr. Carson, Iowa Riverside HS
Kameron Farmer Hurdles/Sprints Jr. Jr. Leander, Texas Rouse HS
Jonathyn Fosler Sprints So. So. Milford, Neb. Homeschooled
Jayson Frank High Jump/Horizontal Jumps So. Jr. Sterling, Colo. Sterling HS
Marc Freiberg II Hurdles/Sprints/Javelin Jr. Jr. Seward, Neb. Seward HS
Gage Fries Hurdles Fr. Fr. Minden, Neb. Minden HS
Ryan Garvey Distance Fr. Fr. Omaha, Neb. Concordia Lutheran HS
Thomas Gorline Distance/Steeplechase So. So. St. Louis, Mo. Westminster Christian HS
Charlie Hayden Distance So. So. Elkhorn, Neb. Elkhorn South HS
Evan Hill Pole Vault Fr. Fr. Bridgeport, Neb. Bridgeport HS
Ethan Ideus Mid-Distance So. So. Seward, Neb. Seward HS
Quinton Janecek Sprints Fr. Fr. Gering, Neb. Gering HS
Grant Jansen Throws Fr. Fr. Gretna, Neb. Gretna HS
Aaron Jendro Distance Fr. Fr. Omaha, Neb. Omaha Burke HS
Zachary Johnson Distance Jr. Jr. Aberdeen, S.D. Central HS
Spencer Kearn Pole Vault Fr. Fr. Kearney, Neb. Kearney HS
Brady Klute Throws Jr. Jr. Hampton, Neb. Hampton HS
Peter Kreutzer Throws So. Jr. Kearney, Neb. Kearney HS
Trevor Kuncl Distance Fr. Fr. Mullen, Neb. Mullen HS
Kirby Linhart Horizontal Jumps     York, Neb. York HS
Wyatt Loga High Jump/Horizontal Jumps Jr. Jr. Bee, Neb. Malcolm HS
Jaedon Maxfield Distance Fr. Fr. Lincoln, Neb. Lincoln North Star HS
Colton Meyer Sprints Jr. Jr. Eagle, Neb. Lincoln Lutheran HS
Teagan Meyer Hurdles/Sprints So. So. Alta, Iowa Alta-Aurelia HS
Ben Moll Throws So. Jr. Seward, Neb. Lincoln Lutheran HS
Jimmy Nguyen Distance Fr. Fr. Lincoln, Neb. Lincoln North Star HS
Hudson Opp Mid-Distance Fr. Fr. Lincoln, Neb. Lincoln Christian HS
Mayson Ostermeyer Pole Vault Fr. Fr. Crofton, Neb. Crofton HS
Jake Peitz Throws Fr. Fr. Hartington, Neb. Hartington-Newcastle Public School
Nathan Pennekamp Distance/Steeplechase So. So. Fort Wayne, Ind. Concordia Lutheran HS
Joel Rathe Sprints/Horizontal Jumps So. Jr. Sterling, Neb. Sterling HS
Thad Rathjen Mid-Distance So. So. Osceola, Neb. Osceola HS
Calvin Rohde Distance So. Jr. Reed City, Mich. Reed City HS
Grant Rohde Sprints Fr. Fr. Reed City, Mich. Reed City HS
Austen Rozelle Throws So. So. Wauneta, Neb. Wauneta-Palisade / McCook CC
Myles Sadd High Jump/Horizontal Jumps Fr. Fr. Doniphan, Neb. Doniphan-Trumbull HS
Evan Schmidt Distance So. So. Firth, Neb. Norris HS
Darien Semedo Throws So. Jr. Sacramento, Calif. Capital Christian HS
Camden Sesna Distance Jr. Jr. Kearney, Neb. Kearney Catholic HS
Jordan Shaw Throws Fr. Fr. Kearney, Neb. Kearney HS
Jackson Smith Distance So. Fr. Waukee, Iowa Waukee / Grand Canyon University
Joel Smith Hurdles/Horizontal Jumps Fr. Fr. Earlham, Iowa  
Aaron Spivey Horizontal Jumps Fr. Fr. Smithfield, Va. Smithfield HS
Colby Sugden Sprints So. So. Adams, Neb. Freeman HS
Tyler Suer Throws Fr. Fr. Fremont, Neb. Fremont HS
Travis Vo Sprints Fr. Fr. Lincoln, Neb. Lincoln North Star HS
Kadin Vrbas Sprints So. Jr. Imperial, Neb. Chase County HS
Tyler Walford Throws So. So. Lincoln, Neb. Ellsworth HS
Logan Walgate Distance So. So. St. Charles, Mo. Lutheran HS
Micah Willweber Distance So. Jr. Kailua, Hawaii Kalaheo HS
Ryan Wokutch Sprints So. Fr. Paola, Kan. Paola HS
Christopher Wren Throws Jr. Jr. Fair Oaks, Calif. Bella Vista HS
Zach Zohner Pole Vault So. Jr. Battle Creek, Neb. Battle Creek HS
           
WOMEN   Eligibility      
Name Event ID OD Hometown Previous School
Lauren Ada Mid-Distance So. Jr. De Soto, Kan. The Lutheran HS of Kansas City
Rachel Ada Distance Fr. Fr. De Soto, Kan. The Lutheran HS of Kansas City
Caitlyn Adams Mid-Distance Fr. Fr. Beaver Crossing, Neb. Milford HS
Emily Agena Throws Jr. Jr. Sterling , Neb. Sterling Public HS
Ava Bartels High Jump Fr. Fr. Lincoln, Neb. Lincoln East HS
Elena Batenhorst Multis/Horizontal Jumps So. So. Columbus, Neb. Columbus HS
Rachel Battershell Hurdles/Sprints Sr. Sr. Wheatland, Wyo. Wheatland Senior HS
Kyra Becker Distance Fr. Fr. Auburn, Neb. Auburn HS
Hannah Beintema Distance Fr. Fr. Bettendorf, Iowa Bettendorf HS
Keegan Beisel Distance Fr. Fr. Seward, Neb. Seward HS
Erin Boggs Pole Vault/Multis So. So. Bertrand, Neb. Bertrand HS
Olivia Buschow Throws Jr. Jr. Blue Hill, Neb. Blue Hill HS
Cortney Covington Throws Fr. Fr. Lincoln, Neb. Lincoln Southeast HS
Greta Corneliusen Horizontal Jumps So. So. Colorado Springs, Colo. The Classical Academy
Amira Cummings Sprints/Pole Vault So. Jr. Cheyenne, Wyo. Cheyenne East HS
Mickey Curl Distance Fr. So. Colorado Springs, Colo. The Classical Academy
Lauren Dawson Steeplechase So. Jr. Cedar Falls, Iowa Valley Lutheran HS
Alexandra Eisenhauer Sprints Fr. Fr. Bloomfield, Neb. Bloomfield HS
Jenna Esch Sprints/Mid-Distance So. So. Hastings, Neb. Saint Cecilia HS
Faith Espinosa Hurdles/High Jump/Multis So. Fr. Clarinda, Iowa Clarinda HS
Kylahn Freiberg Distance Jr. So. Nampa, Idaho Melba HS
Abigail Gerber Throws So. Jr. Columbus, Neb. Columbus HS
Peyton Gissler Distance So. Jr. Malcolm, Neb. Malcolm HS
Rylee Haecker Mid-Distance So. Jr. Davenport, Neb. Raymond Central HS
Hannah Haertel Mid-Distance Fr. Fr. Hot Springs, S.D. My Father's World Homeschool
Laci Havlat Distance Fr. Fr. Lincoln, Neb. Norris HS
Catie Hergenrader Mid-Distance Fr. Fr. Friendswood, Texas Lutheran South Academy
Kassidy Hiesterman Throws Fr. Fr. Bellwood, Neb. Columbus HS
Sara Huss Throws So. Jr. Fairbury, Neb. Fairbury HS
Ellie Jander Distance/Steeplechase So. Fr. St. Louis, Mo. Lutheran HS North
Holly Johnson Throws Fr. Fr. Bentonville, Ark. Bentonville West HS
Rhaya Kaschinske Distance So. So. Fort Wayne, Ind. Concordia Lutheran HS
Kayla Kirchner Sprints Fr. Fr. Ogallala, Neb. Ogallala HS
Jordan Koepke Sprints/Hurdles So. So. Gulf Breeze, Fla. Gulf Breeze HS
Skylar Kreifels High Jump/Javelin/Multis Fr. Jr. Lincoln, Neb. Lincoln East HS
Averie Lambrecht Horizontal Jumps So. Jr. Waverly, Neb. Waverly HS
Emma Lloyd Throws Jr. Jr. Yutan, Neb. Yutan HS / Univ. of Nebraska
Emily Loseke Sprints So. So. Leigh, Neb. Clarkson-Leigh HS
Erin Mapson Pole Vault Sr. Sr. Lincoln, Neb. Lincoln East HS
Bella Marchisio Distance So. So. Queen Creek, Ariz. Higley HS / Park University Gilbert
Alyssa Marotz Mid-Distance Fr. Fr. Norfolk, Neb. Lutheran HS Northeast
Amie Martin Distance So. So. Arnold, Mo. Fox C-6
Anna McCoy Hurdles So. So. Grand Island, Neb. Grand Island HS
Julie McIntyre Distance Jr. So. Chicago, Ill. Chicago Christian HS/Trinity Christian
Taylor Meyer Sprints/Hurdles Fr. Fr. Marysville, Kan. Marysville HS
Hayley Miles Horizontal Jumps/Sprints Fr. Fr. North Platte, Neb. St. Patrick's HS
Taylor Moes Horizontal Jumps So. So. Elm Creek, Neb. Elm Creek HS
Hannah Mundt Steeplechase Jr. Jr. Blue Springs, Mo. The Lutheran HS of Kansas City
Hannah Newton High Jump So. So. Crete, Neb. Crete HS
Katelyn Nix Distance/Steeplechase So. So. Fort Wayne, Ind. Concordia Lutheran HS
Josi Noble Triple Jump/Sprints/Hurdles Fr. Fr. Stromsburg, Neb. Cross County HS
Allison Owings Throws Jr. Jr. Imperial, Neb. Chase County HS
Erin Painter Throws So. Jr. Ainsworth, Neb. Ainsworth HS
Grace Pennekamp Distance/Steeplechase So. Jr. Fort Wayne, Ind. Concordia Lutheran HS
Mary Pennekamp Distance/Steeplechase Fr. Jr. Fort Wayne, Ind. Concordia Lutheran HS
Kamryn Pokorney Throws So. Jr. Shelby, Neb. Shelby-Rising HS
Neleigh Poss High Jump/Sprints Fr. Fr. Scotia, Neb. Central Valley HS
Josie Puelz Pole Vault Jr. Jr. Lincoln, Neb. Lincoln Lutheran HS
Brianna Quinn Sprints/Long Jump Fr. Fr. Broken Bow, Neb. Broken Bow HS
Kailey Randall Throws Fr. Fr. Lincoln, Neb. Lincoln Southwest HS
Aubrey Rathke Mid-Distance So. So. Fremont, Neb. Fremont HS
Sydney Reichert Pole Vault So. Jr. Benkelman, Neb. Dundy County Stratton HS
Grace Reimer High Jump/Hurdles So. Jr. Hartland, Wis. Lake County Lutheran HS
Kellie Rhodes Sprints So. Jr. Mullinville, Kan. Kiowa County HS
Amy Richert Hurdles/High Jump/Multis So. Jr. Gresham, Neb. Nebraska Lutheran HS
Kaia Richmond Distance/Steeplechase So. So. Langley, Wash. South Whidbey HS
Faith Riggle Throws So. Jr. Scribner, Neb. Scribner-Snyder HS
Adrianna Rodencal Hurdles/Sprints Fr. Fr. Lincoln, Neb. Lincoln Lutheran HS
Isabelle Salters Multis So. So. Valentine, Neb. Valentine HS
Kyla Schleusener Sprints/Long Jump Fr. Fr. St. Paul, Minn. Liberty Classical Academy
Taberah Schmidt Sprints Fr. So. Damascus, Ore. Clackams HS / Western Oregon Univ.
Izzy Schreckengost Javelin Fr. Fr. St. Charles, Mo. Lutheran HS of St. Charles County
Kimberly Schropfer High Jump Fr. Fr. Ohiowa, Neb. Meridian HS
Kaitlyn Schuur Pole Vault Fr. Fr. Chandler, Minn. Southwest Minnesota Christian
Gemma Seevers Horizontal Jumps So. Jr. Seward, Neb. Seward HS
Katie Severt Jumps Jr. Jr. Coralville, Iowa Iowa City West HS
Amanda Steinke High Jump/Triple Jump/Multis Fr. So. Milwaukee, Wis. Milwaukee Lutheran HS
Gretchen Stottlemyre Javelin So. So. Olympia, Wash. Northwest Christian HS / Northwest
Kayla Svoboda Pole Vault/Hurdles/Multis Fr. Fr. Wisner, Neb. Wisner-Pilger HS
Trinity Tuls Sprints So. So. Columbus, Neb. Columbus HS
Jaiden Tweton Mid-Distance Fr. So. Ashland, Neb. Ashland-Greenwood HS
Ellee VanBuskirk Pole Vault So. So. Omaha, Neb. Millard North HS
Sammi Vojslavek Distance Fr. Fr. Elkhorn, Neb. Millard West HS
Landrey Walter Hurdles Fr. Fr. Fort Morgan, Colo. Faith Christian HS
Alivia Weathers Jumps Fr. Fr. Yuma, Colo. Lone Star HS
Lainey Werts Sprints So. Jr. St. Edward, Neb. St. Edward HS
Faith Williamson Distance So. So. O'Neill, Neb. St. Mary HS
Abi Wohlgemuth Throws So. So. Lincoln, Neb. Lincoln Lutheran HS
Courtney Wright Distance So. So. Perryville, Mo. Perryville HS
Shi-Lynn Yon Mid-Distance Fr. Fr. Melbourne, Fla. Melbourne HS

STAFF

Matt Beisel, Head Coach (7th Year)

Ed McLaughlin, Assistant Coach

Mark Samuels, Assistant Coach

Benjamin Hinckfoot, Assistant Coach

Jason Berry, Assistant Coach

Maddie Robinson, Graduate Assistant Coach

Season Preview: 2023 Concordia Track & Field

Dec. 6, 2022

MEN
Head Coach: Matt Beisel (7th year); 8x GPAC Coach of the Year
2022 Indoor Finishes: 4th (GPAC); 36th (NAIA)
2022 Outdoor Finishes: 3rd (GPAC); T-47th (NAIA)
2022 All-Americans returning (indoor/outdoor): Wyatt Loga; Colton Meyer; Chris Wren.
2022 All-Americans lost (indoor/outdoor): Jacob Jennings; Cade Kleckner; Maccoy Menke; Xavier Ross
2022 Indoor National Qualifiers returning: Zach Bennetts; Chase Berry; Mark Cooke; Wyatt Loga; Colton Meyer; Calvin Rohde; Camden Sesna; Chris Wren.
*Past National Champion
--NOTE: list of national qualifiers includes athletes who traveled to the 2022 NAIA indoor meet.

WOMEN
Head Coach: Matt Beisel (7th year); 8x GPAC Coach of the Year
2022 Indoor Finishes: 1st (GPAC); 3rd (NAIA)
2022 Outdoor Finishes: 1st (GPAC); 4th (NAIA)
2022 All-Americans returning (indoor/outdoor): *Rachel Battershell; Jenna Esch; Kylahn Freiberg; Rylee Haecker; Jordan Koepke; Erin Mapson; Alli Owings; Erin Painter; *Josie Puelz; Amy Richert.
2022 All-Americans lost (indoor/outdoor): Keri Bauer; Morgan De Jong; Sarah Lewis; Jacee Pfeifer; Sarah Ragland; Grace Reiman.
2022 Indoor National Qualifiers returning: Elena Batenhorst; Rachel Battershell; Amira Cummings; Kylahn Freiberg; Abby Gerber; Rylee Haecker; Jordan Koepke; Erin Mapson; Hannah Newton; Josie Puelz; Amy Richert; Trinity Tuls.
*Past National Champion
--NOTE: list of national qualifiers includes athletes who traveled to the 2022 NAIA indoor meet.

Outlook

Twenty Bulldogs return who experienced the 2022 NAIA Indoor Track & Field National Championships for a program that annually expects to compete for conference championships and podium finishes on the national stage. Those are high standards to live up to, but Head Coach Matt Beisel wouldn’t have it any other way. There are more achievements still on the table. Every single athlete inside the men’s and women’s programs is driven to reach for something greater, even four-time pole national champion Josie Puelz.

An eight-time GPAC Coach of the Year (between cross country and track), Beisel enters his seventh season at the helm of the Concordia track programs. The women own an incredible streak of seven straight GPAC titles while the men are still working towards a return to the top of the pack.

But the focus is on the process and the day-to-day pursuit of excellence, rather than just zeroing in on winning trophies. There are more than 150 athletes in the program, and they will all factor into the 2023 season. Said Beisel, “Everybody has a role. Everybody is a piece of the puzzle. I have the privilege of building these relationships and getting to know them. I love them all. That’s the most satisfying thing.”

Women’s Breakdown

This has become a dynasty as the program has succeeded not just at the conference level, but also at the national level. The Bulldogs have placed inside the top five nationally at six consecutive NAIA national meets and were even ranked No. 1 nationally for the bulk of the 2021 outdoor season (according to the USTFCCCA computer ratings). The formula for the program has featured elite athletes who have developed close relationships with each other.

The conversation on the women’s side starts with the likes of four-time NAIA pole vault national champion Josie Puelz and two-time 400 meter national champion Rachel Battershell (10-time All-American). As just a freshman in 2022, Jordan Koepke put her name in elite company by grabbing four All-America awards (400 hurdle national runner up) and by setting a new GPAC meet record in the 400 hurdles. It’s fair to also throw six-time All-American Rylee Haecker into that mix.

Clearly, the Bulldogs are well-positioned for another big year in 2023. “It’s an amazing group of leaders and humans,” Beisel said. “There’s not a single one of them that has not battled through setbacks of all kinds. I know every team has these things happen. I’m extremely grateful that God keeps bringing people like that to us … I think back to the string of titles that we’ve had and the fact that the last five indoor or outdoor national championship meets we’ve placed third or fourth on the women’s side. That doesn’t just happen. To win a GPAC title is a big deal. We’ve somehow pulled it off seven times in a row.”

Beisel has reason to be encouraged by the momentum that was built during a just recently completed cross country season. The women’s program earned an at-large bid to the national meet while led by all-conference runners in Haecker, Kylahn Freiberg and Julie McIntyre. The Bulldogs placed 27th at the national meet during a season of significant accomplishment. Perhaps most significant, Freiberg returned to form and should be a candidate to be an individual conference champion on the track. Plenty of others, like freshman Hannah Beintema, are also ready to make an impact from a distance perspective.

Traditionally, the Bulldogs are strong in the 400 meters. Without question, Battershell leads the way from a standpoint of past attainment. She said goodbye to close friends and 400 meter teammates Sarah Lewis and Jacee Pfeifer, but the cupboard is far from bare. Koepke has three more years to tear up the track after one of the greatest freshman seasons in program history. Watch out for Trinity Tuls to make a big leap and keep the 4x4 from losing any steam. In addition, sophomore Jenna Esch helped the outdoor 4x4 to All-America status.

Battershell sees things coming together nicely during practice. Said Battershell, “Track is an individual sport, but it’s really not. It’s every day in practice, whether your teammates are having a bad day or you’re having a bad day, we all just move forward together. Our success has shown that we’re really good at moving forward together. Every day in practice you can see it.”

The always positive and upbeat Puelz is a natural leader who teammates look up to. As Battershell said, “To the team as a whole, she’s just a beacon of joy. She’s so funny and everyone loves her.” In competition, Puelz competes fiercely and has done the incredible in sweeping NAIA pole vault national titles in back-to-back years (2021 and 2022). She’ll be chasing her own school records in both the indoor and outdoor vault in ’23. The pole vault crew also features five-time All-American Erin Mapson and four-time national qualifier Amira Cummings. Don’t be surprised if another name (or several names) emerges under the tutelage of pole vault coach Jason Berry.

A native of Gresham, Neb., Amy Richert just might be on the cusp of reaching her full potential. She’s a three-time All-American and is the school record holder in the pentathlon. She’s also a headlining returner for the jumps crew coached by Ben Hinckfoot. The group graduated the likes of past national qualifiers Cora Olson and Katie Severt, but 2022 indoor high jump national qualifier Hannah Newton ranks among the up-and-comers.

Coach Ed McLaughlin’s throws crew loses some impact performers such as Morgan De Jong and Sarah Ragland, but Alli Owings and Erin Painter are fresh off All-America awards during the 2022 outdoor season. There’s also an impact transfer in Emma Lloyd, formerly a member of the track & field team at the University of Nebraska. In addition, Abby Gerber has made four trips to nationals and discus All-American Sara Huss will join the team during outdoor season.

Like Koepke did a year ago, there are freshmen who can make an impact. There are too many to name, but there is excitement about Lincoln Lutheran alum Adrianna Rodencal who won four state titles as a senior. Among other newcomers, Alexandra Eisenhower stands out as a Nebraska Class D state champion in the 100 and 200 meters.

How much further can the Bulldogs take it in 2023? A team national championship remains a standing goal to hopefully be reached at some point. Back for a fifth season, Battershell is as healthy as she’s ever been and motivated to get back to a national championship form.

Said Battershell, “With sports like this, you’ve never arrived. There are certain goals like being a national champion – you either get it or you don’t. With PR’s and everything, you’ve never arrived. There’s always another step to get better. With teammates that I have, how can you not want to be better? That helps me keep perspective as I push to be the best that I can be in the last year that I get to do this.”

Men’s Breakdown

The men’s program has been consistently solid and has placed fourth or better at the indoor conference championships in every single season of the GPAC’s existence (which started with the 2001 season). The NAIA national finishes in 2022 of 36th (indoor) and 47th (outdoor) leave the Bulldogs wanting more as they look toward 2023. The returning All-Americans from 2022 include Wyatt Loga, Colton Meyer and Chris Wren. The biggest holes to fill from graduation come in the 400 meters, but that’s an area where assistant coach Mark Samuels has always come through in.

The most recent conference championship for the men came in 2015 (outdoor) when the program also celebrated an NAIA national title. The blueprint is in place for big things both within the GPAC and on the national landscape.

“It is time for our guys to shine,” Beisel said. “It’s time for our guys to do what we know they’re capable of and fight for that top spot in the GPAC and place high at nationals just like we did a few years ago before we graduated a lot of solid people. I think we’ve got the people to do it this year.”

A native of Fair Oaks, Calif., Wren has become the latest star thrower in a long line of them for McLaughlin. Wren has accumulated three career All-America awards and is coming off a fourth-place national finish in the weight throw in 2022. Perhaps he could become the next national champion to emerge from the throws group. He’ll be backed in the crew by the likes of Dagne’ Buck and Darien Semedo, two throwers ready to make a leap.

In the 400 meters, Meyer (another Lincoln Lutheran grad) takes the lead. He’s a three-time All-American as part of the 4x400 meter group. That close-knit crew has been fractured as it moves on without fellow All-Americans in Jacob Jennings, Cade Kleckner and Xavier Ross. A healthier run this winter and spring for Mark Cooke could help make up for those departures. Said Beisel, “It’s really come on strong. Kudos to sprints coach Mark Samuels who develops these athletes. There’s not a single kid who doesn’t blow away their high school times once they get here. I think part of it is what he does as a coach, but also it’s the atmosphere and the depth of the training group. These kids push each other and have high expectations.”

The distance runners should provide a lift after Concordia placed second in the GPAC in cross country. The ringleaders are Camden Sesna and Calvin Rohde, both hungry to shoot for their first career All-America awards. Sesna won the GPAC outdoor 5k title and will be a strong contender for additional conference championships. Others who are primed to make an impact include freshmen like Aaron Jendro and Jimmy Nguyen.

Says Beisel, “I think the impact we’re going to see in indoor is both our men and women in middle- and long-distance squads putting big points on the board at conference. We really need that on the guys’ side so we have a shot at challenging returning GPAC champion Doane. This will probably be our highest potential scoring (long distance) group at GPAC (since I’ve been at Concordia).”

The pole vault should be a strength once again. Zach Bennetts pulled off a sweep of GPAC indoor and outdoor titles in 2022 and has one career All-America award to his credit. Meanwhile, Chase Berry is a two-time All-American and Zach Zohner has twice qualified for nationals. The freshman class also looks strong as Evan Hill, Mayson Ostermeyer and Spencer Kearn strive to compete with the aforementioned returners.

In the jumps, Bee, Neb., native Wyatt Loga stands out thanks to his four career nationals appearances and two career All-America awards. Loga ranks in a tie for first on the program’s all-time high jump list (with a PR of 6’ 9”). In the horizontal jumps, Joel Rathe has the ability to make some noise. He’s also one of the program’s top sprinters.

There are several other newcomers hoping to make a splash. That list includes state champion hurdler Gage Fries and thrower Carson Fehlhafer, who became a starter on the football team’s offensive line as a freshman. Be on the lookout for additional newcomers such as Grant Jansen, Kirby Linhart, Myles Sadd, Aaron Spivey and Joel Smith.

Up First

The season gets started early as the program will host the Bulldog Early Bird Meet on Dec. 9-10. The hope is to get some national marks on the board prior to the close of the first semester.

“The speed and power kids have been practicing for three-and-a-half months and are ready to compete,” Beisel said. “A lot of them are in a really good place physically and mentally. They’ll go in and make a big impact right off the bat. Each year typically, we end up with 8-to-14 national qualifying marks between the men and women. That’s always a goal to try to get those early marks and punch our ticket, so that we can relax a little and focus on refining things. It gives you a boost of confidence.”

Meet Preview: 2022 Concordia Early Bird

Dec. 6, 2022

SEWARD, Neb. – The official start to the 2022-23 indoor season is coming this Friday and Saturday as Concordia University Track & Field gets set to host the Concordia Early Bird Meet. The program will welcome eight competing institutions to the Walz Fieldhouse for the meet, which will feature a heptathlon and pentathlon. The first action is slated to get underway at 2 p.m. CT on Friday. Then on Saturday, things will heat up with field events starting at 12 p.m. and running events following at 2 p.m.

Meet Info

Concordia Bulldog Early Bird Meet
Friday/Saturday (Dec. 9-10) | Walz Fieldhouse
--Meet Schedule | Live Results (field events will update mark-by-mark)
--Live Streams:

·        Running Events: https://www.youtube.com/c/BulldogTrackandField

·        Men’s & Women’s High Jump: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCnWh95Lz6dW3OUosomZyoA

·        Women’s Jumps (north runway): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChWMXJ0G97vIWXuBqGS3Iww

·        Men’s & Women’s Throwing Events: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqn-dBHnX9YmlOunOX9cweA

·        Men’s & Women’s Pole Vault: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIerIQe-tQv53fnpGwp_wTQ

·        Men’s Jumps (infield jumping events): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIerIQe-tQv53fnpGwp_wTQ

Competing Institutions
Briar Cliff University
College of Saint Mary
Concordia University
Dordt University
Doane University
Kansas Wesleyan University
Midland University
Mount Marty University
Northwestern College

Head Coach Matt Beisel and company are slated to host five 2022-23 indoor meets, including the 2023 GPAC Indoor Track & Field Championships. The Bulldogs are coming off 2022 indoor/outdoor seasons that saw the women’s program extend its run of consecutive GPAC championships to seven (dating back to the 2019 GPAC indoor meet). The women also earned two national trophies for placing third at indoor and fourth at outdoor. Meanwhile, the men are looking to move up after 2022 GPAC place finishes of fourth for indoor and third for outdoor. Concordia returns 20 of the 34 athletes it traveled to the 2022 indoor national meet in Brookings, S.D.

Foremost among the list of returners are past national champions Rachel Battershell (two-time 400m national champ) and Josie Puelz (four-time pole vault national champ). A 10-time All-American, Battershell is back for her fifth year inside the program. Other current Bulldogs who have claimed All-America awards are Zach Bennetts, Chase Berry, Jenna Esch, Kylahn Freiberg, Rylee Haecker, Wyatt Loga, Erin Mapson, Colton Meyer, Alli Owings, Erin Painter, Amy Richert and Chris Wren. Also worth noting, Bennetts is the reigning GPAC pole vault champion for both indoor and outdoor.

This will be the fourth year that Concordia has hosted the Early Bird Meet in the first semester. Said Beisel of the Early Bird, “The speed and power kids have been practicing for three-and-a-half months and are ready to compete. A lot of them are in a really good place physically and mentally. They’ll go in and make a big impact right off the bat. Each year typically, we end up with 8-to-14 national qualifying marks between the men and women. That’s always a goal to try to get those early marks and punch our ticket, so that we can relax a little and focus on refining things. It gives you a boost of confidence.”

Following the Early Bird, the Bulldogs will break for the holidays and resume indoor action the weekend of Jan. 13-14 for the Graduate Classic hosted by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the Scott Nisely Memorial Classic hosted by Doane. The next home meet on the slate will be the Concordia Polar Dog Invite on Jan. 21.

Four auto marks, 14 event titles notched at Concordia Early Bird

Dec. 10, 2022

SEWARD, Neb. – It’s back to action for the Concordia University Track & Field programs. The Bulldogs welcomed competitors from eight opposing institutions to the Fieldhouse this weekend (Dec. 9-10) for the Concordia Bulldog Early Bird Meet. The highlights for Concordia included 14 event championships, four automatic national qualifying marks and 10 performances that met the threshold for a ‘B’ national qualifying standard. The meet included pentathlon and heptathlon competitions that began on Friday.

This marks the start of year seven as head coach of his alma mater for Matt Beisel. The ‘A’ standards for his squads were delivered at the Early Bird by Chase Berry and Josie Puelz in the pole vault, Adrianna Rodencal in the 60 meter hurdles and Chris Wren in the weight throw. In addition, Amy Richert racked up a point total in the pentathlon that currently leads the NAIA.

“We always go into this meet with anticipation because it’s been months that our speed and power athletes have been training,” Beisel said. “We finally had a chance to cut them loose and see what they could do – that’s always fun. You want to see how freshmen are going to do in their first college track meet. It also gives the returners a chance to test the waters and see where they’re at. We always hope we can achieve some automatic marks and some ‘B’ standards at this meet, and we accomplished that today.”

The haul of 10 ‘B’ standard marks came courtesy of the women’s 4x800 meter relay, Jenna Esch in the 600 meters, Abby Gerber in the weight throw, Rylee Haecker in the 1,000 meters, Alli Owings in the weight throw, Hannah Newton in the high jump, Maddie Robinson in the shot put and weight throw, Myles Sadd in the high jump and Abi Wohlgemuth in the weight throw. In her debut outing as a Bulldog, Robinson won the weight throw competition (53’ 11 ¼”) and placed second in the shot put. Of the names mentioned, each of them has prior experience at nationals with the exception of the freshman Sadd.

Based on her high school career that included four individual state titles as a senior, Rodencal entered the program with high expectations. The Lincoln Lutheran grad did not disappoint while clocking in a first-place time of 8.97 in the 60 hurdles. Rodencal also was a winner in the 200 meters (26.11) and as part of the 4x400 meter relay (4:06.26).

Said Rodencal, “I was really happy with it. There were a few hiccups here and there, but it being my first college meet and my first meet in about six months, I’m really happy about it. I had a lot of amazing friends cheering me on. Just being able to carry on from high school and what I learned into this, being trained by other people, it’s definitely what I love doing.”

Puelz is just getting warmed up. The Lincoln Lutheran alum owns school pole vault records of 13’ 5 ¼” for indoor and 13’ 7 ¼” for outdoor. Puelz came up short of the 13-foot mark on Saturday, but she managed to clear 12’ 6 ¼” and beat out all other Early Bird competitors by a foot-and-a-half or more. On the women’s side of things, three Bulldogs cleared 11’ ¾”: Erin Boggs, Amira Cummings and Kayla Svoboda.

A two-time NAIA All-American, Berry will be headed back to nationals for a fifth time in his career. The Seward High School product cleared 15’ 7” and was a winner on the men’s side of the pole vault. The Concordia crew also wound up with the second and third place finishers in Zach Zohner (15’ 1”) and Evan Hill (13’ 1 ½”).

A native of Fair Oaks, Calif., Wren is most certainly the leader of the men’s throws crew. The three-time All-American accomplished one of his goals this weekend by hitting the auto mark in the weight throw with his toss of 61’ 10 ½.” He was a fourth-place finisher in the shot put at the Early Bird. Also in the weight throw, Dagne’ Buck, Ben Moll, Darien Semedo and Josiah Edwards placed six through eight, respectively. Semedo was the shot put runner up.

Said Wren, “We have a lot of freshmen that came in. Some of them are doing better than I did my freshman year, so that’s intimidating. You have to make sure you set the bar high for them when they get to where you are. The teammates that have been with me the whole four years – I have to push them and they’re pushing me. We’re helping each other get to where we need to be.”

On the women’s side of the throws, Robinson is going to be a boost. The three-time All-American highlighted the group which came away with four ‘B’ standards in the weight throw. Robinson, Wohlgemuth and Owings placed 1-2-3 in the event at the Early Bird.

There were some strong early outings from athletes coached by assistant Ben Hinckfoot. Richert made a run at her own school record in the pentathlon and won the event with a total of 3,465 at the Early Bird. In the high jump, sophomore Hannah Newton won on the women’s side with a ‘B’ standard and Sadd placed as a runner up on the men’s side. Elsewhere in the jumps, Concordia’s top performers included the likes of Joel Rathe and Kellie Rhodes in the long jump and Josi Noble and Aaron Spivey in the triple jump.

Beisel’s distance crew should be well-equipped to contribute conference points this season. Distance event champions at the Early Bird included Haecker in the 1,000 meters as well as Julie McIntyre and Calvin Rohde in their respective 3,000 meter races. Hannah Beintema and Keegan Beisel placed second and third, respectively, in the 3,000. There were encouraging signs even as two top distance runners, Kylahn Freiberg and Camden Sesna, were held back from competition.

As for the relays, not everything has come together just yet. With Freiberg held out, the 4x8 of Haecker, Rhaya Kaschinske, Beintema and McIntyre placed first in a time of 9:46.64, which converted to a ‘B’ standard. The women’s top 4x4 featured Esch, Rodencal, Trinity Tuls and Emily Loseke. They combined to run a time of 4:06.26. Meanwhile, Tuls also ran a 59.96 in the open 400 meters (second place). In the men’s 4x4, Colton Meyer ran the anchor after following three freshmen: Liam Fagan, Gage Fries and Kameron Farmer. They ran 3:28.2 and placed second. Meyer ran 50.20 in the open 400 meters (second place).

Added Beisel, “There were a lot of solid performances and some disappointments, as always, but we have to remind them to keep it in context. It doesn’t always go the way you want. If you look at personal bests, we had almost too many to count. Even when they get personal bests, most of our kids aren’t completely satisfied. They’ll say, ‘Well I wanted to do better.’ Overall, I’m happy with how it ran. We got to test out some new technology and it worked the way we wanted it to.”

Also notable, past stars on the track such as Rachel Battershell and Jordan Koepke got their seasons started. Battershell placed third in the 60 hurdles (9.25) and Koepke placed sixth in the 600 meters (1:42.79). It was simply a starting point for both All-Americans.

The Bulldogs will take a break as the first semester comes to a close at Concordia. The indoor season will resume on the weekend of Jan. 13-14 when Bulldog athletes will compete at both the Graduate Classic hosted by the University of Nebraska and the Scott Nisely Memorial Classic hosted by Doane. The next home meet on the slate is the Concordia Polar Dog Invite set for Jan. 21.

Automatic National Qualifiers

·        Chase Berry – Pole Vault (15’ 7”)

·        Josie Puelz – Pole Vault (12’ 6 ¼”)

·        Adrianna Rodencal – 60m Hurdles (8.97)

·        Chris Wren – Weight Throw (61’ 10 ½”)

Early Bird Event Champions

·        Women’s 4x400m Relay (4:06.26); Esch, Rodencal, Tuls, Loseke

·        Men’s 4x800m Relay (8:17.82); Rohde, Willweber, Pennekamp, Ideus

·        Women’s 4x800m Relay (9:46.64); Haecker, Kaschinske, Beintema, McIntyre

·        Chase Berry – Pole Vault (15’ 7”)

·        Rylee Haecker – 1,000 Meters (3:01.97)

·        Julie McIntyre – 3,000 Meters (11:24.40)

·        Hannah Newton – High Jump (5’ 4 ½”)

·        Josie Puelz – Pole Vault (12’ 6 ¼”)

·        *Amy Richert – Pentathlon (3,465)

·        Maddie Robinson – Weight Throw (53’ 11 ¼”)

·        Adrianna Rodencal – 60m Hurdles (8.97); 200 Meters (26.11)

·        Calvin Rohde – 3,000 Meters (8:52.07)

·        Chris Wren – Weight Throw (61’ 10 ½”)

*Met the minimum national qualifying standard

Meet Preview: 2023 Concordia Classic 

Jan. 31, 2023

SEWARD, Neb. – The third of five home meets this indoor season will take place on Friday when Concordia University Track & Field hosts the Concordia Classic. The first events are slated to get underway at 12 p.m. CT from the Walz Fieldhouse. Head Coach Matt Beisel’s squads have competed through four weekends of indoor competition and have combined for 16 performances that have met the automatic national qualifying standard. The Concordia Classic is scheduled to include athletes from 14 institutions (seven from the GPAC). For the second home meet in a row, the racewalk will be featured.

Meet Info

Concordia Classic
Friday, Feb. 3 | Walz Fieldhouse
--Meet Schedule (PDF) | Live Results (field events will update mark-by-mark)
--Live Streams:

·        Running Events: https://www.youtube.com/c/BulldogTrackandField

·        Men’s & Women’s High Jump: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCnWh95Lz6dW3OUosomZyoA

·        Women’s Jumps (north runway): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChWMXJ0G97vIWXuBqGS3Iww

·        Men’s & Women’s Throwing Events: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqn-dBHnX9YmlOunOX9cweA

·        Men’s & Women’s Pole Vault: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIerIQe-tQv53fnpGwp_wTQ

·        Men’s Jumps (infield jumping events): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIerIQe-tQv53fnpGwp_wTQ

Competing Institutions
Bellevue University
Benedictine College
Briar Cliff University
College of Saint Mary
Concordia University Nebraska
Doane University
Hastings College
Kansas Wesleyan University
Mount Marty University
Nebraska Wesleyan University
Northwestern College
University of Nebraska-Kearney
Wayne State College
York University

Overview

This indoor season, the Bulldogs have hosted the Bulldog Early Bird Meet (Dec. 9-10) and the Concordia Polar Dog Invite (Jan. 21). The program’s tally after four weekends of indoor competition includes 16 ‘A’ standards and 24 ‘B’ standards. In addition, four Bulldog pentathletes have eclipsed the minimum national reporting standard of 2,950 points. Amy Richert currently ranks No. 2 nationally in the pentathlon. Below is a list of the automatic national qualifying standards achieved so far.

·        Women’s 4x400m Relay, A (3:54.81)

·        Men’s Distance Medley Relay, A (10:10.06)

·        Women’s Distance Medley Relay, A (12:20.68)

·        Rachel Battershell – 60 Hurdles, A (8.94)

·        Zach Bennetts – Pole Vault, A (15’ 11”)

·        Chase Berry – Pole Vault, A (15’ 7”)

·        Rylee Haecker – 1,000 Meters, A (2:56.44)

·        Erin Mapson – Pole Vault, A (12’ 2 ½”)

·        Colton Meyer – 400 Meters, A (48.57)

·        Josie Puelz – Pole Vault, A (12’ 9 ½”)

·        Maddie Robinson – Shot Put, A (44’ 9”)

·        Adrianna Rodencal – 60 Hurdles, A (8.89)

·        Calvin Rohde – 1,000 Meters, A (2:28.60); Mile, A (4:12.88)

·        Chris Wren – Weight Throw, A (62’ 10 ¾”)

·        Zach Zohner – Pole Vault, A (15’ 7”)


The first set of 2022-23 NAIA indoor ratings were released last week by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). According to the coaches’ association calculations, the Bulldogs boast national rankings of No. 2 on the women’s side and No. 5 on the men’s side. Both Concordia teams got a boost from owning the No. 1 rated distance medley relays (at the time) and from holding more than 30 marks that met the ‘A’ or ‘B’ national reporting standard when the ratings were released. Top five rankings are nothing new for the Bulldog women’s program, which turned in 2022 NAIA national finishes of third for indoor and fourth for outdoor.

The newest automatic national qualifiers for the Bulldogs are Rachel Battershell (60 hurdles), Zach Bennetts (pole vault), Calvin Rohde (mile) and Zach Zohner (pole vault), courtesy of their efforts at last week’s Fred Beile Classic. The indoor season Rohde has enjoyed is worth highlighting. The Reed City, Mich., native has been especially motivated after falling short of qualifying for cross country nationals. He’s now qualified for the 2023 NAIA indoor meet in the 1,000 meters, the mile and as part of the distance medley relay. Nationally, Rohde ranks fifth in the 1,000 (2:28.60) and 11th in the mile (4:12.88). Meanwhile, the DMR (10:10.06) sits No. 2 on the national list.

The USTFCCCA will put out a new edition of its ratings on Wednesday. Based on last week, the Concordia Classic will feature five nationally ranked teams on the men’s side, No. 5 Concordia, No. 7 Doane, No. 7 Nebraska Wesleyan (NCAA D3), No. 16 Mount Marty and No. 17 Nebraska Kearney (NCAA D2), and four nationally ranked teams on the women’s side, No. 2 Concordia, No. 13 Doane, No. 21 Nebraska Wesleyan (NCAA D3) and No. 24 Benedictine.

Select Bulldogs will also compete at this weekend’s Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational (Feb. 3-4) hosted by the University of Nebraska. Upcoming home meets include the Concordia Invite (Feb. 10) and the GPAC Championships (Feb. 17-18). On Monday evening, the GPAC released the schedule for the indoor conference meet. It can be found HERE.

Rohde honored as GPAC Track Athlete of the Week

Feb. 1. 2023

SEWARD, Neb. – A national qualifier in three separate events, Calvin Rohde has been recognized as the GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports Men’s Indoor Track Athlete of the Week, as announced by the conference on Wednesday (Feb. 1). Rohde is the second Bulldog to be honored with a GPAC weekly award during the 2022-23 indoor season. Amy Richert garnered GPAC Women’s Field Athlete of the Week honors on Dec. 14.

Also one of the top runners for the cross country program, Rohde has reached new heights this indoor season. In last week’s action, Rohde clocked an automatic national qualifying time of 4:16.10 in the mile and won the race at the Fred Beile Classic. That performance (converted to 4:12.88 on the national list) currently paces the GPAC and ranks No. 11 in the NAIA. In addition, Rohde placed third at the Beile Classic in the 3,000 meters in a time of 8:54.28. Rohde has qualified for nationals in two additional events: the 1,000 meters (2:28.60) and as part of the distance medley relay (10:10.06).

A native of Reed City, Mich., Rohde ran the mile and in the DMR at the 2022 indoor national championships. He’s collected eight career all-conference awards between track and cross country. Rohde and the Bulldogs are getting set to host the Concordia Classic on Friday.

Pole vault crew crushes it at Concordia Classic, Rodencal breaks 60 hurdles record

Feb. 3, 2023

SEWARD, Neb. – Athletes from 14 different institutions took center stage on Friday (Feb. 3) for wall-to-wall action at the annual Concordia Classic held inside the Walz Fieldhouse. Most significantly, the pole vaulters from Concordia University Track & Field ruled the day as eight athletes in that event area met the automatic national qualifying standard. In addition, freshman Adrianna Rodencal became the new record holder for the women’s program in the 60 meter hurdles. Fresh national qualifiers on Friday included vaulters Erin Boggs, Amira Cummings and Kayla Svoboda, as well as Maddie Robinson in the weight throw.

This marks the fifth weekend of 2022-23 indoor competition for Head Coach Matt Beisel’s squads, which boast NAIA national ratings of second on the women’s side and fourth on the men’s side. While most Concordia athletes were at home on Friday, there were three Bulldogs who represented the program at the Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational in Lincoln.

“There were a lot of good things that happened, and it also left a lot of us unsatisfied because we want more,” Beisel said. “There were highlights in every event area but in the chase for automatic standards, some of them were hoping for better. It just didn’t come together. We’ve got two more weeks to get them taken care of. It was exciting to see the new ‘A’ standards for the women’s pole vault and the guys showed they could continue to reach that standard. In middle to long distance, we just crushed it on PR’s. I’m very excited we’re performing that well across the board. I’m also very happy for Adrianna for putting that (school record) together.”

The program’s women’s pole vault crew entered the weekend with a national event squad ranking of No. 2 (according to the USTFCCCA) and may land at No. 1 next week. Five Bulldogs are now qualified in the event after three fresh ‘A’ standards were added on Friday. The usual suspects Josie Puelz (13’ ¼”) and Erin Mapson (12’ ½”) led the way at the top of the pack while Boggs, Cummings and Svoboda each cleared 11’ 6 ½.” Boggs and Svoboda will both be headed to nationals for the first time.

On the men’s side of the vault, three Concordia athletes who had already booked trips to nationals repeated performances that met the ‘A’ standard. Zach Bennetts, Chase Berry and Zach Zohner each rose above 15’ 7” while holding down the two through four placements at the Concordia Classic. A starting corner on the football team, Jayzen Armstrong also tried his hand at vaulting and cleared 13’ 1 ½.”

The four-time national champion Puelz sets the standard for the group. She was relieved to again reach 13 feet and expressed joy for her teammates. Said Puelz, “I am just so proud of each and every one of them. They really have been working hard, and I get to see the hard work they put in during practice. I admire that so much. It’s just so exciting to see people get that reward of qualifying for nationals for the first time. I think it will be a great experience, especially for a freshman like Kayla – and now EB qualifying. I’m super stoked to see how they will continue to progress.”

In competition at the Devaney Center in Lincoln, Rodencal shined brightest with a PR of 8.80 in the 60 meter hurdle prelims. Her time bested the previous school standard of 8.81 by current teammate Rachel Battershell. Rodencal narrowly missed out on the finals (ninth place) while competing against a field heavy on NCAA Division I runners. The Lincoln Lutheran alum also ran a 60 meter time of 7.92. At the same venue, Battershell clocked times of 9.23 in the 60 hurdles and 1:00.30 in the 400 meters. On the men’s side, Colton Meyer ran a 49.32 in the 400 meters. He had already qualified for nationals in the event with a 48.57 (converted).

As Rodencal tweeted in response to a social media post about her school record, “All glory to God. I wouldn’t have been able to do this without this team.”

In the distance events, Rylee Haecker and Calvin Rohde continue to perform like stars. Named GPAC Track Athlete of the Week, Rohde ran a new personal best in the 1,000 meters by clocking a Concordia Classic first place time of 2:29.18, also a meet record (converted to 2:27.16 for the national list). Rohde is a national qualifier in three separate events. As for Haecker, she took the crown on the women’s side of the 1,000 meters with her time of 2:59.00. Like Rohde, the Davenport, Neb., native ranks No. 3 in the nation in the event. She was followed again in the 1,000 with successful races from teammates Rhaya Kaschinske (3:07.80) and Hannah Beintema (3:09.32).

Solid marks were recorded in the long jump as Joel Rathe equaled a PR (23’ ¾”) with a ‘B’ standard that put him in third place at the Concordia Classic. On the women’s side, Hayley Miles notched a personal best of her own in landing at 17’ 8,” just out-distancing teammate Amy Richert (17’ 6 ¼”) for second place. (Richert also ran 9.07 in the 60 hurdles). The top Dawgs in the other jumps were Hannah Newton (5’ ½”), Kimberly Schropfer (5 ½”) and Myles Sadd (6’ 5”) in the high jump and Josi Noble (35’ 2 ½”) and Aaron Spivey (44’ 2 ½”) in the triple jump.

Robinson emerged as the highlight performer from a throws standpoint. Her new automatic mark in the weight throw measured in at 54’ 3 ¼” on a day when she also hit the ‘A’ standard again in the shot put (44’ 6”). In a meet loaded with big-time throwers, Robinson placed third in the shot put and seventh in the weight throw. As expected, Chris Wren popped off a national qualifying toss of 57’ 9 ¾” and placed third in the weight throw. He was also the team’s best performer in the shot put while placing 11th (46’). Notably, three men met the ‘B’ standard in the weight throw: Dagne’ Buck (54’ 2”), Darien Semedo (53’ 9 ¾”) and Brady Klute (53’ 7”). So too did Kamryn Pokorney (52’ 1 ¼”) on the women’s side.

For the second home meet in a row, Concordia conducted a 3,000 meter racewalk event. Both Lauren Dawson (19:06.59) and Peyton Gissler (20:08.80) clocked personal bests while placing first and second, respectively, out of a small group. Additional Concordia Classic runners up on the track included Keegan Beisel (5,000 meters), Jenna Esch (600 meters) and Kayla Kirchner (200 meters). Beisel ran a 5,000 meter PR of 19:22.88. Noble led the women’s 400 meter group with a 59.70. In her pursuit of rounding back into form, Jordan Koepke ran 1:38.46 (just behind Esch) in the 600 meters. Both Esch and Koepke met the ‘B’ standard.

Automatic national qualifying standards achieved

·        Zach Bennetts – Pole Vault (15’ 7”)

·        Chase Berry – Pole Vault (15’ 7”)

·        Erin Boggs – *Pole Vault (11’ 6 ½”)

·        Amira Cummings – *Pole Vault (11’ 6 ½”)

·        Rylee Haecker – 1,000 Meters (2:59.00)

·        Erin Mapson – Pole Vault (12’ ½”)

·        Josie Puelz – Pole Vault (13’ ¼”)

·        Maddie Robinson – Shot Put (44’ 6”); *Weight Throw (54’ 3 ¼”)

·        Adrianna Rodencal – 60m Hurdles (8.80); at Husker Invite

·        Calvin Rohde – 1,000 Meters (2:29.18)

·        Kayla Svoboda – *Pole Vault (11’ 6 ½”)

·        Chris Wren – Weight Throw (57’ 9 ¾”)

·        Zach Zohner – Pole Vault (15’ 7”)

*Fresh ‘A’ standard

Concordia Classic event championships

·        Lauren Dawson – 3,000m Racewalk (19:06.59)

·        Rylee Haecker – 1,000 Meters (2:59.00)

·        Calvin Rohde – 1,000 Meters (2:29.18)

The string of home meets will continue next Friday (Feb. 10) as the Bulldogs will host the Concordia Invite. A tentative meet schedule can be found HERE. The Concordia Invite will be the final outing prior to the GPAC Championships slated for Feb. 17-18 inside the Fieldhouse. In addition, a select few Bulldogs will compete on Saturday (Feb. 4) at the Husker invite. More info on that meet can be found HERE.

Haecker, Rohde PR in mile while wrapping up weekend at Devaney Center

Feb. 4, 2023

LINCOLN, Neb. – In capping off the weekend, 11 Bulldogs represented Concordia University Track & Field at the 2023 Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational (Feb. 3-4). In highlighting Saturday’s action, both Rylee Haecker and Calvin Rohde clocked personal bests in the mile, just a day after running that same event at the Concordia Classic. On Friday at the Devaney Sports Center, freshman Adrianna Rodencal set a new school women’s standard in the 60 hurdles with a time of 8.80.

Four fresh automatic national qualifying standards were added by Head Coach Matt Beisel’s squads on Friday. The season tally now stands at 20 ‘A’ standards.

The Reed City, Mich., native Rohde won his heat at the Husker Invite on Saturday with a time of 4:12.33 and placed eighth overall in a field of 24 runners. That time puts Rohde at No. 12 on the national list and at No. 2 among GPAC competitors. Meanwhile, Haecker (Davenport, Neb.) crossed the finish line at the Devaney Center in 5:08.24, less than three seconds off the automatic national qualifying time. To this point, Haecker is a qualifier in the 1,000 meters and as part of the distance medley relay.

A Lincoln Lutheran alum, Rodencal ran three races at the Husker Invite (see below). Her weekend concluded on Saturday with her running a collegiate personal best of 25.76 in the 200 meters. Rodencal broke teammate Rachel Battershell’s 60 hurdles school record on Friday. Battershell returned to the track on Saturday and helped the 4x400 meter relay to a time of 3:55.66, which again met the ‘A’ standard. Battershell ran the anchor after following Jenna Esch, Jordan Koepke and Kayla Kirchner.

The men also ran a 4x4 on Saturday afternoon. The grouping of Colby Sugden, Mark Cooke, Liam Fagan and Colton Meyer recorded a time of 3:21.62 and placed 13th overall. Concordia will have a couple more chances to hit the men’s 4x4 ‘A’ standard of 3:17.83 before nationals come around in March. Meyer also ran the open 400 meters on Friday and crossed the finish line in 49.32.

Bulldogs at Husker Invite

Rachel Battershell

·        60 hurdles – 9.23 (prelims); 11th/18

·        400 meters – 1:00.30; 22nd/30

·        4x400m relay – 3:55.66; 7th/12

Mark Cooke

·        4x400m relay – 3:21.62; 13th/18

Jenna Esch

·        4x400m relay – 3:55.66; 7th/12

Liam Fagan

·        4x400m relay – 3:21.62; 13th/18

Rylee Haecker

·        Mile – 5:08.24; 14th/27

Kayla Kirchner

·        4x400m relay – 3:55.66; 7th/12

Jordan Koepke

·        4x400m relay – 3:55.66; 7th/12

Colton Meyer

·        400 meters – 49.32; 12th/50

·        4x400m relay – 3:21.62; 13th/18

Adrianna Rodencal

·        60 meters – 7.92 (prelims); 14th/25

·        60 hurdles – 8.80 (prelims); 9th/18

·        200 meters – 25.76; 14th/27

Calvin Rohde

·        Mile – 4:12.33; 8th/24

Colby Sugden

·        4x400m relay – 3:21.62; 13th/18

The string of home meets will continue next Friday (Feb. 10) as the Bulldogs will host the Concordia Invite. A tentative meet schedule can be found HERE. The Concordia Invite will be the final outing prior to the GPAC Championships slated for Feb. 17-18 inside the Fieldhouse.

Meet Preview: 2023 Concordia Invite

Feb. 7, 2023

SEWARD, Neb. – For the second week in a row, and for the fourth time this indoor season, the Concordia University Track & Field program will welcome visitors to the Walz Fieldhouse for an indoor home meet. The Concordia Invite slated for this Friday is scheduled to include athletes from 10 institutions and will get underway with field events at 12 p.m. CT. Though smaller in number of competitors compared to last week’s Concordia Classic, the Concordia Invite will run will into the evening with the 4x400 meter relays on the docket for 9 p.m. or later.

Meet Info

Concordia Invite
Friday, Feb. 10 | Walz Fieldhouse
--Meet Schedule (PDF) | Live Results (field events will update mark-by-mark)
--Live Streams:

·        Running Events: https://www.youtube.com/c/BulldogTrackandField

·        Men’s & Women’s High Jump: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCnWh95Lz6dW3OUosomZyoA

·        Women’s Jumps (north runway): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChWMXJ0G97vIWXuBqGS3Iww

·        Men’s & Women’s Throwing Events: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqn-dBHnX9YmlOunOX9cweA

·        Men’s & Women’s Pole Vault: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIerIQe-tQv53fnpGwp_wTQ

·        Men’s Jumps (infield jumping events): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIerIQe-tQv53fnpGwp_wTQ

Competing Institutions
Bellevue University
Benedictine College
Bethany College
College of Saint Mary
Concordia University Nebraska
Doane University
Friends University
Grand View University
Hastings College
Midland University

Overview

Head Coach Matt Beisel’s squads have been included in the top five of the USTFCCCA NAIA national ratings index for each of the first two editions released this indoor season (another set will be unveiled on Wednesday). Those ratings are calculated using the national performance lists. Through five weekends of indoor competition, Concordia athletes have combined for 20 automatic national qualifying marks, 25 ‘B’ standards and four pentathlon point totals that meet the minimum national reporting standard. Below is a list of each of the automatic marks. New additions to the national qualifying field that came out of the Concordia Classic were vaulters Erin Boggs, Amira Cummings and Kayla Svoboda, as well as Maddie Robinson in the weight throw. The pole vault crew is responsible for an impressive eight ‘A’ standards, including five on the women’s side and three on the men’s side.

·        Women’s 4x400m Relay, A (3:54.81)

·        Men’s Distance Medley Relay, A (10:10.06)

·        Women’s Distance Medley Relay, A (12:20.68)

·        Rachel Battershell – 60 Hurdles, A (8.94)

·        Zach Bennetts – Pole Vault, A (15’ 11”)

·        Chase Berry – Pole Vault, A (15’ 7”)

·        Erin Boggs – Pole Vault, A (11’ 6 ½”)

·        Amira Cummings – Pole Vault, A (11’ 6 ½”)

·        Rylee Haecker – 1,000 Meters, A (2:56.44)

·        Erin Mapson – Pole Vault, A (12’ 2 ½”)

·        Colton Meyer – 400 Meters, A (48.57)

·        Josie Puelz – Pole Vault, A (13’ ¼”)

·        Maddie Robinson – Shot Put, A (44’ 9”); Weight Throw, A (54’ 3 ¼”)

·        Adrianna Rodencal – 60 Hurdles, A (8.80)

·        Calvin Rohde – 1,000 Meters, A (2:27.16); Mile, A (4:12.33)

·        Kayla Svoboda – Pole Vault, A (11’ 6 ½”)

·        Chris Wren – Weight Throw, A (62’ 10 ¾”)

·        Zach Zohner – Pole Vault, A (15’ 7”)


A new school standard was set last week at the Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational in Lincoln, Neb., where Adrianna Rodencal broke through in the 60 meter hurdles. Rodencal is making a major impact as a freshman who enjoyed a stellar athletic career at Lincoln Lutheran High School. She ran the 60 hurdles in 8.80 seconds during the prelims at the Husker Invite and just missed the finals in a field loaded with NCAA Division I competitors. Rodencal also clocked times of 7.92 in the 60 meter dash and 25.76 in the 200 meters while in action at the Devaney Center. Her hurdles time broke a three-year old school standard of 8.81 held by current teammate Rachel Battershell. On the updated performance lists, Rodencal ranks No. 1 in the GPAC and No. 15 nationally in the 60 hurdles.

Named GPAC Track Athlete of the Week on Feb. 1, Calvin Rohde has continued to tear it up this indoor season. The Reed City, Mich., native clocked new personal bests this past week in both the 1,000 meters (2:27.16 c) and in the mile (4:12.33). Those times were both ‘A’ standards that have moved him up to national rankings of fourth in the 1,000 and 12th in the mile. He was also part of distance medley relay that qualified for nationals back on Jan. 21 (currently sitting No. 6 in the NAIA). Also in action at the Devaney Center, Rylee Haecker ran the mile in 5:08.24. Both Rohde and Haecker figure to be major point contributors at the upcoming GPAC Championships.

The Concordia Invite will serve as a precursor to the conference meet, which will also be held inside the Fieldhouse. The Bulldogs will get another look at four GPAC opponents this week: College of Saint Mary, Doane, Hastings and Midland. In last week’s national ratings released by the USTFCCCA, boasted a total of nine top 25 squads between men and women. Nationally ranked teams on the men’s side were No. 4 Concordia, No. 7 Dordt, No. 8 Doane, No. 11 Midland and No. 21 Mount Marty. Ranked squads on the women’s side were No. 2 Concordia, No. 7 Hastings, No. 19 Doane and No. 25 Dordt.

The two-day GPAC Championships are slated for Feb. 17-18 in Seward. The schedule of events for the conference meet can be found HERE. The Bulldogs will have hosted five 2023 indoor meets when all is said and done.

Rohde collects second straight GPAC weekly award

Feb. 8, 2023

SEWARD, Neb. – As another sign of the high achievement of Calvin Rohde this indoor season, the Reed City, Mich., native has been honored as the GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports Men’s Indoor Track Athlete of the Week for the second straight time. The conference announced its latest weekly awards on Wednesday (Feb. 8). Concordia University Track & Field has earned a total of three GPAC athlete of the week honors this 2022-23 indoor season. Amy Richert pulled in weekly recognition on Dec. 14.

Rohde continued tearing it up last week while appearing at both the Concordia Classic and the Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational. Rohde clocked new personal bests this past week in both the 1,000 meters (2:27.16 c) and in the mile (4:12.33). Those times were both ‘A’ standards that have moved him up to national rankings of fourth in the 1,000 and 12th in the mile. He was also part of distance medley relay that qualified for nationals back on Jan. 21 (currently sitting No. 6 in the NAIA). On the GPAC performance lists, Rohde ranks first in the 1,000 meters and second in the mile. Rohde will make his third career trip to track nationals this coming March.

Rohde and the Bulldogs will remain at home this Friday to host the Concordia Invite. The schedule of events for that meet can be found HERE.

Bulldogs add five national qualifying standards, win 10 titles at Concordia Invite

Feb. 10, 2023

SEWARD, Neb. – The Concordia Invite (Feb. 10) represented one final chance for Concordia University Track & Field athletes to improve their positioning heading into the 2023 GPAC Indoor Track & Field Championships. The Bulldogs emerged from this season’s fourth indoor home meet with five new automatic national qualifying marks, four fresh ‘B’ standards and 10 Concordia Invite event championships. The new auto marks came courtesy of Rachel Battershell (400 meters), Dagne’ Buck (weight throw), Jenna Esch (600 meters), Hannah Newton (high jump) and Camden Sesna (mile). In addition, Adrianna Rodencal broke her own school record in the 60 meter hurdles.

Head Coach Matt Beisel’s squads entered the weekend with NAIA national rankings of third on the women’s side and 11th on the men’s side (according to the USTFCCCA). The season tally of ‘A’ standards has moved to 25.

“There was a lot of good stuff that happened,” Beisel said. “I’m very happy with the fact that we hit a bunch of new ‘A’ standards and added some ‘B’ standards. We had a lot of personal bests that are going to move us up higher in conference – and gives us evidence they can potentially score. Now we know that. It’s always fun to win events. Some of these kids won events and hit their personal bests. Camden Sesna was an example of that. There are a lot of people who maybe aren’t going to get the spotlight, but they showed us a lot today. I’m really proud of the efforts our athletes put out there.”

The Lincoln Lutheran alum Rodencal continues to impress in her freshman season. She ran the 60 hurdle prelims in 8.93 on Friday before slashing her time down to 8.76 in the finals, allowing her to just barely eke out the win over Hastings’ Nisa Thomas (8.77). Rodencal’s previous school record in the event was the 8.80 she ran a week earlier at the Sevigne Husker Invitational. She didn’t stop there. Rodencal also clocked a new personal best in the 200 meters (25.77) and was the event champion.

Three of the new automatic qualifiers came on the track. A 10-time NAIA All-American and two-time national champion, Battershell hit the ‘A’ standard in the 400 meters while winning the event in 57.81 (converted to 57.06 on the national list). A 4x4 teammate of Battershell, Esch had consistently run the ‘B’ standard in the 600 meters before knocking down a barrier and finishing the race in a first-place time of 1:37.09 (converted to 1:35.92 on the national list) on Friday. She fended off teammate Jordan Koepke, who placed second in 1:37.70. Then in the men’s mile, Camden Sesna shrugged off the injuries he's dealt with this indoor season and took the Concordia Invite crown in a time of 4:17.76 (converted to 4:14.52 on the national list). Sesna joined teammate Calvin Rohde as a qualifier in the mile.

Said Esch, “It feels great. I’ve been working for it since the fall. I’ve had a few setbacks, but having a teammate like Jordan push me every day in practice and in every meet, I’m super grateful to have her by my side. I couldn’t have hit the ‘A’ without her.”

Added Sesna, “I was super excited and super happy. Praise God for that. This was the first time I’ve raced in about three weeks. I haven’t been doing too much running thanks to a hamstring injury, but it felt good to get back on the track. The main goal was to get back on the track and get a time down for conference. I’m happy to come away with a national qualifying time.”

Buck stood out as the breakthrough performer from a throws perspective. He punched his ticket to Brookings, S.D., thanks to a personal best toss of 57’ 7 ¾” in the weight throw. The top five athletes in the event all hit the ‘A’ standard, including Concordia’s Chris Wren, who placed third (60’ 3”). The deep field of Bulldog men’s weight throwers also turned in three ‘B’ standards, courtesy of Darien Semedo, Brady Klute and Ben Moll. On the women’s side, Maddie Robinson achieved another ‘A’ standard (54’ 3 ¼”; sixth place) and teammate Abi Wohlgemuth hit the ‘B.’ The top Concordia competitors in the shot put were Semedo (49’ 2 ½”; fourth place) and Kamryn Pokorney (43’ ¼”; fifth place).

It was an overall strong day in the jumps with Newton highlighting that group’s efforts. The Crete, Neb., native took first in the high jump competition with her clearance of 5’ 5 ¾.” Teammate Kimberly Schropfer (5’ ½”) was the event’s runner up. Most significant on the men’s side, Joel Rathe attained a personal best and pushed his ‘B’ standard long jump to 23’ 2 ¾” (second place). Additional event titles were delivered by Kellie Rhodes in the long jump (17’ 6 ¾”) and Aaron Spivey in the triple jump (45’ 2 ¼”). Meanwhile Josi Noble was a runner up in the triple jump (35’ 8 ¾”).

In the pole vault, four Bulldogs repeated national qualifying performances. On the women’s side, Josie Puelz (12’ 10 ¼”), Erin Mapson (12’ 4 ½”) and Amira Cummings (11’ 6 ½”) placed two through four at the Concordia Invite. Erin Boggs and Kayla Svoboda tied for sixth. On the men’s side, Zach Bennetts (15’ 9”) and Zach Zohner (15’ 5”) rose above 15 feet and landed in second and third place, respectively. The pole vault crew tally for national qualifiers remains at eight heading into the conference meet.

More Concordia Invite tiles on the track came via Hannah Beintema (mile) and Kylahn Freiberg (1,000 meters). Second place claims were turned in by Rhaya Kaschinske (800 meters), Julie McIntyre (3,000 meters) and Lauren Dawson (3,000 meter race walk). Dawson has been gaining major ground in the race walk. Also noteworthy was Trinity Tuls’ ‘B’ standard of 58.88 (converted to 58.11) in the 400 meters. Freiberg’s time of 3:03.63 (converted to 3:01.65) was also a ‘B’ standard. To cap off the evening, the Bulldogs’ top men’s 4x4 gave it a shot in trying to qualify for nationals. The group of Mark Cooke, Colby Sugden, Liam Fagan and Colton Meyer came up a bit short while finishing in 3:23.84.

Automatic National Qualifying Standards Achieved at Concordia Invite

·        Rachel Battershell – *400 Meters (57.81)

·        Zach Bennetts – Pole Vault (15’ 9”)

·        Dagne’ Buck – *Weight Throw (57’ 7 ¾”)

·        Amira Cummings – Pole Vault (11’ 6 ½”)

·        Jenna Esch – *600 Meters (1:37.09)

·        Erin Mapson – Pole Vault (12’ 4 ½”)

·        Hannah Newton – *High Jump (5’ 5 ¾”)

·        Josie Puelz – Pole Vault (12’ 10 ¼”)

·        Maddie Robinson – Weight Throw (54’ 3 ¼”)

·        Adrianna Rodencal – 60 Hurdles (8.76)

·        Camden Sesna – *Mile (4:17.76)

·        Chris Wren – Weight Throw (60’ 3”)

*Fresh ‘A’ standard

Concordia Invite Event Champions

·        Rachel Battershell – 400 Meters (57.81)

·        Hannah Beintema – Mile (5:26.80)

·        Jenna Esch – 600 Meters (1:37.09)

·        Kylahn Freiberg – 1,000 Meters (3:03.63)

·        Hannah Newton – High Jump (5’ 7 ¾”)

·        Adrianna Rodencal – 60 Hurdles (8.76); 200 Meters (25.77)

·        Kellie Rhodes – Long Jump (17’ 6 ¾”)

·        Camden Sesna – Mile (4:17.76)

·        Aaron Spivey – Triple Jump (45’ 2 ¼”)

Up next will be the GPAC Championships slated for next Friday and Saturday (Feb. 17-18). The Bulldogs will host the conference indoor meet for the first time since 2019. The full schedule of events can be found HERE.

Said Beisel, “I’m excited to see what conference brings us. We always love hosting. I feel like our women are positioned very well to win another conference title and our men are probably going to be battling it out with a few teams for those top three spots. God-willing, hopefully both teams are able to stay healthy this next week. We’ll roll up our sleeves and see what we can get done next week against some of the best schools in the nation.”

Meet Preview: 2023 GPAC Indoor Championships

Feb. 13, 2023

SEWARD, Neb. – Following six weekends of indoor competition, Concordia University Track & Field is ready to host the 2023 GPAC Indoor Track & Field Championships. The Walz Fieldhouse will serve as the venue for the conference indoor meet for the first time since 2019. The ’23 meet will get started on Friday afternoon with the women’s pentathlon and the men’s heptathlon. Then on Saturday, action will heat up until closing with the 4x400 meter relays around 8 p.m. CT. The awards ceremony is scheduled for 8:30 p.m.

Meet Info

2023 GPAC Indoor Track & Field Championships
Friday-Saturday, Feb. 17-18 | Walz Fieldhouse
--Admission: $10 for adults/senior citizens, $3 for K-12; only those with NAIA passes and GPAC student ID’s will be admitted free of charge.
--Meet Program (includes heat sheets) | PDF
--Meet Schedule (PDF) | Live Results (field events will update mark-by-mark)
--Live Streams:

·        Running Events: https://www.youtube.com/c/BulldogTrackandField

·        Men’s & Women’s High Jump: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCnWh95Lz6dW3OUosomZyoA

·        Women’s Jumps (north runway): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChWMXJ0G97vIWXuBqGS3Iww

·        Men’s & Women’s Throwing Events: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqn-dBHnX9YmlOunOX9cweA

·        Men’s & Women’s Pole Vault: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIerIQe-tQv53fnpGwp_wTQ

·        Men’s Jumps (infield jumping events): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIerIQe-tQv53fnpGwp_wTQ

Each of the streaming links shown above are included on the “Watch the Bulldogs” page here: https://www.cune.edu/athletics/watch-bulldogs.

Overview

Entering the weekend, the Concordia women’s program has emerged as the winner of each of the past seven GPAC championship meets. At the 2022 conference indoor meet hosted by Doane, the Bulldog women racked up 194.5 points while outperforming second place Hastings (163). On the men’s side, Concordia placed fourth while totaling 67 points. Doane is the reigning GPAC men’s indoor champion. The most recent GPAC team title for the Bulldog men came at the 2015 conference outdoor meet hosted by Dordt. Below is a list of GPAC teams currently boasting NAIA top 25 ratings (based on last week’s calculations from the USTFCCCA).

GPAC nationally ranked teams (USTFCCCA – Feb. 8)

Men
4. Dordt
10. Doane
11. Concordia
14. Midland
25. Mount Marty

Women
3. Concordia
7. Hastings
11. Doane
24. Dordt

Concordia’s returning GPAC individual champions from the 2022 indoor meet include Zach Bennetts (pole vault), Rylee Haecker (mile and 1,000 meters), Jordan Koepke (600 meters) and Josie Puelz (pole vault). Puelz broke the GPAC indoor meet pole vault record last year by clearing 13’ 5” in Crete. Among current Bulldogs, 10 have won at least one GPAC event championship in their careers (see list below). Fifth-year athlete Rachel Battershell owns eight career conference championships to her credit. In addition, Puelz has won four and Haecker has captured three. The work of Bennetts and Puelz in 2022 allowed Concordia to sweep GPAC indoor/outdoor pole vault titles.

Heading into the 2023 meet, the following Bulldogs own marks that pace the conference: women’s 4x400 meter relay, women’s distance medley relay, Rachel Battershell (400 meters), Zach Bennetts (pole vault), Rylee Haecker (1,000 meters and mile), Hannah Newton (high jump), Josie Puelz (pole vault) and Adrianna Rodencal (60 hurdles). A freshman out of Lincoln Lutheran High School, Rodencal broke her own school record last week when she ran a Concordia Invite winning time of 8.76 in the 60 hurdles. Breakthroughs at the Concordia Invite came in the form of five new automatic national qualifying standards, courtesy of Battershell (400 meters), Dagne’ Buck (weight throw), Jenna Esch (600 meters), Newton (high jump) and Camden Sesna (mile).

The program tally after six weekends of indoor competition includes 25 ‘A’ standards and 25 ‘B’ standards. In addition, four Bulldog pentathletes have eclipsed the minimum national reporting standard of 2,950 points. Amy Richert currently ranks No. 4 nationally in the pentathlon (and No. 2 in the GPAC). Other Concordia athletes who rank in the top five of the NAIA are Bennetts (No. 5 in the pole vault), Haecker (No. 3 in 1,000 meters), Newton (No. 4 in the high jump), Puelz (No. 3 in the pole vault), Calvin Rohde (No. 5 in 1,000 meters) and Chris Wren (No. 5 in the weight throw).

Head Coach Matt Beisel is in his seventh season leading both the cross country and track programs. He’s been named a GPAC Coach of the Year eight times (once for cross country). All eight of his conference championships have come on the women’s side. The men are looking to break through after having placed second in the GPAC three times in track during Beisel’s tenure. This past fall was a strong one for Concordia Cross Country as the men placed second in the GPAC and the women earned an at-large bid to the national meet.

The GPAC meet will be a final chance to post national qualifying marks. Those who qualify will continue their indoor seasons at the 2023 NAIA Indoor Track & Field National Championships in Brookings, S.D., March 2-4. More details on the national meet can be found HERE.

Current Bulldogs with GPAC event titles
Rachel Battershell – 8 (2021 outdoor 400 hurdles; 2021 outdoor 4x400m relay; 2021 indoor 400 meters; 2020 indoor 60 hurdles; 2020 indoor 400 meters; 2020 indoor 4x400m relay; 2019 indoor 4x400m relay; 2019 outdoor 400 meters)
Zach Bennetts – 2 (2022 outdoor pole vault; 2022 indoor pole vault)
Rylee Haecker – 3 (2022 outdoor 1,500 meters; 2022 indoor mile; 2022 indoor 1,000 meters)
Kylahn Heritage – 2 (2021 indoor 1,000 meters); 2020 indoor 3,000 meters)
Jordan Koepke – 2 (2022 outdoor 400 hurdles; 2022 indoor 600 meters)
Erin Mapson – 1 (2019 outdoor pole vault)
Colton Meyer – 1 (2021 outdoor 4x100m relay)
Josie Puelz – 4 (2022 outdoor pole vault; 2022 indoor pole vault; 2021 outdoor pole vault; 2020 indoor pole vault)
Joel Rathe – 1 (2021 outdoor 4x100m relay)
Camden Sesna – 1 (2022 outdoor 5,000 meters)

Concordia all-time conference titles

MEN – indoor: 2014 | outdoor: 2014, 2015

WOMEN – indoor: 2010, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 | outdoor: 1998, 2010, 2012, 2019, 2021, 2022

Concordia all-time conference runner-up finishes

MEN – indoor: 2003, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2019 | outdoor: 2002, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2016, 2017

WOMEN – indoor: 2003, 2005, 2009, 2014, 2015, 2016 | outdoor: 2005, 2009, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016

Puelz, Rodencal honored with GPAC weekly awards

Feb. 15, 2023

SEWARD, Neb. – Concordia University Track & Field has earned a clean sweep of GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports Women’s Athlete of the Week awards. As announced by the conference on Wednesday (Feb. 15), Josie Puelz (field) and Adrianna Rodencal (track) have been recognized with GPAC weekly awards. Both Puelz and Rodencal are Lincoln Lutheran High School alums. Between the men’s and women’s squads, Bulldog athletes have combined for five GPAC athlete of the week honors this 2022-23 indoor season.

The four-time NAIA pole vault national champion Puelz continues to hover in the 13-foot range on a meetly basis. At last week’s Concordia Invite, Puelz cleared 12’ 10 ¼” and placed second (behind only an unattached competitor). On the current performance lists, Puelz ranks first in the GPAC and third in the NAIA. In this week’s action, Puelz will be aiming to add to her four career GPAC pole vault titles. She is the GPAC indoor and outdoor championships meet record holder.

Rodencal is only getting started on a promising collegiate career. She lowered her own school record time in the 60 meter hurdles last week while winning the event title at the Concordia Invite in 8.76. That time came in just under her previous best of 8.80. In addition, Rodencal was the meet champion in the 200 meters with a ‘B’ standard time of 25.38 (after conversion). On the GPAC performance lists, Rodencal ranks No. 1 in the 60 hurdles, No. 2 in the 200 meters and No. 4 in the 60 meter dash. Nationally, she ranks No. 12 in the 60 hurdles.

Head Coach Matt Beisel and the Bulldogs are readying to host the 2023 GPAC Indoor Track & Field Championships this Friday and Saturday inside the Fieldhouse. The meet schedule can be found HERE.

2022-23 GPAC Athletes of the Week
Feb. 15 – Josie Puelz (Field); Adrianna Rodencal (Track)
Feb. 8 – Calvin Rohde (Track)
Feb. 1 – Calvin Rohde (Track)
Dec. 14 – Amy Richert (Field)

Richert wins GPAC title; Bulldogs rack up 27 points in pentathlon

Feb. 17, 2023

SEWARD, Neb. – The 2023 GPAC Indoor Track & Field Championships hosted by Concordia got underway on Friday (Feb. 17) with the women’s pentathlon and men’s heptathlon. Most significantly, Gresham, Neb., native Amy Richert became an individual GPAC champion for the first time while leading a Bulldog pentathlon crew that racked up 27 team points. Concordia is playing host to the conference indoor championships for the first time since 2019.

Head Coach Matt Beisel’s squads entered the meet with NAIA national rankings of fourth on the women’s side and 12th on the men’s side, according to the USTFCCCA. The women’s program is attempting to win its eighth-straight conference title.

Richert and company have helped position the Bulldogs for a repeat. The three-time All-American Richert produced a pentathlon point total of 3,446 and outdueled Jamestown’s Jordynn Toliver, who placed second with 3,395 points. Richert came through with a personal best in the shot put (34’ 11”) and a season best in the long jump (17’ 9 ¾”). As Richert told GPAC Commissioner Corey Westra in an interview, “It was a very good day. I’m really excited to have all my teammates around me, and they all did really well.”

All-conference place finishes were also turned in by Elena Batenhorst (third; 3,102), Amanda Steinke (fourth; 2,987), Josi Noble (fifth; 2,984) and Isabelle Salters (seventh; 2,910). In addition, Faith Espinosa placed 11th (2,734). Personal bests were delivered by Batenhorst in the shot put, Steinke in the 800, 60 hurdles, long jump and shot put, Noble in the long jump, high jump and shot put and Espinosa in the 800 meters.

The 2023 GPAC Indoor Track & Field Championships will resume at 9 a.m. CT on Saturday with the last three events of the men’s heptathlon. The Fieldhouse will heat up at noon when field events and the 3,000 meter racewalk get underway (the racewalk will not count towards team scoring). The next running event following the racewalk will be the 5,000 meter race at 2 p.m.

Women's program celebrates eighth-straight GPAC title; men place third

Feb. 18, 2023

SEWARD, Neb. – The dominance of the women’s program for Concordia University Track & Field seemingly reached a new level on Saturday (Feb. 18). The Bulldogs piled up 241.5 team points while winning nine conference event championships in the process of running away with another GPAC team title. The streak has reached eight GPAC championships in a row for the Concordia women. Meanwhile, the men placed third with 100.5 points. Bulldog freshman Adrianna Rodencal earned GPAC Athlete of the Meet honors on the women’s side. The GPAC meet unfolded inside the Walz Fieldhouse on the Concordia campus.

Head Coach Matt Beisel has helped lead Concordia to each of those GPAC titles during a run that started when Concordia hosted the 2019 GPAC indoor meet. Both Bulldog teams entered the meet ranked in the top 12 nationally, according to the USTFCCCA formula.

“The women did all that we could have asked them for,” Beisel said. “We knew we had a good chance of winning, but it still had to be done. They came up and showed up and ran their hearts out, threw their hearts out and jumped their hearts out. They had an amazing competition from all the other teams to push them. We just take it as it comes. Maybe the guys and the girls felt that momentum. Our guys got third and we’re super happy with that. Top three in the GPAC – no complaining.”

In Friday’s pentathlon, GPAC champion Amy Richert and her fellow teammates set the tone by racking up 27 team points. It snowballed from there and it became clear early on Saturday that every other women’s team would be competing for second place. Additional conference championships were won by Rachel Battershell (400 meters), Lauren Dawson (3,000 meter race walk), Rylee Haecker (mile and 1,000 meters), Josie Puelz (pole vault) and Rodencal (60 hurdles and 200 meters). To cap it off, Battershell and the 4x400 meter relay group that included Jenna Esch, Jordan Koepke and Trinity Tuls held off Dordt for first place.

It would be hard to script a more special freshman indoor season than the one enjoyed by Rodencal, a Lincoln Lutheran High School alum. She again broke her own school record in the 60 hurdles by running 8.72 in the finals of the event. Not only did she also win the 200 meters (25.76), she placed second in the 60 meter dash (7.81). Her 28 team points led all women’s athletes. Said Rodencal afterward, “It lived up (to expectations). I’ve been warned by other people that it’s big and it’s loud. I definitely felt that and saw that. To be part of that was amazing – loved it.”

The Davenport, Neb., native Haecker pulled off an impressive feat of doubling as GPAC indoor champion in the mile and the 1,000 meters for the second year in a row. She ran 5:10.67 in the mile and later finished the 1,000 in 3:01.15. In both races, teammate Kylahn Freiberg (second in the 1,000 and third in the mile) placed just behind her. Said Haecker, “It’s pretty crazy. I wasn’t really expecting that. There’s some good competition in the mile and 1k in the GPAC. It’s really special to be able to do that in back-to-back years, but definitely God gets all the glory.”

She’s too humble to think about it in such terms, but Battershell will go down as a legend in Concordia Track history. She’s claimed 10 career GPAC event titles (to go along with 10 All-America awards) and she’s been a key figure in each of those eight GPAC team championships. After the meet, Battershell had to wipe away tears when reflecting on the journey. Said the Wheatland, Wyo., native, “Look how far we’ve come. I’m really just thankful. It’s always fun to run against Dordt (in the 4x4). I have such high respect for those girls. That’s what it’s about – it’s racing, and I love that. To end my career like that is so special. I’m obviously getting a little emotional.”

The men improved their point total vastly from the 67 they scored at the 2022 GPAC indoor meet. One of the more fruitful events was the pole vault, which was won by Zach Bennetts in a personal best of 16’ 2 ¾.” Bennetts brushed the bar as he went over it, but it held steady, prompting a roar from the crowd. He was immediately rushed and tackled by Puelz in one of the meet’s most thrilling moments. All-conference placements also came from Zach Zohner (second), Chase Berry (fourth), Evan Hill (fifth) and Mayson Ostermeyer (seventh). The top three all repeated automatic national qualifying performances.

Said Bennetts, “I hit the bar a little bit so, I was like, ‘Awe, man.’ Then it stayed on. The bar was giving a lot of love today. It was amazing to look up and see all of my teammates rushing at me for that PR. It was an incredible team moment.”

Puelz took home the fifth GPAC pole vault title of her career while clearing 12’ 10 ¼.” The four-time NAIA national champion knew her best competition would come from within the team. Erin Mapson, Amira Cummings and Erin Boggs all hit the ‘A’ standard again while placing second through fourth, respectively. Kayla Svoboda also placed sixth.

There were two new automatic national qualifying standards that came out of the meet for the Bulldogs. Abby Gerber popped off a toss of 44’ 6 ¾” in the shot put and placed third while qualifying for nationals. In addition, Joel Rathe broke loose with a personal best long jump of 23’ 6 ¼” (second place) that punched his ticket to Brookings, S.D. Concordia’s season tally for auto marks has moved to 27.

The list of Bulldogs who placed second in their events also includes Jenna Esch (800 meters), Josi Noble (triple jump), Amy Richert (long jump), Aaron Spivey (triple jump) and the men’s 4x400 and 4x800 meter relays. The relay teams were made up of Mark Cooke, Colby Sugden, Liam Fagan and Colton Meyer in the 4x4 and Micah Willweber, Hudson Opp, Jimmy Nguyen and Ethan Ideus in the 4x8. Richert was another big point scorer as she put 24 points on the board (placed second in the long jump and third in the high jump). On the men’s side of the high jump, Wyatt Loga and Jayson Frank both cleared 6’ 5” and placed fifth and sixth, respectively.

Depth in the weight throw has been a consistent strength all season for Concordia. Chris Wren again hit the ‘A’ standard (61’ 1 ¼”) on the men’s side and placed third, while teammates Josiah Edwards (seventh) and Austen Rozelle (eighth) also put up team points. On the women’s side, Maddie Robinson was a repeat ‘A’ mark performer with a fourth-place throw of 55’ 11,” putting her above teammates Kamryn Pokorney (seventh) and Abi Wohlgemuth (eighth). Robinson scored in the shot and the weight. The top men’s shot put athlete was Darien Semedo, who placed fourth.

Some other notable efforts on the track included the work of Esch (third in the 600 meters with an auto time), Calvin Rohde (fourth in the mile with an auto time) and Meyer (third in the 400 meters with an auto time). In the women’s 400 meters, Battershell led a group of five all-conference finishers. She was followed by Trinity Tuls (fourth), Emily Loseke (fifth), Noble (seventh) and Kayla Kirchner (eighth). Dawson’s time in the race walk came in at 17:57.79. It was the first time the GPAC had ever run the event at the conference meet. It did not factor into team scoring.

2023 GPAC Indoor Champions

·        Women’s 4x400m Relay (3:56.59)

·        Rachel Battershell – 400 Meters (58.29)

·        Zach Bennetts – Pole Vault (16’ 2 ¾”)

·        Lauren Dawson – 3,000m Race Walk (17:57.79)

·        Rylee Haecker – Mile (5:10.67); 1,000 Meters (3:01.15)

·        Josie Puelz – Pole Vault (12’ 10 ¼”)

·        Amy Richert – Pentathlon (3,446)

·        Adrianna Rodencal – 60 Hurdles (8.72); 200 Meters (25.76)

NOTE: All individuals who placed in the top eight of each event (and top three relays) earn all-conference recognition. A complete list of Concordia All-GPAC performers will be released next week on the web.

For those who qualify, the indoor season will continue with the 2023 NAIA Indoor Track & Field National Championships set for March 2-4 in Brookings, S.D. Official qualifiers will be announced next week by the NAIA. More information on the national championship meet can be found HERE.

Beisel, Rodencal collect major awards; 59 Bulldogs earn All-GPAC honors

Feb. 23, 2023

SEWARD, Neb. – Courtesy of their performances at the 2023 GPAC Indoor Track & Field Championships, 59 Bulldogs from the Concordia University Track & Field program have been recognized as all-conference award winners. Additionally, Head Coach Matt Beisel was honored as the 2023 Jim McMahon GPAC Women’s Indoor Coach of the Year and Adrianna Rodencal reeled in 2023 GPAC Indoor Women’s Athlete of the Year honors. At the conference meet, the women’s program claimed its eighth GPAC title in a row while the men placed third. The complete list of Bulldog All-GPAC honorees can be found below.

A former Concordia student-athlete himself, Beisel has garnered the ninth GPAC Coach of the Year award of his tenure. Eight of those honors have come for track & field and one resulted from winning the GPAC women’s cross country title in 2019. Beisel and his staff have built the women’s track program into a powerhouse that has placed in the top five of the NAIA in each of the past six national meets. At the 2023 GPAC indoor meet hosted by the Bulldogs, the women racked up 241.5 points, compared to 109 for second place.

A freshman from Lincoln Lutheran High School, Rodencal won GPAC titles in the 60 meter hurdles and the 200 meters while placing second in the 60 meter dash. Those performances allowed her to rack up 28 team points and become the program’s first GPAC Athlete of the Year since Rachel Battershell in 2020. Other GPAC champions last week were Rachel Battershell (400 meters), Zach Bennetts (pole vault), Lauren Dawson (race walk), Rylee Haecker (mile and 1,000 meters), Josie Puelz (pole vault), Amy Richert (pentathlon) and the women’s 4x400 meter relay. The 4x4 was made up of Jenna Esch, Jordan Koepke, Trinity Tuls and Battershell.

There were 15 Bulldogs who picked up all-conference honors in multiple events. While Rodencal scored 28 points, Richert piled up 24 and Haecker added 20. Haecker accomplished an impressive feat of taking GPAC championships in both the 1,000 meters and the mile for the second year in a row. On the men’s side, Joel Rathe scored in long jump (second) and the 200 meters (seventh) while hitting the ‘A’ standard for the first time in the long jump. The other new ‘A’ standard last week came via Abby Gerber in the shot put.

Next up will be the 2023 NAIA Indoor Track & Field National Championships in Brookings, S.D., March 2-4. More information on the national championship meet can be found HERE.

2023 GPAC Indoor All-Conference Award Winners

MEN

·        Zach Bennetts – Pole Vault (1st)

·        Chase Berry – Pole Vault (4th)

·        Mark Cooke – 4x400m Relay (2nd); 60 Hurdles (5th)

·        Josiah Edwards – Weight Throw (7th)

·        Jack Ellis – 5,000m (7th)

·        Liam Fagan – 4x400m Relay (2nd)

·        Jayson Frank – High Jump (6th)

·        Evan Hill – Pole Vault (5th)

·        Ethan Ideus – 4x800m Relay (2nd)

·        Wyatt Loga – High Jump (5th)

·        Colton Meyer – 4x400m Relay (2nd); 400m (3rd)

·        Jimmy Nguyen – 4x800m Relay (2nd)

·        Hudson Opp – 4x800m Relay (2nd)

·        Mayson Ostermeyer – Pole Vault (7th)

·        Joel Rathe – Long Jump (2nd); 200m (7th)

·        Calvin Rohde – Mile (4th)

·        Austen Rozelle – Weight Throw (8th)

·        Darien Semedo – Shot Put (4th)

·        Aaron Spivey – Triple Jump (2nd)

·        Colby Sugden – 4x400m Relay (2nd)

·        Micah Willweber – 4x800m Relay (2nd)

·        Chris Wren – Weight Throw (3rd)

·        Zach Zohner – Pole Vault (2nd)

WOMEN

·        Elena Batenhorst – Pentathlon (3rd)

·        Rachel Battershell – 400 Meters (1st); 4x400m Relay (1st); 60 Hurdles (7th)

·        Hannah Beintema – Mile (6th); 1,000 Meters (8th)

·        Keegan Beisel – 3,000 Meters (8th)

·        Erin Boggs – Pole Vault (4th)

·        Amira Cummings – Pole Vault (3rd)

·        Lauren Dawson – Race Walk (1st)

·        Jenna Esch – 4x400m Relay (1st); 800 Meters (2nd); 600 Meters (3rd)

·        Kylahn Freiberg – 1,000 Meters (2nd); Mile (3rd)

·        Abby Gerber – Shot Put (3rd)

·        Peyton Gissler – Race Walk (3rd)

·        Rylee Haecker – 1,000 Meters (1st); Mile (1st)

·        Hannah Haertel – 4x800m Relay (3rd)

·        Rhaya Kaschinske – 1,000 Meters (5th); Mile (7th)

·        Kayla Kirchner – 400 Meters (8th)

·        Jordan Koepke – 4x400m Relay (1st); 600 Meters (6th)

·        Emily Loseke – 400 Meters (5th)

·        Erin Mapson – Pole Vault (2nd)

·        Hayley Miles – Triple Jump (3rd)

·        Hannah Newton – High Jump (6th)

·        Josi Noble – Triple Jump (2nd); Pentathlon (5th); 400 Meters (7th)

·        Kamryn Pokorney – Weight Throw (7th)

·        Josie Puelz – Pole Vault (1st)

·        Kellie Rhodes – Long Jump (7th)

·        Amy Richert – Pentathlon (1st); Long Jump (2nd); High Jump (3rd)

·        Kaia Richmond – 4x800m Relay (3rd)

·        Maddie Robinson – Weight Throw (4th); Shot Put (7th)

·        Adrianna Rodencal – 60 Hurdles (1st); 200 Meters (1st); 60 Meters (2nd)

·        Isabelle Salters – Pentathlon (7th)

·        Kimberly Schropfer – High Jump (5th)

·        Amanda Steinke – Pentathlon (4th)

·        Kayla Svoboda – Pole Vault (6th)

·        Trinity Tuls – 4x400m Relay (1st); 400 Meters (4th)

·        Jaiden Tweton – 4x800m Relay (3rd)

·        Faith Williamson – 4x800m Relay (3rd)

·        Abi Wohlgemuth – Weight Throw (8th)

Beisel tabbed NAIA Midwest Region Coach of the Year by USTFCCCA

Feb. 23, 2023

SEWARD, Neb. – Two coaching awards were bestowed upon Concordia University Track & Field Head Coach Matt Beisel on Thursday (Feb. 23). After being recognized as the 2023 Jim McMahon GPAC Women’s Indoor Track & Field Coach of the Year earlier in the day, Beisel was announced as the 2023 NAIA Midwest Region Women’s Coach of the Year by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). The USTFCCCA designates five separate regions of the NAIA in its list of awards for the 2023 indoor season.

Currently in his seventh season heading the cross country and track & field programs, Beisel has collected his seventh career Midwest Region Coach of the Year accolade. The award comes on the heels of the Bulldog women’s track program capturing its eighth GPAC title in a row. Concordia dominated the 2023 GPAC Indoor Championships while piling up 241.5 team points. Conference event champions on the women’s side were the 4x400 meter relay, Rachel Battershell (400 meters), Lauren Dawson (race walk), Rylee Haecker (mile and 1,000 meters), Josie Puelz (pole vault), Amy Richert (pentathlon) and Adrianna Rodencal (60 hurdles and 200 meters). Just a freshman, Rodencal was honored as the GPAC Athlete of the Year as the individual who generated the most team points at the conference meet. A total of 36 Concordia women’s athletes earned All-GPAC honors in one or more events.

Beisel has been honored with nine career GPAC Coach of the Year awards (including one in cross country). During Beisel’s tenure, the women’s track and field program has placed 12th or better at every single national meet (11 total). In 2022, the Bulldog women placed third in the NAIA for indoor and fourth for outdoor, earning team trophies at both national meets. Along the way, Beisel’s staff for his entire tenure has included assistants Ed McLaughlin, Mark Samuels and Jason Berry. In addition, Ben Hinckfoot joined the staff in January 2021. Maddie Robinson currently serves as a graduate assistant coach.

Beisel and the Bulldogs are preparing for the national indoor meet, which will take place in Brookings, S.D., March 2-4.

Track program announces 2023 indoor nationals team of 32

Feb. 24, 2023

SEWARD, Neb. – The field of 2023 NAIA Indoor Track and Field National Championships Qualifiers was unveiled on Friday (Feb. 24) by the NAIA. In conjunction with that release, the Concordia University Track & Field program has announced a nationals team of 32 individuals (including 20 women and 12 men). The event will run March 2-4 at the Sanford Jackrabbit Athletic Complex in Brookings, S.D. This will mark the fourth time the NAIA national indoor meet has taken place at this location.

Head Coach Matt Beisel’s squads are coming off conference places finishes of first for the women and third for the men at last week’s GPAC Championships hosted by Concordia. In the most recent NAIA ratings released by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, Concordia appeared at No. 4 on the women’s side and at No. 16 on the men’s side.

The GPAC champion women’s program has placed in the top five of six-straight NAIA national championship meets and will be looking for another strong national finish. The list of Bulldog female athletes with previous All-America awards includes Rachel Battershell (10), Jenna Esch (one), Kylahn Freiberg (three), Rylee Haecker (six), Jordan Koepke (four), Erin Mapson (five), Josie Puelz (five), Amy Richert (three) and Maddie Robinson (three at Olivet Nazarene). Puelz is the winner of each of the past four NAIA pole vault national championships and Battershell is a two-time national champ in the 400 meters. Puelz is one of five women’s vaulters headed to Brookings.

On the men’s side, the Bulldogs are seeking to improve upon last season’s NAIA indoor place finish of 36th. Returners with past All-America awards include Zach Bennetts (one), Chase Berry (two), Wyatt Loga (two), Colton Meyer (three) and Chris Wren (three). Just like on the women’s side, the Concordia men are deep in the pole vault with three national qualifiers. Bennetts is seeded fourth in the NAIA thanks to his GPAC championship-winning personal best of 16’ 2 ¾.” Meyer will be competing in the 400 meters and as part of the distance medley relay. In the throws, Chris Wren returns to the ring in the weight throw after he turned in a nationals place finish of fourth in 2022.

The list of Bulldogs making their first-ever national championship appearance includes Erin Boggs, Dagne’ Buck, Ethan Ideus, Josi Noble, Kamryn Pokorney, Adrianna Rodencal, Darien Semedo Kayla Svoboda and Abi Wohlgemuth. As just a freshman, Rodencal earned GPAC Women’s Indoor Athlete of the Year accolades after she scored 28 points at the conference meet. Rodencal will run both the 60 hurdles and 200 meters in Brookings.

For additional details on the national meet, visit the NAIA website HERE.

2023 Concordia indoor national qualifiers

(Current national seeding in parentheses)

MEN

·        Zach Bennetts, senior
-Pole Vault (4th, 16’ 2 ¾”)

·        Chase Berry, junior
-Pole Vault (15th, 15’ 7”)

·        Dagne’ Buck, senior
-Weight Throw (15th, 57’ 7 ¾”)

·        Ethan Ideus, sophomore
-Distance Medley Relay (13th, 10:10.06)

·        Wyatt Loga, junior
-High Jump (23rd, 6’ 7”)

·        Colton Meyer, junior
-400 Meters (13th, 48.45)
-Distance Medley Relay (13th, 10:10.06)

·        Joel Rathe, sophomore
-Long Jump (10th, 23’ 6 ¼”)

·        Calvin Rohde, sophomore
-1,000 Meters (8th, 2:27.16)
-Distance Medley Relay (13th, 10:10.06)

·        Darien Semedo, sophomore
-Shot Put (18th, 51’ 5 ¾”)
-Weight Throw (29th, 55’ 3 ½”)

·        Camden Sesna, junior
-Distance Medley Relay (13th, 10:10.06)
-Mile (33rd, 4:14.52)

·        Chris Wren, junior
-Weight Throw (5th, 62’ 10 ¾”)

·        Zach Zohner, sophomore
-Pole Vault (7th, 15’ 11”)

WOMEN

·        Rachel Battershell, senior
-4x400m Relay (6th, 3:53.49)
-400 Meters (14th, 57.06)

·        Erin Boggs, sophomore
-Pole Vault (18th, 11’ 6 ½”)

·        Amira Cummings, sophomore
-Pole Vault (18th, 11’ 6 ½”)

·        Jenna Esch, sophomore
-4x400m Relay (6th, 3:53.49)
-600 Meters (13th, 1:35.40)

·        Kylahn Freiberg, junior
-Distance Medley Relay (14th, 12:20.68)
-1,000 Meters (19th, 2:59.90)

·        Abby Gerber, sophomore
-Shot Put (18th, 44’ 6 ¾”)

·        Rylee Haecker, sophomore
-1,000 Meters (6th, 2:56.44)
-Distance Medley Relay (14th, 12:20.68)

·        Rhaya Kaschinske, sophomore
-Distance Medley Relay (14th, 12:20.68)

·        Jordan Koepke, sophomore
-4x400m Relay (6th, 3:53.49)
-600 Meters (25th, 1:36.52)

·        Erin Mapson, senior
-Pole Vault (6th, 12’ 6 ¼”)

·        Hannah Newton, sophomore
-High Jump (6th, 5’ 5 ¾”)

·        Josi Noble, freshman
-Distance Medley Relay (14th, 12:20.68)

·        Kamryn Pokorney, sophomore
-Weight Throw (23rd, 53’ 6 ¼”)

·        Josie Puelz, junior
-Pole Vault (3rd, 13’ ¼”)

·        Amy Richert, sophomore
-Pentathlon (4th, 3,487)
-High Jump (14th, 5’ 4 ½”)

·        Maddie Robinson, senior
-Weight Throw (10th, 55’ 11”)
-Shot Put (16th, 44’ 9”)

·        Adrianna Rodencal, freshman
-60 Hurdles (14th, 8.72)
-200 Meters (47th, 25.37)

·        Kayla Svoboda, freshman
-Pole Vault (18th, 11’ 6 ½”)

·        Trinity Tuls, sophomore
-4x400m Relay (6th, 3:53.49)

·        Abi Wohlgemuth, sophomore
-Weight Throw (24th, 53’ 5 ¾”)

2023 Concordia Indoor National Qualifiers – a closer look
Rachel Battershell, senior (eighth trip to nationals; 10 All-America awards; two-time 400 meter national champ)
Zach Bennetts, senior (fourth trip to nationals; one All-America award)
Chase Berry, junior (fifth trip to nationals; two All-America awards)
Erin Boggs, sophomore (first trip to nationals)
Dagne’ Buck, senior (first trip to nationals)
Amira Cummings, junior (fifth trip to nationals)
Jenna Esch, sophomore (second trip to nationals; one All-America award)
Kylahn Freiberg, junior (fifth trip to nationals; three All-America awards)
Abigail Gerber, junior (fifth trip to nationals)
Rylee Haecker, sophomore (fourth trip to nationals; six All-America awards)
Ethan Ideus, sophomore (first trip to nationals)
Rhaya Kaschinske, sophomore (second trip to nationals)
Jordan Koepke, sophomore (third trip to nationals; four All-America awards)
Wyatt Loga, junior (fifth trip to nationals, two All-America awards)
Erin Mapson, senior (seventh trip to nationals; five All-America awards)
Colton Meyer, junior (sixth trip to nationals; three All-America awards)
Hannah Newton, sophomore (second trip to nationals)
Josi Noble, freshman (first trip to nationals)
Kamryn Pokorney, sophomore (first trip to nationals)
Josie Puelz, junior (sixth trip to nationals; five All-America awards; four-time pole vault national champ)
Joel Rathe, sophomore (third trip to nationals)
Amy Richert, sophomore (fifth trip to nationals; three All-America awards)
Maddie Robinson, senior (seventh trip to nationals; three All-America awards at Olivet Nazarene)
Adrianna Rodencal, freshman (first trip to nationals)
Calvin Rohde, sophomore (third trip to nationals)
Darien Semedo, sophomore (first trip to nationals)
Camden Sesna, junior (fourth trip to nationals)
Kayla Svoboda, freshman (first trip to nationals)
Trinity Tuls, sophomore (second trip to nationals)
Abi Wohlgemuth, sophomore (first trip to nationals)
Chris Wren, junior (fifth trip to nationals; three All-America awards)
Zach Zohner, sophomore (third trip to nationals)

Meet Preview: 2023 NAIA Indoor National Championships

Feb. 27, 2023

SEWARD, Neb. – Thirty-two members of the Concordia University Track & Field programs are making their final preparations for the 2023 NAIA Indoor Track & Field National Championships. The indoor national meet returns to the Sanford Jackrabbit Athletic Complex in Brookings, S.D., for the fourth time in NAIA history. The three-day national championship meet will run Thursday through Saturday. A full list of Concordia’s national qualifiers can be found at the bottom.

2023 NAIA National Championships – Meet Info

--Thursday-Saturday, March 2-4 | Sanford Jackrabbit Athletic Complex (Brookings, S.D.)
--Live Results (Dakota Timing)
--Live Webcast (NAIA Network)
--Meet Schedule
--Tickets must be purchased on site

Entering the meet, head coach Matt Beisel’s squads own national rankings of fourth on the women’s side and 16th on the men’s side, according to the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association NAIA ratings index. The top-ranked teams are Southeastern University (Fla.) on the men’s side and Indiana Tech on the women’s side.

The Bulldog women’s program is coming off 2022 NAIA national place finishes of third for indoor and fourth for outdoor. Those finishes ran the program’s string of consecutive top-five placements to six. The 2023 nationals roster is 20 athletes strong on the women’s side. The group includes past All-Americans Rachel Battershell (10), Jenna Esch (one), Kylahn Freiberg (three), Rylee Haecker (six), Jordan Koepke (four), Erin Mapson (five), Josie Puelz (five), Amy Richert (three) and Maddie Robinson (three at Olivet Nazarene). Puelz has won each of the past four pole vault national titles while Battershell is a two-time national champ in the 400 meters. On the current NAIA national lists, Concordia boasts six top 10 marks. The team’s top ranked individuals are Puelz (third in the pole vault), Richert (fourth in the pentathlon), Hannah Newton (sixth in the high jump) and Rylee Haecker (sixth in the 1,000 meters).

On the men’s side, the Bulldogs will travel 12 athletes to Brookings. Returners with past All-America awards include Zach Bennetts (one), Chase Berry (two), Wyatt Loga (two), Colton Meyer (three) and Chris Wren (three). Bennetts is seeded fourth in the NAIA thanks to his GPAC championship-winning personal best of 16’ 2 ¾.” Meyer will be competing in the 400 meters and as part of the distance medley relay. In the throws, Chris Wren returns to the ring in the weight throw after he turned in a nationals place finish of fourth in 2022. A year ago, Concordia turned in nationals team placements of 36th for indoor and 47th for outdoor. The program has placed inside the top 10 of the NAIA as recently as the 2019 indoor meet.

According to the USTFCCCA, the Bulldogs boast many of the top event groupings in the NAIA. Based on the coaches association’s event squad rankings, Concordia owns the nation’s top women’s high jump, women’s pentathlon and men’s pole vault groups. In addition, the Bulldogs have the No. 2 rated event crews in the women’s pole vault, women’s weight throw and women’s shot put. Concordia will take a combined eight pole vaulters to nationals – five on the women’s side and three on the men’s side.

The top indoor team national finishes in the history of Bulldog Track & Field were second on the men’s side and third on the women’s side. Both programs have won a team national title in outdoor competition.

A live stream of each of the events will be available for purchase. For more details, check out the NAIA Network home page here: https://www.naianetwork.com/.

2023 Concordia indoor national qualifiers
Rachel Battershell, senior (eighth trip to nationals; 10 All-America awards; two-time 400 meter national champ)
Zach Bennetts, senior (fourth trip to nationals; one All-America award)
Chase Berry, junior (fifth trip to nationals; two All-America awards)
Erin Boggs, sophomore (first trip to nationals)
Dagne’ Buck, senior (first trip to nationals)
Amira Cummings, junior (fifth trip to nationals)
Jenna Esch, sophomore (second trip to nationals; one All-America award)
Kylahn Freiberg, junior (fifth trip to nationals; three All-America awards)
Abigail Gerber, junior (fifth trip to nationals)
Rylee Haecker, sophomore (fourth trip to nationals; six All-America awards)
Ethan Ideus, sophomore (first trip to nationals)
Rhaya Kaschinske, sophomore (second trip to nationals)
Jordan Koepke, sophomore (third trip to nationals; four All-America awards)
Wyatt Loga, junior (fifth trip to nationals, two All-America awards)
Erin Mapson, senior (seventh trip to nationals; five All-America awards)
Colton Meyer, junior (sixth trip to nationals; three All-America awards)
Hannah Newton, sophomore (second trip to nationals)
Josi Noble, freshman (first trip to nationals)
Kamryn Pokorney, sophomore (first trip to nationals)
Josie Puelz, junior (sixth trip to nationals; five All-America awards; four-time pole vault national champ)
Joel Rathe, sophomore (third trip to nationals)
Amy Richert, sophomore (fifth trip to nationals; three All-America awards)
Maddie Robinson, senior (seventh trip to nationals; three All-America awards at Olivet Nazarene)
Adrianna Rodencal, freshman (first trip to nationals)
Calvin Rohde, sophomore (third trip to nationals)
Darien Semedo, sophomore (first trip to nationals)
Camden Sesna, junior (fourth trip to nationals)
Kayla Svoboda, freshman (first trip to nationals)
Trinity Tuls, sophomore (second trip to nationals)
Abi Wohlgemuth, sophomore (first trip to nationals)
Chris Wren, junior (fifth trip to nationals; three All-America awards)
Zach Zohner, sophomore (third trip to nationals)

Concordia Event Schedule – 2023 NAIA Indoor T&F National Championships

Pentathlon (Thursday, 12:00 pm) – Amy Richert           

Women’s 4x400m Relay (Thursday, 4:30 pm) – Jenna Esch, Jordan Koepke, Trinity Tuls, Rachel Battershell,

Women’s Distance Medley (Thursday, 5:30 pm) – Rylee Haecker, Josi Noble, Rhaya Kashinske, Kylahn Freiberg

Men’s Distance Medley (Thursday, 6:00 pm) – Camden Sesna, Colton Meyer, Ethan Ideus, Calvin Rohde

Men’s Weight Throw (Friday, 12:00 pm) – Dagne Buck, Darien Semedo, Chris Wren

Men’s Mile Run (Friday, 12:20 pm) – Camden Sesna

Women’s 60m Hurdles (Friday, 12:35 pm) – Adrianna Rodencal

Women’s 400m Dash (Friday, 1:05 pm) – Rachel Battershell

Men’s 400m Dash (Friday, 1:25 pm) – Colton Meyer         

Women’s 600m Run (Friday, 1:45 pm) – Jenna Esch, Jordan Koepke

Men’s High Jump (Friday, 2:00 pm) – Wyatt Loga

Women’s Pole Vault (Friday, 3:00 pm) – Erin Boggs, Amira Cummings, Erin Mapson, Josie Puelz, Kayla Svoboda

Women’s Weight Throw (Friday, 3:00 pm) – Kamryn Pokorney, Maddie, Robinson, Abi Wohlgemuth

Women’s 1000m Run (Friday, 3:15 pm) – Kylahn Freiberg, Rylee Haecker

Men’s 1000m Run (Friday, 3:30 pm) – Calvin Rohde

Men’s Long Jump (Friday, 4:00 pm) – Joel Rathe

Women’s 200m Dash (Friday, 4:40 pm) – Adrianna Rodencal

Women’s Shot Put (Saturday, 11:30 am) – Abby Gerber, Maddie Robinson

Men’s Pole Vault (Saturday, 1:15 pm) – Zach Bennetts, Chase Berry, Zach Zohner

Women’s High Jump (Saturday, 1:30 pm) – Hannah Newton, Amy Richert

Men’s Shot Put (Saturday, 2:00 pm) – Darien Semedo

Saturday race final times:
12:35 p.m. – Men’s Mile
12:45 p.m. – Women’s 60 Hurdles
1:05 p.m. – Women’s 400 Meters
1:15 p.m. – Men’s 400 Meters
1:25 p.m. – Women’s 600 Meters
2:25 p.m. – Women’s 1,000 Meters
2:35 p.m. – Men’s 1,000 Meters
3:15 p.m. – Women’s 200 Meters
4:20 p.m. – Women’s DMR
4:40 p.m. – Men’s DMR
4:55 p.m. – Women’s 4x400m Relay

Concordia indoor national finishes since 2000
2022: M – 36th | W – 3rd
2021: M – 12th | W – 3rd
2020: M – 17th | W – 4th
2019: M – 9th | W – 9th
2018: M – 42nd | W – 9th
2017: M – 2nd | W – 7th
2016: M – 3rd | W – 5th
2015: M – 5th | W – 11th
2014: M – 17th | W – 11th
2013: M – 27th | W – 13th
2012: M – 38th | W – 29th
2011: M – 7th | W – 26th
2010: M – 15th | W – 12th
2009: M – 12th | W – 11th
2008: M – 7th | W – 14th
2007: M – 19th | W – 36th
2006: M – 5th | W – 29th
2005: M – 26th | W – 15th
2004: M – 7th | W – 27th
2003: M – 5th | W – 9th
2002: M – 20th | W – 8th
2001: M – 12th | W – 21st
2000: M – 2nd | W – 12th

Concordia outdoor national finishes since 2005
2022: M – 47th | W – 4th
2021: M – 28th | W – 3rd
2019: M – 31st | W – 5th
2018: M – 69th | W – 12th
2017: M – 5th | W – 6th
2016: M – 2nd | W – 1st
2015: M – 1st | W – 5th
2014: M – 11th | W – 9th
2013: M – 42nd | W – 20th
2012: M – 57th | W – 15th
2011: M – 11th | W – 57th
2010: M – 24th | W – 14th
2009: M – 7th | W – 19th
2008: M – 11th | W – 29th
2007: M – 15th | W – 24th
2006: M – 7th | W – 28th
2005: M – 13th | W – 17th

Day 1 Recap: Women's 4x4 opens NAIA meet by qualifying for finals

Mar. 2, 2023

BROOKINGS, S.D. – Day one of the 2023 NAIA Indoor Track & Field National Championships saw 13 Bulldogs represented Concordia University Track & Field. In highlighting the team’s efforts on Thursday (March 2) in Brookings, S.D., the Bulldog women’s 4x400 meter relay ran a season best time and has qualified for the finals on Saturday. Meanwhile, two other Concordia relays came up just short of the finals and Amy Richert took aim at another All-America award in the pentathlon.

Head Coach Matt Beisel’s program traveled 32 athletes to the national meet. Many of them will wait until day two of the event to showcase their talents. The Bulldog women enter the action having placed in the top five of six-straight NAIA national meets.

The women’s 4x4 will have the opportunity to run in the finals on Saturday after it turned in a season best of 3:51.11 on Thursday. That time placed the Bulldogs second in their heat and sixth overall. Concordia’s 4x4 is made up of Jenna Esch, Jordan Koepke, Trinity Tuls and Rachel Battershell. Both Battershell and Koepke were also part of last year's 4x4 that placed fifth at the indoor national championships. A fifth-year athlete from Wheatland, Wyo., Battershell is looking to add to her collection of 10 career All-America awards.

A sixth-place finisher in last year’s NAIA pentathlon competition, Richert held down a spot in the top eight for a good portion of the afternoon. The GPAC champion Richert wound up in 11th place with her point total of 3,292 (eighth place scored 3,375). Among the field of 16 competitors, Richert placed highest in the 60 hurdles (sixth) and shot put (sixth) out of the five events. Richert will also compete in the open high jump this weekend.

The first day wrapped up with Concordia trotting out distance medley relays in the prelims for both men and women. The women went first and placed 15th out of 20 relays and were just off a season best, clocking in at 12:23.79. The group featured Rylee Haecker, Josi Noble, Rhaya Kaschinske and Kylahn Freiberg. Meanwhile, the men were not far from qualifying for the finals. They placed 10th out of 25 DMRs while finishing in a season best of 10:05.74. The quartet included Camden Sesna, Colton Meyer, Ethan Ideus and Calvin Rohde. They were one second off a school record in what was the second fastest men's DMR run in Concordia Track history.

Things will heat up on Friday from Brookings as Bulldog athletes will compete in 12 separate events. In the women’s pole vault, four-time national champion Josie Puelz will lead a group of five Concordia national qualifiers. In addition, GPAC Athlete of the Year Adrianna Rodencal will get her first experience at a national meet and the first throws events will be contested. The full Friday schedule for the Bulldogs can be found below.

Friday (March 3) Schedule:

NOTE: All running events are preliminary races.

·        Men’s Weight Throw (Friday, 12:00 pm) – Dagne Buck, Darien Semedo, Chris Wren

·        Men’s Mile Run (Friday, 12:20 pm) – Camden Sesna

·        Women’s 60m Hurdles (Friday, 12:35 pm) – Adrianna Rodencal

·        Women’s 400m Dash (Friday, 1:05 pm) – Rachel Battershell

·        Men’s 400m Dash (Friday, 1:25 pm) – Colton Meyer         

·        Women’s 600m Run (Friday, 1:45 pm) – Jenna Esch, Jordan Koepke

·        Men’s High Jump (Friday, 2:00 pm) – Wyatt Loga

·        Women’s Pole Vault (Friday, 3:00 pm) – Erin Boggs, Amira Cummings, Erin Mapson, Josie Puelz, Kayla Svoboda

·        Women’s Weight Throw (Friday, 3:00 pm) – Kamryn Pokorney, Maddie, Robinson, Abi Wohlgemuth

·        Women’s 1000m Run (Friday, 3:15 pm) – Kylahn Freiberg, Rylee Haecker

·        Men’s 1000m Run (Friday, 3:30 pm) – Calvin Rohde

·        Men’s Long Jump (Friday, 4:00 pm) – Joel Rathe

·        Women’s 200m Dash (Friday, 4:40 pm) – Adrianna Rodencal

Day 2 Recap: Puelz seizes fifth pole vault title, Mapson earns spot on podium

Mar. 3, 2023

BROOKINGS, S.D. – The celebrations never grow tired. At the end of a long pole vault competition that featured 32 entrants, Josie Puelz reigned supreme once again. The Lincoln Lutheran alum has already earned legendary status while seizing the fifth NAIA pole vault national title of her career. That performance highlighted day two of the 2023 NAIA Track & Field National Championships for Concordia, which had 22 athletes compete in Brookings, S.D., on Friday (March 3).

The national title for Puelz and the seventh-place pole vault claim by teammate Erin Mapson put 12 team points on the board for the GPAC champion Bulldog women. Driven by her own pursuit of excellence, Puelz places plenty of pressure upon herself to achieve greatness.

Said Puelz, “I was very, very nervous coming into today. No nationals is ever the same. This is the lowest (seed) I’ve ever had coming into nationals, which was different. I think it gave me a great opportunity to persevere and show up today. I’m so grateful. The Lord provides adrenaline for a reason. The fact He kept it going this whole day and got me through the whole competition was phenomenal. This is a big relief to have done it again, and I’m so grateful for the opportunity to be here.”

That’s right, nerves are part of the deal, even for someone who had already won four national titles. This time around, Puelz was seeded third entering the national meet. Considering her past accomplishment, it’s difficult to call her an underdog. Puelz said she had nothing to prove, but the 13’ ¼” vault was her way of signaling she’s still No. 1. In the same competition, Mapson cleared 12’ ½” and placed seventh, marking the sixth All-America award in her also impressive career. The only athlete in Concordia women’s track & field history with more national titles than Puelz is Carol Bailey, who recorded eight individual NAIA championships.

The Bulldogs are as deep as any program in the nation in the pole vault. Puelz and Mapson had company from Erin Boggs (14th; 11’ 8 ½”), Kayla Svoboda (16th; 11’ 6 ¾”) and Amira Cummings (20th; 11’ 2 ¾”) in the event. Boggs and Svoboda made their first career appearances at the national championships. Boggs came away with a new personal best.

Most significant on the track, Kylahn Freiberg and Rylee Haecker both ran times below three minutes while qualifying for the finals of the 1,000 meters. In a preliminary round that included three heats and 20 total runners, Haecker placed sixth in a time of 2:59.97 while Freiberg ran slightly faster (2:59.78) and was credited with eighth place in the prelims (four place in her heat). Haecker (six) and Freiberg (three) entered this weekend with a combined nine career All-America awards.

There were a number of Bulldogs who missed out on the finals of their events but still managed to run solid times. There were close calls for Jenna Esch in the 600 meters (ninth place; 1:35.17) and by Camden Sesna in the mile (11th; 4:14.88). Sesna’s time in the mile represented a personal best and ranks in the top 10 in school history. The time for Esch was also a PR.

A deep group of Concordia weight throwers were on display on Friday. Unfortunately, each of them placed outside of All-America territory. The competitors on the men’s side were Chris Wren (11th; 57’ 10 ¼”), Dagne’ Buck (17th; 55’ 11 ¾”) and Darien Semedo (29th; 53’ 4 ¼”). The total field numbered 37 men’s athletes. Wren had hoped to add to his career total of three All-America awards. On the women’s side, the Bulldogs were represented by Maddie Robinson (11th; 53’ 7 ½”), Abi Wohlgemuth (17th; 52’ 8 ¾”) and Kamryn Pokorney (22nd; 50’ 10 ¼”). There were 29 entrants on the women’s side.

Elsewhere, Wyatt Loga and Joel Rathe wore the Concordia colors in their respective jumps events. This was the first career nationals appearance for Rathe, who wound up in 21st place with his mark of 22’ 4 ¼.” A two-time All-American high jumper, Loga came up short in his three attempts at clearing 6’ 5.”

Other Bulldogs who ran preliminary races (and did not qualify for finals) on Friday were Rachel Battershell in the 400 meters (17th; 58.75), Jordan Koepke in the 600 meters (21st; 1:40.77), Colton Meyer in the 400 meters (15th; 48.46), Calvin Rohde in the 1,000 meters (14th; 2:29.55) and GPAC Athlete of the Year Adrianna Rodencal in the 60 hurdles (16th; 8.80) and the 200 meters (28th; 25.63). Battershell carries two prior national titles in the 400 meters.

The 2023 indoor national meet will wrap up on Saturday. The first action from a Concordia perspective will be the women’s shot put starting at 11:30 a.m. CT. The Bulldogs will be represented in six total events throughout the day. The Bulldogs will put a cap on the meet with the women’s 4x400 meter relay early in the evening.

Saturday (March 4) schedule:

·        Women’s Shot Put (Saturday, 11:30 am) – Abby Gerber, Maddie Robinson

·        Men’s Pole Vault (Saturday, 1:15 pm) – Zach Bennetts, Chase Berry, Zach Zohner

·        Women’s High Jump (Saturday, 1:30 pm) – Hannah Newton, Amy Richert

·        Men’s Shot Put (Saturday, 2:00 pm) – Darien Semedo

·        Women’s 1,000 Meters Finals (Saturday, 2:25 pm) – Kylahn Freiberg, Rylee Haecker

·        Women’s 4x400m Relay Finals (Saturday, 4:55 pm) – Jenna Esch, Jordan Koepke, Trinity Tuls, Rachel Battershell

2023 NAIA Indoor All-Americans

·        Erin Mapson – Pole Vault (7th)

·        Josie Puelz – Pole Vault (1st)

Day 3 Recap: Freiberg, Zohner earn runner-up claims; women finish sixth nationally

Mar. 4, 2023

BROOKINGS, S.D. – Some of the biggest thrills of the entire weekend came on the third and final day of the 2023 NAIA Indoor Track & Field National Championships. Both Kylahn Freiberg and Zach Zohner placed as national runners up within their respective events on Saturday (March 4) as part of the field of 32 Bulldogs to make their way to Brookings, S.D. Nine Concordia individuals officially earned All-America awards on Saturday while pushing the program’s total All-America count to 11 for the weekend.

Head Coach Matt Beisel’s squads came away from the NAIA indoor meet with national place finishes of sixth (28 points) on the women’s side and tied for 31st (10 points) on the men’s side.

“First of all, I have to make sure that God gets all credit and all glory,” Beisel said. “None of the things we accomplished would be possible without Him. This was a meet that had some disappointments – we didn’t get everything we wanted – and it also gave us a bunch of triumphs. We had some unexpected things happen that were phenomenal and some that were sad. Having Josie Puelz win her fifth national title was absolutely astounding … I’m just so thankful for the coaching staff, for (athletic trainer) Kyli (Haines) and for the athletes themselves. I couldn’t ask for a better group of people.”

A day after Josie Puelz claimed the fifth pole vault national title of her career, the vault competition on the men’s side made for compelling drama as each of the top seven athletes cleared 16 feet. Seeded seventh nationally entering the meet, Zohner made a serious run at a national title of his own. The Battle Creek, Neb., native had never before reached 16 feet before hitting on four-straight attempts above 16 feet on Saturday. By the time it was over, Zohner moved his own personal best to 16’ 7” and was the runner up to The Master’s (Calif.) Caleb Pouliot (16’ 8 ¾”).

Zohner had company in the competition from teammates in Zach Bennetts, who placed seventh (16’ 1”), and Chase Berry, who placed ninth (15’ 11”). Bennetts picked up his second career All-America award while Zohner took home his first. The mark of 16’ 7” is the best for a Concordia vaulter in indoor competition since TJ Kloster skyed above 17’ 6” in 2000.

Said Zohner in explaining the groove he found himself in, “I honestly don’t know. I’ve been having some good practices just like Chase and Zach have been. The first few vaults were a little shaky. I was really trying to get my swing going and my legs straight. Somewhere around 16 feet it just started clicking. It just worked out today.”

Freiberg was a bit of an underdog story just like Zohner. After all entries came in, Freiberg was seeded 11th in the 1,000 meters. The Nampa, Idaho, native qualified for finals of the event along with teammate Rylee Haecker. Freiberg found another gear in the finals and sped to a personal best of 2:54.87 (by roughly five seconds) for the third fastest time in school history. While Freiberg placed second, Haecker reeled in her seventh career All-America award with a sixth-place finish in a time of 2:56.66.

This was Freiberg’s final race of her indoor career. It was all she could have hoped for. Said Freiberg, “My first reaction was that I definitely couldn’t believe it because going into it I didn’t have high expectations. I just wanted to give it everything I had and leave it out on the track knowing that it was the last 1k of my college career.”

To cap off the meet, the women’s 4x400 meter relay improved on its prelims time of 3:51.11 and ran 3:48.88 in the finals (third fastest in program history) while placing sixth. As a result, All-America honors went to Jenna Esch, Jordan Koepke, Trinity Tuls and Rachel Battershell. It was the final indoor meet in the college career of Battershell, who has piled up 11 All-America plaques as a Bulldog.

Seeded 18th nationally in the shot put, Abby Gerber far exceeded her pre-meet positioning in claiming a spot on the podium. The Columbus, Neb., native twice surpassed her personal best on Saturday as she busted off throws of 45’ 11 ¼” and 46’ ¾” in the shot put. Those efforts made Gerber an All-American for the first time in what was her fifth career appearance at a national meet. In the same competition, teammate Maddie Robinson placed 18th with a mark of 42’ 8 ¾.” Robinson earned three career All-America awards during her time at Olivet Nazarene University (Ill.).

In other field events contested on Saturday, Hannah Newton (13th; 5’ 2 ¾”) and Amy Richert (no height) competed in the high jump and Darien Semedo (23rd; 46’ 2 ½”) represented Concordia in the shot put. Richert was also a qualifier in the pentathlon while Semedo took part in the weight throw a day earlier.

Assistant coach Jason Berry’s pole vault crew cleaned up with four total All-America awards between the men and women. All eight of the Concordia pole vault qualifiers cleared bars at the national meet. While Puelz seized another national title, Erin Mapson was also an All-American.

Members of the program will enjoy a break before beginning the outdoor season in late March. The first meet on the schedule is the Grand View Viking Relays slated for March 25.

2023 NAIA Indoor All-Americans

·        Rachel Battershell – 4x400m Relay (6th)

·        Zach Bennetts – Pole Vault (7th)

·        Jenna Esch – 4x400m Relay (6th)

·        Kylahn Freiberg – 1,000 Meters (2nd)

·        Abby Gerber – Shot Put (7th)

·        Rylee Haecker – 1,000 Meters (6th)

·        Jordan Koepke – 4x400m Relay (6th)

·        Erin Mapson – Pole Vault (7th)

·        Josie Puelz – Pole Vault (1st)

·        Trinity Tuls – 4x400m Relay (6th)

·        Zach Zohner – Pole Vault (2nd)

Eleven Bulldogs take home 2023 indoor All-America awards

Mar. 6, 2023

SEWARD, Neb. – Courtesy of their performances at the 2023 NAIA Indoor Track & Field National Championships, 11 Bulldogs have earned All-America honors (full list below). In order to receive an All-America plaque, a top eight placement at the national championship meet is required. The list of Concordia University Track & Field All-Americans in 2023 includes five-time pole vault national champion Josie Puelz. In addition, Kylahn Freiberg (1,000 meters) and Zach Zohner (pole vault) placed as national runners up in their respective events.

Among the 2023 Bulldog All-Americans, Rachel Battershell leads the way in terms of most career All-America awards with 11. Other current Concordia athletes (who took home All-America awards this past week) with multiple career All-America plaques are Rylee Haecker (seven), Erin Mapson (six), Puelz (six), Jordan Koepke (five), Kylahn Freiberg (four), Zach Bennetts (two) and Jenna Esch (two).

Head Coach Matt Beisel’s squads earned 2023 NAIA indoor national finishes of sixth on the women’s side and tied for 31st on the men’s side. At the conference level, the women won the GPAC title (eighth in a row) and the men placed third.

2023 Indoor All-Americans

Rachel Battershell
2023 Indoor Placement: 6th in 4x400m relay (3:48.88)
Career All-America Awards: 11 (2 national titles)
National Meet Appearances: 8

Zach Bennetts
2023 Indoor Placement: 7th in pole vault (16’ 1”)
Career All-America Awards: 2
National Meet Appearances: 4

Jenna Esch
2023 Indoor Placement: 6th in 4x400m relay (3:48.88)
Career All-America Awards: 2
National Meet Appearances: 2

Kylahn Freiberg
2023 Indoor Placement: 2nd in 1,000 meters (2:54.87)
Career All-America Awards: 4
National Meet Appearances: 5

Abby Gerber
2023 Indoor Placement: 7th in shot put (46’ ¾”)
Career All-America Awards: 1
National Meet Appearances: 5

Rylee Haecker
2023 Indoor Placement: 6th in 1,000 meters (2:56.66)
Career All-America Awards: 7
National Meet Appearances: 4

Jordan Koepke
2023 Indoor Placement: 6th in 4x400m relay (3:48.88)
Career All-America Awards: 5
National Meet Appearances: 3

Erin Mapson
2023 Indoor Placement: 7th in pole vault (12’ ½”)
Career All-America Awards: 6
National Meet Appearances: 7

Josie Puelz
2023 Indoor Placement: 1st in pole vault (13’ ¼”)
Career All-America Awards: 6 (5 national titles)
National Meet Appearances: 6

Trinity Tuls
2023 Indoor Placement: 6th in 4x400m relay (3:48.88)
Career All-America Awards: 1
National Meet Appearances: 2

Zach Zohner
2023 Indoor Placement: 2nd in pole vault (16’ 7”)
Career All-America Awards: 1
National Meet Appearances: 3

Season Preview: 2023 Concordia Outdoor Track & Field

Mar. 22, 2023

MEN
Head Coach: Matt Beisel (7th year)
2023 Indoor Finishes: 3rd (GPAC); T-31st (NAIA)
2022 Outdoor Finishes: 3rd (GPAC); T-47th (NAIA)
2023 Indoor All-Americans: Zach Bennetts (pole vault); Zach Zohner (pole vault).
2022 Outdoor All-Americans returning: Colton Meyer (4x400m relay); Chris Wren (hammer throw).

WOMEN
Head Coach: Matt Beisel (7th year)
2023 Indoor Finishes: 1st (GPAC); 6th (NAIA)
2022 Outdoor Finishes: 1st (GPAC); 4th (NAIA)
2023 Indoor All-Americans: Rachel Battershell (4x400m relay); Jenna Esch (4x400m relay); Kylahn Freiberg (1,000 meters); Abby Gerber (shot put); Rylee Haecker (1,000 meters); Jordan Koepke (4x400m relay); Erin Mapson (pole vault); Josie Puelz (pole vault – national champ); Trinity Tuls (4x400m relay).
2022 Outdoor All-Americans returning: Rachel Battershell (4x400m relay); Jenna Esch (4x400m relay); Rylee Haecker (4x800m relay; 1,500 meters); Kylahn Freiberg (4x800m relay); Jordan Koepke (400 hurdles; 4x400m relay); Alli Owings (hammer throw); Erin Painter (discus); Josie Puelz (pole vault – national champ).

Outlook

Some time off during spring break allowed for a brief chance to exhale following the conclusion of the 2022-23 indoor season. Now members of the Concordia University Track & Field program have shifted focus to the outdoor season that will get underway on Saturday with a meet hosted by Grand View University. Eleven Bulldogs are coming off indoor All-America performances with many more hopeful of reaching the podium in late May.

As has become the standard, the women’s program celebrated a GPAC championship this 2023 indoor season while claiming Concordia’s eighth conference meet title in a row. Meanwhile, the men placed third in the conference and have shown signs that they are progressing closer to GPAC title contention.

Said seventh-year Head Coach Matt Beisel, “We have a lot of hope for outdoor season. Part of that hope is because we have a lot of athletes on our team whose best events are exclusive to outdoor track – the steeplechase, the javelin, the discus, the hammer and the 400 hurdles. For some of our very best athletes, those are their glory events. I think that outdoor provides us more opportunities to get people to nationals who can be All-Americans. I’m excited about the prospects. I also feel those things come into play pretty heavily at the conference level. When it comes to the discus, the hammer and the javelin, those are three events where we can have success. There are some cool things coming up.”

NAIA outdoor team national championships have been won by the Bulldogs as recently as 2016 on the women’s side and 2015 on the men’s side. In other words, the loftiest of achievements are attainable when it comes to Concordia Track & Field. Instead of striving to reach Gulf Shores, Ala., Bulldog athletes will now shoot for marks that earn them trips to Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, Ind., the new location of the NAIA outdoor national championships. Earlier this month, 32 Concordia standouts made their way to Brookings, S.D., for the NAIA indoor meet.

In addition, 59 Bulldogs garnered 2023 GPAC indoor all-conference accolades, a sign of the depth Beisel and his coaching staff have built up within the program. Most decorated among those athletes is Josie Puelz, now a five-time NAIA national champion. She has won three-straight NAIA indoor pole vault titles and will go for three in a row in outdoor.

Said Beisel of Puelz, “Josie is one of the best people I know. She exemplifies every positive quality you can possibly think of as a person, as a leader and as a teammate. If anyone’s deserving of another national title, it’s her. She has really high expectations for herself and is someone who doesn’t want to let others down, particularly the team.”

The pole vault crew is an undeniable strength for the Bulldogs, who swept 2023 GPAC indoor championships (Puelz and Zach Bennetts) and then had the NAIA national runner up on the men’s side (Zach Zohner) while qualifying eight total vaulters for nationals. Bennetts and Erin Mapson joined Puelz and Zohner on the All-America stand in Brookings. Coach Jason Berry has built up arguably the nation’s best pole vault crew. At the 2023 GPAC indoor meet, the group combined for 32 points on the women’s side and 28.5 points on the men’s side.

Other All-Americans that came out of indoor nationals were the women’s 4x400 meter relay group of Rachel Battershell (11 career All-America awards), Jenna Esch, Jordan Koepke and Trinity Tuls and Kylahn Freiberg (1,000 meter national runner up), Abby Gerber (shot put) and Rylee Haecker (1,000 meters). Freiberg and Zohner were the two major underdog stories who emerged as national runners up, far exceeding their seed marks entering the meet. The women’s 4x4 should vie for All-America honors once again while the men’s 4x4 has the potential to reach nationals. That crew is led by Colton Meyer, a three-time All-American.

This will be the final season of competition for Battershell, who will go down as another legend in program history. Said the two-time 400-meter national champion prior to indoor season, “With sports like this, you’ve never arrived. There are certain goals like being a national champion – you either get it or you don’t. With PR’s and everything, you’ve never arrived. There’s always another step to get better. With teammates that I have, how can you not want to be better? That helps me keep perspective as I push to be the best that I can be in the last year that I get to do this.”

Battershell won the GPAC indoor 400-meter title and will attempt to do the same this spring as she closes out her track career. The following Bulldogs will be looking to defend their 2022 GPAC outdoor titles: Bennetts (pole vault), Haecker (1,500 meters), Koepke (400 hurdles), Puelz (pole vault) and Camden Sesna (5,000 meters). Koepke made a big splash at the ’22 conference outdoor championships by breaking the GPAC meet record with a time of 59.90 in the 400 hurdles. Koepke and her 4x4 teammates reset the outdoor school record at both the GPAC and NAIA championships.

Concordia hopes to capitalize on its depth in the throws this spring. The throws become a bigger factor with four events in play. Returning 2022 throws All-Americans include Alli Owings (hammer throw), Erin Painter (discus) and Chris Wren (hammer throw). In addition, Sara Huss emerged as a discus All-American in 2021. In the javelin, the Bulldogs have a new Stottlemyre on board. Gretchen Stottlemyre is the younger sister of 2021 NAIA javelin national champion Liz Stottlemyre.

The depth on the women’s side is seemingly endless. Only a freshman, Adrianna Rodencal won GPAC Athlete of the Year honors for indoor and could score points in bunches again at the outdoor conference meet. Rodencal won two GPAC indoor titles and is the leader of a hurdle group that includes Battershell and Koepke.

In the jumps, Amy Richert (2023 GPAC pentathlon champion) and Wyatt Loga have both earned past All-America awards (high jump) and Joel Rathe (indoor long jump national qualifier) continues to come on in the horizontal jumps. A sophomore from Crete, Neb., Hannah Newton has the ability to put herself in All-America territory at some point in her career.

Haecker and Freiberg are the headliners from a women’s distance perspective. On the men’s side, Rohde and Sesna also provide a stellar 1-2 punch. This past GPAC meet did not go in Rohde’s favor, but he put together a phenomenal indoor campaign that saw him collect two GPAC athlete of the week awards and qualify for nationals in two individual events. Rohde and Sesna have been working their way towards claiming individual All-America status.

Many other individuals not mentioned above will have a considerable impact on what the 2023 outdoor season ultimately looks like. It may be a chilly start to the season this Saturday in Des Moines, but there are plenty of upcoming meets in April and May that will hopefully come with more desirable conditions. The Bulldogs are scheduled to be represented at 11 meets this spring when counting both the GPAC and NAIA national championships. Indiana Wesleyan was awarded the opportunity to host the national meet after it had been held in Gulf Shores going back to 2014. The complete schedule can be found HERE.

Live results for the Viking Relays can be followed via https://racetheclocktiming.anet.live/meets/21889.

Outdoor season opens with six event titles at Viking Relays

Mar. 25, 2023

DES MOINES, Iowa – A group made up of mostly distance runners and throwers represented Concordia University Track & Field in the program’s first outdoor meet of the 2023 season on Saturday (March 25). The new season kicked off at the Grand View Viking Relays in Des Moines, Iowa, where the Bulldogs emerged with six event championships. Two of those titlists were usual suspects in star performers Rylee Haecker and Calvin Rohde, who gave Concordia a sweep in the 1,500 meter races.

This was the first action for the Bulldogs since wrapping up the 2023 NAIA Indoor Track & Field National Championships. It was essentially a soft opening as Concordia held back its sprinters and jumpers while waiting for more favorable weather.

“We were able to outmatch the teams there from a distance perspective,” Beisel said. “It was fun to have each of our guys in the distance events come away as the event champions. It was cool to see Jack Ellis in the 10k, Nate Pennekamp in the steeplechase, Calvin Rohde in the 1,500 and then our men’s 4x8 all win on the track. We had great races as well from Kaia Richmond in the steeplechase and Rylee Haecker in the 1,500. The weather was almost perfect for distance races. Calvin and Rylee put up really solid marks. As far as the throws, some really good things happened. Not everything they wanted happened, but we had some really good personal bests.”

There were 12 institutions represented at the Viking Relays, including nine from the NAIA level. The Bulldogs did not put any automatic national qualifying marks on the board, but they did lay the groundwork for what’s to come this outdoor season. Haecker beat out a field of 20 runners in the 1,500 meters with a time of 4:47.50. She was followed by three teammates that also placed in the top five of the 1,500: Keegan Beisel (4:58.68), Rhaya Kaschinske (5:00.60) and Julie McIntyre (5:00.60). It was a thrilling breakthrough for Beisel to crack five minutes. Meanwhile, Rohde clocked in at 3:57.54 on the men’s side and outpaced 27 other runners. The native of Reed City, Mich., ran two seconds off a PR.

Additional individual event champions on the track were Ellis in the 10,000 meters (33:48.91) and Pennekamp in the 3,000-meter steeplechase (10:01.57). In the 4x800 meter relays, there were only a handful of entries on either side. The top grouping for the Bulldogs on the men’s side featured Rohde, Camden Sesna, Ethan Ideus and Micah Willweber. They combined to run 8:15.45 and place first. On the women’s side, Concordia’s top quartet included Haecker, Kaschinske, Beintema and Beisel. They placed first in 10:02.47.

In the throws, the Bulldogs entered competitors into the discus, hammer and shot put. On the men’s side, Concordia’s top performers were Grant Jansen in discus (150’ 8”; fifth place), Ben Moll in hammer (178’; fifth place) and Connor Asche in shot put (46’ 4”; sixth place). The leaders on the women’s side were Erin Painter in discus (137’ 5”; third place) and Kamryn Pokorney in both hammer (155’ 7”; third place) and shot put (41’ 1”; third place). A past All-American and member of the volleyball team, Sara Huss threw 132’ 10” in discus and placed fourth. Moll’s toss landed roughly 1.75 meters shy of an automatic mark in hammer.

Beisel made mention of several others who got the outdoor season started in stellar fashion. All four Bulldogs in the men’s 10k clocked new personal bests, including third-place finisher Logan Walgate (36:04.28). On the women’s side of the steeplechase, Kaia Richmond finished as the runner up in a time of 12:40.39. Westley Determan was next in line (behind Pennekamp) in the men’s steeplechase in a time of 10:20.09. As one of the team’s only sprinters to compete on Saturday, Isabelle Salters ran the 200 meters in 27.46 and placed third.

Viking Relays Event Champions

·        Men’s 4x800m relay (8:15.45); Rohde, Sesna, Ideus, Willweber

·        Women’s 4x800m relay (10:02.47); Haecker, Kaschinske, Beintema, Beisel

·        Jack Ellis – 10,000 meters (33:48.91)

·        Rylee Hacker – 1,500 meters (4:47.50)

·        Nathan Pennekamp – 3,000-meter steeplechase (10:01.57)

·        Calvin Rohde – 1,500 meters (3:57.54)

The outdoor season will continue next Saturday (April 1) with the Central Nebraska Challenge co-hosted by Hastings and the University of Nebraska-Kearney. The meet is scheduled to get underway at 11 a.m. CT from Kearney High School. The tentative meet schedule can be found HERE.

Haecker tabbed GPAC Track Athlete of the Week

Mar. 29, 2023

SEWARD, Neb. – One meet into the 2023 outdoor season, Rylee Haecker has already picked up an award. On Wednesday (March 28), the conference recognized the Davenport, Neb., native as the GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports Women’s Outdoor Track Athlete of the Week. Counting the indoor season, Concordia University Track & Field athletes have combined for six GPAC Athlete of the Week awards during the 2022-23 academic year.

The seven-time NAIA All-American Haecker emerged as an event champion in two separate races at the Grand View Viking Relays held on March 25. She clocked a time of 4:47.50 in the 1,500 meters and placed first in a field of 20 runners. Haecker also teamed up with a group of Bulldogs on a first-place time of 10:02.47 in the 4x800 meter relay. Haecker ran the leadoff leg and was followed by Rhaya Kaschinske, Hannah Beintema and Keegan Beisel. This past indoor season, Haecker won GPAC titles in the 1,000 meters and the mile and was an All-American in the 1,000 meters.

Haecker and the Bulldogs will resume outdoor action this Saturday at the Central Nebraska Challenge co-hosted by the University of Nebraska-Kearney and Hastings. The first events are slated to get underway at 11 a.m. CT from Kearney High School.

2022-23 GPAC Athletes of the Week
March 29 – Rylee Haecker (Track)
Feb. 15 – Josie Puelz (Field); Adrianna Rodencal (Track)
Feb. 8 – Calvin Rohde (Track)
Feb. 1 – Calvin Rohde (Track)
Dec. 14 – Amy Richert (Field)

Five auto standards produced in '23 outdoor season's first full-scale meet

Apr. 1, 2023

KEARNEY, Neb. – For many Concordia University Track & Field athletes, Saturday (April 1)’s Central Nebraska Challenge marked the start of the 2023 outdoor season. Favorable weather conditions in Kearney, Neb., allowed the Bulldogs to unleash their top athletes across all event groupings with strong results. Five Concordia athletes came away with fresh automatic national qualifying standards at the event co-hosted by Hastings and the University of Nebraska-Kearney at Kearney High School. Athletes from virtually all levels of collegiate competition were present at the meet.

A week earlier, Head Coach Matt Beisel and his staff traveled mostly just distance runners and throwers to the Grand View Viking Relays. This weekend’s meet provided a clearer picture of where the Bulldogs stand.

“Across the board, we’ve been working these athletes pretty hard the past few weeks,” Beisel said. “I was really happy with the distance and middle-distance kids. They came through shining. A highlight for me was Lauren Dawson crushing the school record. We had a lot of good performances across the board. It was a beautiful day – not too windy. It was really a nice day to be outside all day. We couldn’t have asked for much better weather or competition. It was a very competitive field. We had a great time being together as a team. This being our first time out with the full team, I think we showed a lot of promise. I think we’re in a good place.”

The auto marks registered on Saturday came from the likes of Jordan Koepke (400 hurdles), Josie Puelz (pole vault), Adrianna Rodencal (100 hurdles), Darien Semedo (hammer throw) and Zach Zohner (pole vault). Koepke, Puelz and Rodencal each won their respective events and so too did Matthew Boyer in the javelin and Lauren Dawson in the 5,000 meter race walk. The group of Central Nebraska Challenge event runners up included Jenna Esch (400 meters), Rylee Haecker (1,500 meters), Emma Lloyd (discus), Hannah Newton (high jump), Gretchen Stottlemyre (javelin) and Zohner. Not only was Dawson a winner, she broke the women’s race walk school record by finishing in 29:45.12. The previous standard had been 32:11.29 by Rachel Kettner in 2010.

It appears clear that the hurdles will be a strength on the women’s side as Concordia will trot out the 2023 GPAC Indoor Athlete of the Year in Rodencal and the GPAC meet record holder in the 400 hurdles in Koepke. In the 100 hurdles, Rodencal ran 14.40, the second fastest in school history as she beat out a field of 24 competitors. Koepke ran 1:02.71 in the 400 hurdles in beating out all opposition. Rodencal ran 1:07.84 and placed fourth out of the field of 13 individuals in the 400 hurdles.

By the end of indoor season, it was clear that the Bulldogs had the nation’s best combined men’s and women’s pole vault crew. Thanks to Puelz (12’ 1 ½”) and Zohner (16’ 5 ¼”), the group has its first two national qualifying standards of the outdoor season. Zohner (NAIA indoor runner up) picked up where he left off at the indoor national meet in again skying well above 16 feet. As for the rest of the crew, the Central Nebraska Challenge was just a start. Erin Boggs and Amira Cummings both placed in the top five on the women’s side.

The results for Semedo represented a major breakthrough after he made his first career nationals appearance this past indoor season. The native of Sacramento, Calif., competed with the big boys in the “invitational” men’s hammer and popped off a personal best of 184’ 4,” placing him fifth. Two teammates were in that same competition: Dagne’ Buck (174’ 9”) and Ben Moll (174’ 1”). As for Boyer, his winning toss in the javelin measured at 175’ 9.” Other top throws performances were put forth by Connor Asche in shot put (46’ 4 ¾”), Carson Fehlhafer in discus (153’ 11”), Lloyd in discus (135’ 2”), Erin Painter in hammer (155’ 3”), Kamryn Pokorney in shot put (41’ 5 ¼”) and Stottlemyre in javelin (117’ 1”).

Newton’s high jump of 5’ 5” hit the ‘B’ standard in what was a close competition for first place out of 27 athletes. Other ‘B’ marks were achieved by Calvin Rohde in the 1,500 meters (3:54.98) and by Esch in the 400 meters (57.08). The women’s 4x100 meter relay of Emily Loseke, Kayla Kirchner, Kellie Rhodes and Rodencal clocked in at 48.22 and just missed the ‘B’ standard.

There were plenty of other notable happenings on Saturday. In the women’s 5,000 meters, Keegan Beisel clocked a PR of 18:37.15 and placed third out of 27 runners. In the 1,500 meters, Haecker’s second-place time registered at 4:43.00 while Kylahn Freiberg placed seventh in 4:51.36 (her first outdoor race of 2023). On the men’s side of the 400 meters, Colton Meyer ran 49.19 (fourth place). Coach Beisel also continues to be pleased with the progress he’s seeing in the steeplechase. The program’s top steeplechasers at the meet were Kaia Richmond (12:27.87; third) on the women’s side and Nathan Pennekamp (10:07.97; ninth) on the men’s side.

As for the jumps, Josi Noble claimed third place in the triple with a mark of 35’ 6 ¾.” On the men’s side, Myles Sadd was a sixth-place finisher in the long jump (22’ 5 ¼”) and an eighth-place finisher in the high jump (6’ 4 ¾”).

Automatic National Qualifying Standards

·        Jordan Koepke – 400 Hurdles (1:02.71)

·        Josie Puelz – Pole Vault (12’ 1 ½”)

·        Adrianna Rodencal – 100 Hurdles (14.40)

·        Darien Semedo – Hammer Throw (184’ 4”)

·        Zach Zohner – Pole Vault (16’ 5 ¼”)

Central Nebraska Challenge Event Champions

·        Matthew Boyer – Javelin (175’ 9”)

·        Lauren Dawson – 5,000m Race Walk (29:45.12)

·        Jordan Koepke – 400 Hurdles (1:02.71)

·        Josie Puelz – Pole Vault (12’ 1 ½”)

·        Adrianna Rodencal – 100 Hurdles (14.40)

Two weeks after competing at the Grand View Viking Relays, the Bulldogs will be headed back to central Iowa and will take part in the Central College Dutch Invitational in Pella, Iowa, on April 7. More details about the meet can be found HERE.

Koepke hurdles way to GPAC weekly award

Apr. 5, 2023

SEWARD, Neb. – For the second week in a row, the Concordia University Track & Field women’s program has been awarded the GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports Women’s Outdoor Track Athlete of the Week. The latest award winner, as announced on Wednesday (April 5), is Bulldog sophomore Jordan Koepke. A week earlier, Rylee Haecker picked up the same honor. Taking into account both indoor and outdoor, Concordia has pulled in seven GPAC weekly awards in 2022-23.

A native of Gulf Breeze, Fla., Jordan Koepke made her one event count at last week’s Central Nebraska Challenge. She placed first in the 400 meter hurdles in an automatic national qualifying time of 1:02.71. That time places Koepke at No. 1 in the GPAC and at No. 6 in the NAIA on the current 2023 outdoor performance lists. Koepke owns the school record in the 400 hurdles with the GPAC meet record of 59.90 that she clocked a year ago. This past indoor season, Koepke earned her fifth career All-America plaque while helping the team’s 4x400 meter relay to a sixth-place finish at the national meet.

Koepke and the Bulldogs will return to action this Friday at the Central College Dutch Invitational in Pella, Iowa. Details on the meet can be found HERE.

2022-23 GPAC Athletes of the Week
April 5 – Jordan Koepke (Track)
March 29 – Rylee Haecker (Track)
Feb. 15 – Josie Puelz (Field); Adrianna Rodencal (Track)
Feb. 8 – Calvin Rohde (Track)
Feb. 1 – Calvin Rohde (Track)
Dec. 14 – Amy Richert (Field)

Bulldogs crack top 15 of NAIA ratings, prep for Central Invite

Apr. 5, 2023

SEWARD, Neb. – Concordia University Track & Field cracked the top 15 of the NAIA Outdoor National Rating Index released by the USTFCCCA on Wednesday (April 5). The Bulldog women landed at No. 9 while the men came in at No. 14. The ratings are based on marks reported to the NAIA national leaderboard, as produced by TFRRS. Head Coach Matt Beisel’s squads are back into full swing for outdoor season following 2023 NAIA indoor national place finishes of sixth on the women’s side and tied for 31st on the men’s side.

Meet No. 3 of the outdoor season is set for this Friday when Concordia will take part in the Central College Dutch Invitational. The first events are slated to get underway at 11 a.m. CT from Ron and Joyce Schipper Stadium in Pella, Iowa. More information on the meet can be found HERE.

The first full-scale meet of the ’23 outdoor campaign for the Bulldogs took place this past weekend at the Central Nebraska Challenge. The yields included five automatic national qualifying standards, three ‘B’ standards and five event championships (national marks listed below). For her national qualifying time of 1:02.71 in the 400 hurdles at the Central Nebraska Challenge, Jordan Koepke was named the GPAC Women’s Track Athlete of the Week. Koepke will combine with the likes of Rachel Battershell and Adrianna Rodencal on a strong hurdles crew.

‘A’ and ‘B’ standards through two meets

·        Jenna Esch – B, 400 Meters (57.08)

·        Jordan Koepke – A, 400 Hurdles (1:02.71)

·        Ben Moll – B, Hammer Throw (178’)

·        Hannah Newton – B, High Jump (5’ 5”)

·        Josie Puelz – A, Pole Vault (12’ 1 ½”)

·        Adrianna Rodencal – A, 100 Hurdles (14.40)

·        Calvin Rohde – B, 1,500 Meters (3:54.98)

·        Darien Semedo – A, Hammer Throw (184’ 4”)

·        Zach Zohner – A, Pole Vault (16’ 5 ¼”)
 

Another major highlight of the Central Nebraska Challenge was the school record in the women’s 5,000-meter race walk clocked by Lauren Dawson, who ran 29:45.12. The previous standard had been 32:11.29 by Rachel Kettner in 2010. In addition, the pole vault crew figures to be one of the nation’s best. Josie Puelz and Zach Zohner have already qualified in the event with more likely to clinch their spots at nationals in upcoming meets.

Following the Easter weekend, the Bulldogs will look forward to hosting the Concordia Invitational (April 14-15). The tentative meet schedule can be found HERE.

Rodencal breaks school hurdles record, five Bulldogs win event titles at Central Invite

Apr. 7, 2023

PELLA, Iowa – Another school hurdles record for Adrianna Rodencal stood out as the highlight of Good Friday (April 7) at the Central College Dutch Invitational in Pella, Iowa. Rodencal was one of five Concordia University Track & Field athletes to emerge as event champions at the meet, which included athletes from NCAA Division I Drake University and Iowa State University (and competitors from the NAIA, NCAA Division II and III and JUCO levels). Other first-place Bulldog finishers were Matthew Boyer in the javelin, Josie Puelz in the pole vault, Calvin Rohde in the 5,000 meters and Zach Zohner in the pole vault.

In addition to the five Central Invite titles, three runner-up finishes were claimed by Bulldogs: Rylee Haecker (1,500 meters), Colton Meyer (400 meters) and Alivia Weathers (triple jump). The outing marked the third meet of the 2023 outdoor season for Head Coach Matt Beisel’s squads, which entered the weekend with NAIA national ratings of ninth on the women’s side and 14th on the men’s side (according to the USTFCCCA).

“Our athletes really competed and the weather was almost perfect,” Beisel said. “Starting with our distance kids, almost without exception, they had an amazing day. I feel like the training seems to be working – and we’re working hard right now. We have six girls right now five-flat or faster in the 1,500, which is incredible. We also had Calvin Rohde run one of the best races he’s ever run. We got a lot of good out of today. I did a lot of praying before the meet and asked God if it’s His will, for us to have success. We had the kids walk away with performances that they could feel good about. For those who didn’t have as good of days, we learn from it.”

A Lincoln Lutheran High School product, Rodencal has picked up where she left off during the indoor season when she earned GPAC Athlete of the Year accolades. Rodencal already owned the school indoor record in the 60 hurdles (8.72) and can now lay claim to the outdoor record in the 100 hurdles. She clocked a time of 14.15, eclipsing the previous standard of 14.25 by teammate Rachel Battershell. Rodencal also ran a 200-meter time of 25.50 on Friday and placed third.

The Reed City, Mich., native Rohde made a push for a school record of his own and nearly hit a qualifying time. Officially, Rohde’s time went down as 14:42.28 in the 5,000 meters, putting him just shy of Luka Thor (14:42.07) and just in front of Kregg Einspahr (14:42.80) on the school’s all-time list. Rohde’s mark was a ‘B’ standard and roughly two seconds off the auto qualifier. On the women’s side of the distance crew, Haecker continues to stand out. She ran the 1,500 meters in 4:41.98 (just shy of a ‘B’). Hannah Beintema (4:58.80) and Julie McIntyre (5:00.15) were both in the ballpark of five minutes. Camden Sesna finished in 4:02.36 in the men’s 1,500 (eighth place).

For the second meet in a row, Boyer won the javelin competition. His mark this time landed at 182’ 4,” making for a fresh ‘B’ standard. Other noteworthy efforts from the throws included ‘B’ marks from Kamryn Pokorney (164’ 6” in hammer) and Erin Painter (139’ 7” in discus). A week after qualifying in the hammer, Darien Semedo led the men’s side with a toss of 177’ 5” in the event.

Puelz (11’ 11 ¾”) and Zohner (16’ ¾”) were again pole vault event titlists with marks that eclipsed the ‘A’ standard. Four other Concordia women’s vaulters (Amir Cummings, Kayla Svoboda, Erin Boggs and Erin Mapson) went at least 10’ 6” and Mayson Ostermeyer (14’ 5 ¼”) and Spencer Kearn (14’ 5 ¼”) tied for third on the men’s side.

In the long jump competitions, the Bulldogs got top-five placements from Kellie Rhodes (16’ 11 ½”) and Joel Rathe (22’ 9 ¾”). Myles Sadd and Wyatt Loga shared fourth place in the high jump (6’ 4 ¾”).

Meyer’s 48.64 in the 400 meters represented an outdoor personal best. Some of the team’s other top sprinters on Friday were Colby Sugden (22.91 in the 200 meters), Brianna Quinn (1:00.86 in the 400 meters), Cummings (12.79 in the 100 meters) and Rathe (11.12 in the 100 meters).

Central Invite Event Champions

·        Matthew Boyer – Javelin (182’ 4”)

·        Josie Puelz – Pole Vault (11’ 11 ¾”)

·        Adrianna Rodencal – 100 Hurdles (14.15)

·        Calvin Rohde – 5,000 Meters (14:42.28)

·        Zach Zohner – Pole Vault (16’ ¾”)

The Bulldogs will host their first outdoor meet of the season next weekend (April 14-15) when the Concordia Invitational takes place on campus. Day one of the meet will feature hammer and javelin competitions before things heat up with the full spectrum of events on day two. The tentative meet schedule can be found HERE.

Rodencal, Zohner honored as GPAC Athletes of the Week

Apr. 12, 2023

SEWARD, Neb. – For their performances at the Central College Dutch Invitational, Adrianna Rodencal and Zach Zohner have been honored by the GPAC. On Wednesday (April 12), the conference named Rodencal the GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports Women’s Outdoor Track Athlete of the Week and Zohner the GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports Men’s Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week. Rodencal has now earned such distinction twice as a freshman while Zohner has picked up this honor for the first time in his career.

The Lincoln Lutheran alum Rodencal broke the school record in the 100-meter hurdles last week while clocking in at 14.15, outrunning the previous Concordia women’s track standard of 14.25 by teammate Rachel Battershell. Rodencal won that event at the Central Invite and also placed third in the 200 meters (25.50). On the current performance lists, Rodencal leads the GPAC and ranks sixth nationally in the 100 hurdles. She is also the school record holder in the indoor 60-meter hurdles and earned 2023 GPAC Indoor Athlete of the Year accolades.

Zohner keeps soaring above 16 feet in the pole vault. The native of Battle Creek, Neb., won the competition at the Central Invite while clearing 16’ ¾,” marking his second-straight outdoor meet going above 16 feet. Zohner’s mark of 16’ 5 ¼” at the Central Nebraska Challenge ranks him No. 1 in the GPAC and No. 3 in the NAIA. Zohner turned heads at the 2023 indoor national meet by placing as the pole vault runner up.

The Bulldogs are gearing up to host the Concordia Outdoor Invite this Friday and Saturday. The tentative meet schedule can be found HERE.

2022-23 GPAC Athletes of the Week
April 12 – Adrianna Rodencal (Track); Zach Zohner (Field)
April 5 – Jordan Koepke (Track)
March 29 – Rylee Haecker (Track)
Feb. 15 – Josie Puelz (Field); Adrianna Rodencal (Track)
Feb. 8 – Calvin Rohde (Track)
Feb. 1 – Calvin Rohde (Track)
Dec. 14 – Amy Richert (Field)

UPDATE: Concordia Invite meet schedule revised due to weather forecast

Apr. 14, 2023

SEWARD, Neb. – Following three meets on the road to begin the 2023 outdoor season, Concordia University Track & Field will host the Concordia Outdoor Invitational this Friday and Saturday. The Bulldogs are preparing to welcome 11 competing institutions to Bulldog Stadium for their first home meet of the outdoor season. This past indoor season, Concordia hosted five meets, including the GPAC Championships. The Concordia Invite will get started on Friday with the hammer and javelin competitions. The meet will resume at 12 p.m. on Saturday.

UPDATE: Due to inclement weather in the forecast, running events have been canceled (with the exception of the racewalk). The revised meet schedule is linked below.

Meet Info

Concordia Outdoor Invitational
April 14-15, 2023 | Bulldog Stadium
--Meet Schedule (PDF) | Live Results

Competing Institutions
Benedictine College
College of Saint Mary
Concordia University Nebraska
Doane University
Hastings College
Midland University
Mount Marty University
Nebraska Wesleyan University
Northern State University
Rockhurst University
University of Sioux Falls
York College

Overview

So far this outdoor season, the Bulldogs have appeared at three meets: the Grand View Viking Relays (March 25), Central Nebraska Challenge (April 1) and Central Nebraska Challenge (April 7). Through the first three weekends of action, Concordia athletes have combined for five automatic national qualifying standards and eight ‘B’ standards. The list can be found below. As of last week, the Bulldogs appeared in the NAIA national ratings (as calculated by the USTFCCCA) at No. 9 on the women’s side and at No. 14 on the men’s side.

National ‘A’ and ‘B’ standards in 2023 outdoor season

·        Matthew Boyer – B, Javelin (182’ 4”)

·        Jenna Esch – B, 400 Meters (57.08)

·        Jordan Koepke – A, 400 Hurdles (1:02.71)

·        Ben Moll – B, Hammer Throw (178’)

·        Hannah Newton – B, High Jump (5’ 5”)

·        Erin Painter – B, Discus (139’ 7”)

·        Kamryn Pokorney – B, Hammer Throw (164’ 6”)

·        Josie Puelz – A, Pole Vault (12’ 1 ½”)

·        Adrianna Rodencal – A, 100 Hurdles (14.15)

·        Calvin Rohde – B, 1,500 Meters (3:54.98); B, 5,000 Meters (14:42.28)

·        Darien Semedo – A, Hammer Throw (184’ 4”)

·        Zach Zohner – A, Pole Vault (16’ 5 ¼”)


The highlight of the Central Invite in Pella, Iowa, last week was the school record turned in by Adrianna Rodencal in the 100-meter hurdles. Rodencal clocked in at 14.15, outrunning the previous Concordia women’s track standard of 14.25 by teammate Rachel Battershell. Rodencal won that event at the Central Invite and also placed third in the 200 meters (25.50). Other event champions at last week’s meet were Matthew Boyer (javelin), Josie Puelz (pole vault), Calvin Rohde (5,000 meters) and Zach Zohner (pole vault). Rohde came close to the school record in the 5,000 while finishing in 14:42.28 (just shy of the record of 14:42.07 by Luka Thor).

Due to the Easter weekend, a large number of Bulldogs did not compete last week. In other words, a lot of emphasis is being put on this week’s meet. The competition will be fierce and will include athletes from six GPAC institutions. Of the 12 schools represented this weekend, eight are NAIA, three are NCAA Division II and one is NCAA Division III (Nebraska Wesleyan). The D-II participants are Northern State University, Rockhurst University and the University of Sioux Falls.

Next up following the Concordia Invite will be the Jim Dutcher Memorial Classic on April 20-22. The schedule for that meet can be found HERE.

Dawson resets own record, six Bulldogs win Concordia Invite titles

Apr. 15, 2023

SEWARD, Neb. – While frigid temperatures and strong winds resulted in a condensed meet, racewalker Lauren Dawson and a large group of field athletes from Concordia University Track & Field made the most of the weekend. Bulldog athletes combined for six event titles and two new automatic national qualifying standards at the Concordia Outdoor Invite (April 14-15). As one of those event champions, Dawson reset her own record in the 5,000 meter racewalk.

The meet was a departure from the norm for Head Coach Matt Beisel and his staff, which had no distance, mid-distance, sprinters, hurdlers or relays to oversee at the Concordia Invite. Despite the lack of running events, 11 institutions sent athletes to compete at the meet, which played out in the throwing fields and in the Fieldhouse.

A junior from Cedar Falls, Iowa, Dawson just missed the cut in regard to qualifying for indoor nationals in the racewalk. Now she’s working on positioning herself for a bid to the outdoor national meet. She battled through the cool and windy conditions on Saturday to run a new personal best of 28:34.84 in the 5,000 meter racewalk. Teammate Peyton Gissler also clocked a PR (33:07.83). Both Bulldogs have made major strides with the tutelage of former Concordia racewalker Steve Hoger. Dawson pushed herself into the top 10 of the NAIA national list with a fresh ‘B’ standard.

“Just being excited about it helps me out the most,” Dawson said in response to her fast rise in the event. “I enjoy it because it’s something new and I love to try new things. Being able to stay in love with the sport and to see the success is really encouraging … It was difficult to gain the muscle needed. It uses a lot of different muscles than distance running. You also have to get used to the racewalk form – it’s nothing like running at all.”

Throwing events were contested both Friday and Saturday. A three-time NAIA All-American, Chris Wren made his outdoor season debut on Friday and got on the board with an automatic national qualifying mark of 187’ 5” in the hammer. He placed third out of 32 competitors in the field. He was joined by four teammates within the top 10 at the Concordia Invite: Darien Semedo (fifth), Ben Moll (sixth), Brady Klute (seventh) and Austen Rozelle (10th). On the women’s side of the hammer, Kamryn Pokorney hit the ‘B’ standard (159’ 3”) once again and placed fifth out of 37 athletes. She was followed by teammates Alli Owings (sixth), Abigail Gerber (seventh), Abi Wohlgemuth (eighth) and Erin Painter (ninth).

Two Bulldogs emerged as event champions in the throws as Matthew Boyer won the javelin in a toss of 179’ 10” and Carson Fehlhafer took first in the discus (154’). Boyer has won javelin competitions at three separate meets this season (including the Central Nebraska Challenge and the Central College Invite). On the women’s side of the javelin, 12 Concordia athletes tried their hand. Tops among them was Gretchen Stottlemyre with a throw of 118’ 4” (third place). In the men’s discus, the Bulldogs had four of the top five finishers with Rozelle (third), Grant Jansen (fourth) and Klute (fifth) coming in after Fehlhafer. The top discus performer on the women’s side was Erin Painter (134’ 8”; third place). In the shot put, Connor Asche (47’ 3”) and Pokorney (42’ 7”) were both third-place finishers.

Expectations are high each time out for the pole vault crew. On the women’s side, Josie Puelz took first place at the Concordia Invite while clearing 12’ 3 ½.” Meanwhile, teammate Erin Mapson (11’ 11 ¾”) qualified for nationals while placing second and Kayla Svoboda (11’ 7 ¾”) hit a new ‘B’ standard. On the men’s side, Zach Zohner (15’ 9 ¾”) would have been the meet champion if not for an unattached athlete. Four Bulldogs placed inside the top nine of a competition that featured 26 athletes.

An indoor long jump national qualifier, Joel Rathe is working on attaining the same feat this outdoor season. The Sterling, Neb., native missed the ‘B’ standard on Saturday by a centimeter while winning the Concordia Invite long jump with a mark of 23’ 5 ¼.” Teammate Myles Sadd followed him with a PR of 22’ 8.” On the women’s side of the long jump, three Bulldogs recorded measurements greater than 17 feet: Hayley Miles (18’ 1”), Kellie Rhodes (17’ 2 ¼”) and Amanda Steinke (17’ 1 ½”). Other top Concordia jumpers were Wyatt Loga in the high jump (second; 6’ 6 ¾”), Hannah Newton in the high jump (tied for first; 5’ 3”) and Josi Noble in the triple jump (third; 36’ 2”).

Automatic National Qualifying Standards

·        Erin Mapson – Pole Vault (11’ 11 ¾”)

·        Josie Puelz – Pole Vault (12’ 3 ½”)

·        Chris Wren – Hammer Throw (187’ 5”)

·        Zach Zohner – Pole Vault (15’ 9 ¾”)

Concordia Invite Event Champions

·        Matthew Boyer – Javelin (179’ 10”)

·        Lauren Dawson – 5,000m Racewalk (28:34.84)

·        Carson Fehlhafer – Discus (154’)

·        Hannah Newton – High Jump (5’ 3”)

·        Josie Puelz – Pole Vault (12’ 3 ½”)

·        Joel Rathe – Long Jump (23’ 5 ¼”)

All parties involved will pray for more favorable weather conditions next weekend (April 20-22) when the Jim Dutcher Memorial Classic will be hosted by Doane. The meet schedule can be found HERE.

Dawson racewalks her way to GPAC accolades

Apr. 19, 2023

SEWARD, Neb. – Another school record-breaking performance in the racewalk has resulted in Concordia University Track & Field junior Lauren Dawson being recognized as the GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports Women’s Outdoor Track Athlete of the Week, as announced on Wednesday (April 19). Dawson has earned the conference weekly award for the first time in her career. During the 2022-23 indoor and outdoor seasons, Bulldog athletes have combined for 10 GPAC athlete of the week awards.

A native of Cedar Falls, Iowa, Dawson battled cold and windy conditions at the Concordia Invite (April 15) and clocked a new personal best and school record time of 28:34.84 in the 5,000-meter racewalk. That time represents an NAIA ‘B’ standard and places Dawson atop the GPAC and at No. 9 on the national leaderboard. The 2023 GPAC indoor champion in the 3,000-meter racewalk, Dawson is aiming to reach the national champions for the first time in her career. A Secondary Education major, Dawson has been named an NAIA Scholar-Athlete for both cross country and track.

The Bulldogs are slated to return to action this week at the Jim Dutcher Memorial Classic (April 20-22) hosted by Doane.

2022-23 GPAC Athletes of the Week
April 19 – Lauren Dawson (Track)
April 12 – Adrianna Rodencal (Track); Zach Zohner (Field)
April 5 – Jordan Koepke (Track)
March 29 – Rylee Haecker (Track)
Feb. 15 – Josie Puelz (Field); Adrianna Rodencal (Track)
Feb. 8 – Calvin Rohde (Track)
Feb. 1 – Calvin Rohde (Track)
Dec. 14 – Amy Richert (Field)

Meet Info: 2023 Jim Dutcher Memorial hosted by Doane

Apr. 19, 2023

SEWARD, Neb. – Week No. 5 of the 2023 outdoor season will feature a trip to nearby Doane for this weekend’s Jim Dutcher Memorial. Due to expected colder temperatures on Saturday, Doane has reconfigured the meet. Action will take place on Thursday, Friday and Sunday. The combined events schedule remained in place, however, the bulk of the rest of the meet is now set to be held on Sunday. The full meet schedule can be found via the link below. Inclement weather also wreaked havoc upon last week’s Concordia Invite. Head Coach Matt Beisel’s program hosted athletes from 11 institutions at the Concordia Invite, which canceled all running events (with the exception of the racewalk).

Meet Info

Jim Dutcher Memorial
April 20-21, 23 | Al Papik Field & Lauritsen Track
--Meet Schedule (PDF) | Live Results

In this week’s NAIA Rating Index released by the USTFCCCA, the Bulldogs achieved national rankings of 16th on the women’s side and 21st on the men’s side. The ratings are calculated based on the marks and times recorded so far this outdoor season, as reported to TFRRS. Through four weeks of outdoor competition, Concordia athletes have combined for seven ‘A’ standards and 10 ‘B’ standards. Five auto marks were put on the board at the Central Nebraska Challenge on April 1. Below is a listing of those marks.

·        Matthew Boyer – B, Javelin (182’ 4”)

·        Lauren Dawson – B, 5,000m Racewalk (28:34.84)

·        Jenna Esch – B, 400 Meters (57.08)

·        Jordan Koepke – A, 400 Hurdles (1:02.71)

·        Erin Mapson – A, Pole Vault (11’ 11 ¾”)

·        Ben Moll – B, Hammer Throw (178’)

·        Hannah Newton – B, High Jump (5’ 5”)

·        Erin Painter – B, Discus (139’ 7”)

·        Kamryn Pokorney – B, Hammer Throw (164’ 6”)

·        Josie Puelz – A, Pole Vault (12’ 3 ½”)

·        Adrianna Rodencal – A, 100 Hurdles (14.15)

·        Calvin Rohde – B, 1,500 Meters (3:54.98); B, 5,000 Meters (14:42.28)

·        Darien Semedo – A, Hammer Throw (184’ 4”)

·        Kayla Svoboda – B, Pole Vault (11’ 7 ¾”)

·        Chris Wren – A, Hammer Throw (187’ 5”)

·        Zach Zohner – A, Pole Vault (16’ 5 ¼”)


Fresh automatic national qualifying marks were added last week at the Concordia Invite by Erin Mapson in the pole vault (11’ 11 ¾”) and Chris Wren in the hammer throw (187’ 5”). In addition, six Bulldogs came away with event titles: Matthew Boyer (javelin), Lauren Dawson (racewalk), Carson Fehlhafer (discus), Hannah Newton (high jump), Josie Puelz (pole vault) and Joel Rathe (long jump). Dawson broke her own school record in the 5,000-meter racewalk by clocking in at 28:34.84, a ‘B’ standard that ranks No. 9 nationally (best in the GPAC). Dawson was recognized early in the day on Wednesday as the GPAC Women’s Track Athlete of the Week.

Once the Dutcher Memorial is in the books, Concordia will have only two meets remaining prior to the 2023 GPAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships (May 5-6). Up next will be the Drake Relays (April 27-29) and the Nebraska Wesleyan Invite (April 28-29). The Bulldogs will host their final home meet of 2023 when they put on the annual Concordia Twilight, which is scheduled for May 12.

Esch shines on the track, Bulldogs win six event titles at Dutcher Memorial

Apr. 23, 2023

CRETE, Neb. – Mild conditions that featured light winds were a welcome change of pace on Sunday (April 23) as the nationally ranked Concordia University Track & Field squads engaged in competition at the annual Jim Dutcher Memorial Classic hosted by Doane. For some Bulldogs, the meet actually represented their first action of the outdoor season. Most notably, sophomore Jenna Esch took advantage of the conditions while clocking a fresh automatic national qualifying standard in the 400 meters. She also helped the 4x400 meter relay run an ‘A’ standard.

In sum, Concordia came away with six event championships at the Dutcher Memorial, which was loaded with many of the very best track programs the state of Nebraska has to offer. The outing marked the fifth meet of the 2023 outdoor season.

“My distance kids ran super well and had phenomenal performances,” Beisel said. “We were eagerly anticipating today and had a lot of personal bests in events like the sprints, hurdles, distance and mid-distance. It was a great decision to move this meet to Sunday. There was little to no wind – it was beautiful out. There was really great competition with Nebraska Wesleyan and Kearney (UNK) there, plus Hastings, Doane and Midland. They brought it. Our kids stepped up and performed.

“We were waiting for this day to come because we lost all the running events last week and a lot of our team went home for Easter. This was Rachel Battershell’s first meet and it was Liam Fagan’s first meet of the whole season. Everyone was glad to get a meet under our belts in good conditions.”

The two-time All-American Esch blazed to a personal best of 56.74 in the 400 meters and placed third out of field of 25 runners. Esch was followed in the top five of the event by teammates in Trinity Tuls (58.17) and Rachel Battershell (58.31). Later in the evening, that trio, in addition to Kayla Kirchner, produced an automatic national qualifying time of 3:53.60 in the 4x400 meter relay. That time placed the Bulldogs in first by more than six seconds (four total 4x4s in the meet).

Additional first-place finishes were turned in this weekend by the women’s 4x800 meter relay, Carson Fehlhafer (discus), Kylahn Freiberg (5,000 meters), Josie Puelz (pole vault) and Adrianna Rodencal (100 hurdles). Second-place claims at the Dutcher Memorial were made by the women’s 4x100 meter relay, Amy Richert (heptathlon), Rodencal (100 meters), Calvin Rohde (1,500 meters). Fehlhafer hit the ‘B’ standard in the discus for the first time while landing a toss of 159 feet. As for Rodencal, she came up just shy of her own school record in the 100 hurdles while crossing the finish line in 14.17.

The likes of Freiberg, Rylee Haecker, Rohde and Camden Sesna continue to pace the distance crew. In the 1,500 meters, both Rohde (3:55.41) and Haecker (4:43.28) were within striking distance of the ‘B’ standard. They were pushed by teammates such as Keegan Beisel (4:46.10) on the women’s side and Sesna (3:56.46) on the men’s side. Haecker and Beisel teamed up with Rhaya Kaschinske and Hannah Beintema on a first-place 4x8 time of 9:50.09. Freiberg’s winning time in the 5,000 meters clocked in at 18:04.47.

For the second week in a row, Chris Wren eclipsed the ‘A’ standard in the hammer throw. His toss this weekend came in at 189’ 10” (third place). Darien Semedo (176’ 8”) placed fifth in the hammer. On the women’s side of the hammer, Kamryn Pokorney produced a ‘B’ standard (161’ 1”; seventh place) with Alli Owings (158’ 11”) just behind her. A consistent top place finisher this season in the javelin, Matthew Boyer threw 176’ 2” and placed fifth at the Dutcher Memorial. Pokorney and Semedo also emerged as the team’s top performers in the shot put.

The most significant effort from the jumps came from All-American Wyatt Loga, who cleared a ‘B’ standard of 6’ 8 ¾” in the high jump and placed fifth. Elsewhere in the jumps, Joel Rathe placed fourth in the long jump (21’ 11”) and Hayley Miles placed fourth in the triple jump (34’ 5 ½”).

The Lincoln Lutheran alum Rodencal also lent her services to the 4x1, which clocked a ‘B’ standard of 47.92. The group featured Rodencal along with Battershell, Kirchner and Kellie Rhodes. Kirchner was a third-place finisher in the 200 meters (26.08). Finally, in the 3,000 meter steeplechase, Concordia was led by Kaia Richmond (12:06.47; third place) on the women’s side and Nathan Pennekamp (9:48.88; fourth place) on the men’s side.

In the season's first heptathlon competition, Richert placed as the meet's runner up with 4,106 points. She was one of four Bulldogs to hit the minimum national reporting standard of 3,900. The others to accomplish that feat were Amanda Steinke (4,040), Faith Espinosa (3,997) and Josi Noble (3,974).

Automatic National Qualifying Standards

·        Women’s 4x400m Relay (3:53.60); Esch, Kirchner, Tuls, Battershell

·        Jenna Esch – 400 Meters (56.74)

·        Josie Puelz – Pole Vault (12’ 7 ½”)

·        Adrianna Rodencal – 100 Hurdles (14.17)

·        Chris Wren – Hammer Throw (189’ 10”)

Dutcher Memorial Event Titles

·        Women’s 4x400m Relay (3:53.60); Esch, Kirchner, Tuls, Battershell

·        Women’s 4x800m Relay (9:50.09); Haecker, Kaschinske, Beisel, Beintema

·        Carson Fehlhafer – Discus (159’)

·        Kylahn Freiberg – 5,000 Meters (18:04.47)

·        Josie Puelz – Pole Vault (12’ 7 ½”)

·        Adrianna Rodencal – 100 Hurdles (14.17)

This coming week, Concordia will be represented at the Drake Relays (April 27-29) and at the Nebraska Wesleyan Prairie Wolf Invite (April 28-29). Those meets will be the precursor to the GPAC Championships (May 5-6) hosted by Dordt. Held annually in Des Moines, Iowa, by Drake University, the Drake Relays serve as a showcase event for athletes nationwide across all college divisions. More details about the Drake Relays can be found HERE.

Esch honored as GPAC Track Athlete of the Week

Apr. 26, 2023

SEWARD, Neb. – For her pair of automatic national qualifying times at the Dutcher Memorial Classic, Jenna Esch has been named the GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports Women’s Outdoor Track Athlete of the Week, as announced on Wednesday (April 25). Esch has earned a conference weekly award for the first time in her career. Throughout the 2022-23 indoor and outdoor seasons, Concordia University Track & Field athletes have combined for 11 GPAC athlete of the week awards. Esch is the fifth different Bulldog women’s athlete to earn the award on the track in 2023.

A Hastings, Neb., native and Saint Cecilia High School alum, Esch starred last week while adding her name to the national qualifying field. Esch clocked an automatic national qualifying (and personal best) 400-meter time of 56.74 (third place out of 25 runners). She also ran the leadoff leg for a 4x400 meter relay that qualified for nationals in a time of 3:53.60 in the meet at Doane. Finally, Esch ran the 200 meters in 26.24, good for fourth place. On the current GPAC lists, Esch ranks second in the 400 meters (18th nationally) while the 4x4 ranks No. 1 (seventh nationally).

A two-time All-American, Esch moved to No. 3 on the program’s all-time 400-meter list behind only Carol Bailey and teammate Rachel Battershell. Esch was also part of a 4x4 from 2022 that ranks No. 2 (3:48.93) on the school’s all-time list.

Esch and her teammates will be back to action this week between the Drake Relays (April 27-29) and the Nebraska Wesleyan Prairie Wolf Invite (April 28-28).

2022-23 GPAC Athletes of the Week
April 26 – Jenna Esch (Track)
April 19 – Lauren Dawson (Track)
April 12 – Adrianna Rodencal (Track); Zach Zohner (Field)
April 5 – Jordan Koepke (Track)
March 29 – Rylee Haecker (Track)
Feb. 15 – Josie Puelz (Field); Adrianna Rodencal (Track)
Feb. 8 – Calvin Rohde (Track)
Feb. 1 – Calvin Rohde (Track)
Dec. 14 – Amy Richert (Field)

Meet Info: 2023 Drake Relays/Prairie Wolf Invitational

Apr. 26, 2023

SEWARD, Neb. – As a precursor to the 2023 GPAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships, Concordia athletes will be headed to the 2023 Darke Relays and the Nebraska Wesleyan Prairie Wolf Invitational in what will be week six of the outdoor season. Head Coach Matt Beisel’s squads are coming off an outing last week at the Dutcher Memorial Classic hosted by Doane. The Bulldogs came away with six event championships, a couple fresh automatic national qualifying times and four heptathlon point totals that met the minimum national reporting standard. The first action at the Drake Relays will get underway early in the evening on Thursday.

Meet Info

Drake Relays
April 27-29 | Drake Stadium (Des Moines, Iowa)
--Meet Homepage | Live Results

Prairie Wolf Invitational
April 28-29 | Woody Greeno Track (Lincoln, Neb.)
--Meet Schedule (PDF) | Live Results

In this week’s NAIA Rating Index released by the USTFCCCA, the Bulldogs achieved national rankings of 19th on the women’s side and 29th on the men’s side. The ratings are calculated based on the marks and times recorded so far this outdoor season, as reported to TFRRS. Through five weeks of outdoor competition, Concordia athletes have combined for nine ‘A’ standards and 12 ‘B’ standards. Five auto marks were put on the board at the Central Nebraska Challenge on April 1. Below is a listing of the automatic national qualifying standards.

·        Women’s 4x400m Relay – A (3:53.60)

·        Jenna Esch – A, 400 Meters (56.74)

·        Jordan Koepke – A, 400 Hurdles (1:02.71)

·        Erin Mapson – A, Pole Vault (11’ 11 ¾”)

·        Josie Puelz – A, Pole Vault (12’ 7 ½”)

·        Adrianna Rodencal – A, 100 Hurdles (14.15)

·        Darien Semedo – A, Hammer Throw (184’ 4”)

·        Chris Wren – A, Hammer Throw (189’ 10”)

·        Zach Zohner – A, Pole Vault (16’ 5 ¼”)

Concordia will be represented at the Drake Relays by Wyatt Loga in the high jump, Rachel Battershell and Jenna Esch in the 400 meters and by a series of relay groups. The Bulldogs have entries into the women’s 4x100, 4x200, 4x400 and 4x800 meter relays and the men’s 4x400 meter relay. The schedule for those events can be found at bottom.

The newest Bulldog additions to the national qualifying field were Jenna Esch (400 meters) and the women’s 4x400 meter relay, which included Esch. As a result of her efforts at the Dutcher Memorial, Esch was recognized as the GPAC Women’s Outdoor Track Athlete of the Week. Esch ran a personal best of 56.74 in the 400 meters (third fastest in program history). Esch was joined in the 4x4 by Kayla Kirchner, Trinity Tuls and Rachel Battershell. They combined to run a time of 3:53.60.

Meanwhile, new ‘B’ standards were produced at the Dutcher Memorial by the women’s 4x100 meter relay (47.92), Carson Fehlhafer in the discus (159’) and Wyatt Loga in the high jump (6’ 8 ¾”). Improvements were made on existing automatic national qualifying marks by Josie Puelz in the pole vault (12’ 7 ½”) and by Chris Wren in the hammer throw (189’ 10”). In the women’s heptathlon, four Bulldogs met the minimum national reporting standard: Amy Richert (4,106), Amanda Steinke (4,040), Faith Espinosa (3,997) and Josi Noble (3,974).

Concordia schedule at the Drake Relays:

Full Schedule (PDF)

Thursday, 4:30 p.m. – Women’s 4x800m Relay (finals)

Friday, 9:18 a.m. – Women’s 4x100m Relay (prelims)

Friday, 11:30 a.m. – Wyatt Loga, high jump

Friday, 3:03 p.m. – Women’s 4x400m Relay (prelims)

Friday, 3:26 p.m. – Men’s 4x400m Relay (prelims)

Friday, 4:26 p.m. - Rachel Battershell/Jenna Esch, 400 meters

Friday, 7:22 p.m. – Women’s 4x200m Relay (finals)

Saturday, 4:19 p.m. – Women’s 4x100m Relay (finals)

Saturday, 4:55 p.m. – Women’s 4x400m Relay (finals)

Saturday, 5:20 p.m. – Men’s 4x400m Relay (finals)

The 2023 GPAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships will be hosted in Sioux Center, Iowa, by Dordt in Open Space Park on May 5-6. The meet schedule can be found via the GPAC website HERE.

Women's relays star at Drake Relays; three event titles won at Prairie Wolf Invite

Apr. 29, 2023

Concordia University Track & Field athletes represented the program at three separate meets in three different states over the weekend that marked the precursor to the 2023 GPAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Most notably, the women’s relays blazed to automatic national qualifying times and to a new school standard while pacing the Blue Oval in Des Moines, Iowa, at the 2023 Drake Relays (April 27-29). Elsewhere, the bulk of the team competed at the Prairie Wolf Invite (April 28-29) hosted by Nebraska Wesleyan and a select group of throwers traveled to the Rock Chalk Classic (April 29) hosted by the University of Kansas. Competitors battled especially strong winds on Saturday.

In highlighting the efforts of Head Coach Matt Beisel’s nationally ranked squads, the women’s 4x800 meter relay put up a fresh automatic national qualifying standard, the women’s 4x200 meter relay broke the school record and the women’s 4x400 meter relay reached the finals at the Drake Relays. Coach Mark Samuels accompanied the relay crews for each of the three days in Des Moines.

The women’s 4x8 got the weekend started on Thursday when it clocked in at 9:20.98 at the Drake Relays. That time ranks No. 5 nationally (No. 2 in the GPAC) and was achieved despite some late shuffling of the group. The quartet wound up featuring Jenna Esch, Kylahn Freiberg, Rhaya Kaschinske and Keegan Beisel. The reigning GPAC women’s track athlete of the week, Esch also ran the leadoff leg for the 4x4, which wound up placing fourth in the college division of the Drake Relays. She teamed up with Kayla Kirchner, Josi Noble and Rachel Battershell. They ran separate times of 3:50.29 and 3:50.43 (both national qualifying times). That crew is the top-ranked 4x4 in the GPAC.

In Friday’s action at the Drake Relays, the women’s 4x2 broke the program standard that had stood since 1990 (which was led by NAIA Hall of Famer Carol Bailey-Moravec). The new record-holding 4x2 was made up of Battershell, Kirchner, Emily Loseke and Adrianna Rodencal. They clocked in at 1:44.26, eclipsing the previous standard of 1:44.92.

A handful of additional Concordia athletes made their way to Drake Stadium. A young men’s 4x4 also took to the Blue Oval. The group of Colby Sugden, Gage Fries, Liam Fagan and Teagan Meyer clocked in at 3:27.29. In the women’s open 400 meters, Esch ran 57.65 and Battershell crossed the finish line in 59.84. In the men’s high jump, Wyatt Loga cleared the opening height of 6’ 4 ¾.”

Meanwhile in Lincoln, three Bulldogs won event titles at the Prairie Wolf Invite: Mark Cooke in the 100 meters (10.67), Josie Puelz in the pole vault (12’ ¾”) and Joel Rathe in the long jump (23’ 3 ½”). There were no fresh ‘A’ standards produced the Prairie Wolf Invite, but Hannah Newton improved upon a ‘B’ in the high jump (5’ 5 ¼”) and Alli Owings turned in a new ‘B’ mark in the hammer throw (159’ 10”). After competing at Drake, Rodencal ran the 100 hurdles in 14.31 (second place) in her hometown Lincoln on Saturday.

Among the throwers who went to Lawrence, Kan., for the Rock Chalk Classic, Chris Wren and Darien Semedo performed well on a national scale. Wren boosted his existing ‘A’ standard in the hammer with a toss of 190’ 7” while Semedo posted a ‘B’ in the shot put (50’ 10 ¼”). Coach Ed McLaughlin’s bunch also had entrants in the men’s and women’s discus and the men’s and women’s javelin. In Lincoln, Kamryn Pokorney again hit the ‘B’ in the hammer (160’ 5”; fourth place) and Emma Lloyd wasn’t far off in the discus (136’ 6”). In the men’s shot put, Connor Asche placed fifth (48’).

The 1,500 meters continues to be an area of strength for Concordia. At the Prairie Wolf Invite, Camden Sesna (4:07.84) and Calvin Rodhe (4:11.19) placed in the top five of the 1,500 on the men’s side. Meanwhile, Julie McIntyre ran 5:04.43 on the women’s side. While Newton led the jumps crew in Lincoln, Taylor Moes and Elena Batenhorst both placed top five in the women’s triple jump.

Automatic national qualifying standards achieved (April 27-29)

·        Women’s 4x400m Relay (3:50.29); Esch, Kirchner, Noble, Battershell

·        Women’s 4x800m Relay (9:20.98); Esch, Freiberg, Kaschinske, Beisel

·        Josie Puelz – Pole Vault (12’ ¾”)

·        Chris Wren – Hammer Throw (190’ 7”)

Prairie Wolf Invite Event Championships

·        Mark Cooke – 100 Meters (10.67)

·        Josie Puelz – Pole Vault (12’ ¾”)

·        Joel Rathe – Long Jump (23’ 3 ½”)

The 2023 GPAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships are up next. Dordt will host the meet at Open Space Park in Sioux Center, Iowa, May 5-6. The Concordia women will be looking to extend their streak of eight consecutive GPAC championships. More information on the meet can be found via the GPAC website HERE.

Meet Preview: 2023 GPAC Outdoor Championships

May 1, 2023

SEWARD, Neb. – After six weeks of 2023 outdoor competition, the 2023 GPAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships are up next for Concordia Track & Field. The Bulldogs will enter the meet having totaled 10 automatic national qualifying marks and 14 ‘B’ standards. This past weekend, Concordia’s group of women’s relays stole the show at the Drake Relays as the 4x4 placed fourth with a new season best, the 4x8 turned in a fresh ‘A’ standard and the 4x2 broke a school record that had stood since 1990. Head Coach Matt Beisel’s women’s program will be looking to extend its active streak of eight consecutive GPAC meet titles. New conference champions will be crowned this week as Dordt hosts the GPAC meet.

MEET INFO

2023 GPAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships
Friday/Saturday, May 5-6
Open Space Park | Sioux Center, Iowa
Event Schedule (PDF)
Live Coverage
--Video Streams: Defender Network
--Results: Dakota Timing
--Admission: $10 for adults/senior citizens, $3 for K-12; only those with NAIA passes and GPAC student ID’s will be admitted free of charge.

To recap the 2023 GPAC indoor meet, Concordia won the title on the women’s side and placed third on the men’s side. In another dominant performance, the Bulldog women racked up 241.5 team points while protecting the home turf inside the Fieldhouse. GPAC event championships were won by the women’s 4x400 meter relay, Rachel Battershell (400 meters), Zach Bennetts (pole vault), Lauren Dawson (3,000-meter race walk), Rylee Haecker (mile and 1,000 meters), Josie Puelz (pole vault), Amy Richert (pentathlon) and Adrianna Rodencal (60 hurdles and 200 meters). The Lincoln Lutheran alum Rodencal was named the GPAC Women’s Athlete of the Meet after leading all competitors in number of points scored. In addition, Beisel was named the GPAC Coach of the Year for the ninth time in his career.

Concordia’s returning GPAC champions from the 2022 conference outdoor meet include Bennetts (pole vault), Haecker (1,500 meters), Jordan Koepke (400 hurdles), Puelz (pole vault) and Camden Sesna (5,000 meters). Among returning Bulldogs, Battershell owns the most career GPAC event titles with 10, including four in the 400 meters. Others with multiple career GPAC championships include Bennetts (three), Kylahn Freiberg (two), Haecker (five), Koepke (three), Puelz (five) and Rodencal (two). In the outdoor meet held last year at Doane, Koepke broke the GPAC meet record in the 400 hurdles while winning in a time of 59.90.

Below is a listing of Concordia athletes who enter this week’s meet with top-rated marks within the GPAC. The Bulldogs have the potential to rack up points in a wide range of event areas. The pole vault again figures to be an area of strength. At the ’23 GPAC indoor meet, the pole vault crew amassed 32 points on the women’s side and 28.5 on the men’s side as Bennetts and Puelz claimed titles. Entering this weekend, Concordia boasts the top 1,500-meter runners on both sides: Haecker and Calvin Rohde. The Bulldog women own three of the GPAC’s top four times in the 1,500 (including Keegan Beisel and Kylahn Freiberg). Other events in which Concordia holds down three or more of the top five marks in the GPAC are: the women’s 400 meters, the women’s pole vault and the women’s heptathlon.

Bulldogs with top-rated GPAC marks

·        Women’s 4x400m Relay (3:50.29)

·        Lauren Dawson – 5,000m Race Walk (28:34.84)

·        Rylee Haecker – 1,500 Meters (4:41.98)

·        Jordan Koepke – 400 Hurdles (1:02.71)

·        Hayley Miles – Long Jump (18’ 1”)

·        Hannah Newton – High Jump (5’ 5 ¼”)

·        Josie Puelz – Pole Vault (12’ 7 ½”)

·        Adrianna Rodencal – 100 Hurdles (14.15)

·        Calvin Rohde – 1,500 Meters (3:54.98)

·        Zach Zohner – Pole Vault (16’ 5 ¼”)

According to the USTFCCCA, Concordia boasts the NAIA’s top-rated event squads in the men’s hammer throw and the women’s heptathlon. The Bulldogs also rank No. 2 nationally in the men’s and women’s pole vault, the women’s hammer and the women’s high jump. The most accomplished thrower on the current roster, three-time All-American Chris Wren ranks No. 3 in the GPAC in the hammer (190’ 8”) with teammate Darien Semedo behind him at No. 4 (184’ 4”). The GPAC’s Nos. 2 through 5 rated athletes in the heptathlon are Amy Richert, Amanda Steinke, Faith Espinosa and Josi Noble.

School records have been broken this outdoor season by the women’s 4x200 meter relay (1:44.26), Lauren Dawson in the 5,000-meter race walk (28:34.84) and Rodencal in the 100 hurdles (14.15). Meanwhile, Rohde narrowly missed the men’s program standard in the 5,000 meters (14:42.28). Additionally, Jenna Esch’s time of 56.74 in the 400 meters ranks No. 3 in school history. As a side note, the race walk will be held at the GPAC meet and a champion will be crowned, however, the event will not factor into team scoring.

During the GPAC era (2000-present), Concordia Track & Field has combined for 14 GPAC team titles (11 for the women and three for the men). The men’s program last hoisted the GPAC trophy at the 2015 conference outdoor meet (held at Dordt). In addition, the Bulldog men’s and women’s programs have combined for 26 conference runner-up finishes during the GPAC era.

The season will continue beyond the GPAC Championships with the Concordia Twilight (May 12) and the UNK Loper Twilight (May 13) meets coming up next week. Those will be the final opportunities for Bulldogs to put national marks on the board heading into the 2023 NAIA Outdoor Track & Field National Championships held in Marion, Ind., May 24-26. For additional national meet info, check out the NAIA track and field page HERE.

Concordia all-time conference titles

MEN – indoor: 2014 | outdoor: 2014, 2015

WOMEN – indoor: 2010, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 | outdoor: 1998, 2010, 2012, 2019, 2021, 2022

Concordia all-time conference runner-up finishes

MEN – indoor: 2003, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2019 | outdoor: 2002, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2016, 2017

WOMEN – indoor: 2003, 2005, 2009, 2014, 2015, 2016 | outdoor: 2005, 2009, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016

Current Bulldogs with GPAC titles
Rachel Battershell – 10 (2023 indoor 400 meters; 2023 indoor 4x400m relay; 2021 outdoor 400 hurdles; 2021 outdoor 4x400m relay; 2021 indoor 400 meters; 2020 indoor 60 hurdles; 2020 indoor 400 meters; 2020 indoor 4x400m relay; 2019 indoor 4x400m relay; 2019 outdoor 400 meters)
Zach Bennetts – 3 (2023 indoor pole vault; 2022 outdoor pole vault; 2022 indoor pole vault)
Lauren Dawson – 1 (2023 indoor 3,000m race walk)
Jenna Esch – 1 (2023 indoor 4x400m relay)
Kylahn Freiberg – 2 (2021 indoor 1,000 meters); 2020 indoor 3,000 meters)
Rylee Haecker – 5 (2023 indoor mile; 2023 indoor 1,000 meters; 2022 outdoor 1,500 meters; 2022 indoor mile; 2022 indoor 1,000 meters)
Jordan Koepke – 3 (2023 indoor 4x400m relay; 2022 outdoor 400 hurdles; 2022 indoor 600 meters)
Erin Mapson – 1 (2019 outdoor pole vault)
Colton Meyer – 1 (2021 outdoor 4x100m relay)
Josie Puelz – 5 (2023 indoor pole vault; 2022 outdoor pole vault; 2022 indoor pole vault; 2021 outdoor pole vault; 2020 indoor pole vault)
Joel Rathe – 1 (2021 outdoor 4x100m relay)
Amy Richert – 1 (2023 indoor pentathlon)
Adrianna Rodencal – 2 (2023 indoor 60 hurdles; 2023 indoor 200 meters)
Camden Sesna – 1 (2022 outdoor 5,000 meters)
Trinity Tuls – 1 (2023 indoor 4x400m relay)

Puelz, Zohner sweep pole vault titles; Bulldogs lead team scoring after day one of GPAC track 

May 5, 2023

SIOUX CENTER, Iowa – The reign atop the GPAC continues for the Bulldog pole vault crew. Both Josie Puelz and Zach Zohner claimed conference championships while representing Concordia University Track & Field on Day one of the 2023 GPAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships hosted by Dordt. Six events were scored on both the men’s and women’s sides of the action that took place in Sioux Center, Iowa, on Friday (May 5). Lightning delays altered the schedule, but eventually the weather cooperated.

Head Coach Matt Beisel’s squads will enter the second and final day of the championship meet out in front of the pack. The eight-time defending GPAC champion Bulldog women have accumulated 59.5 points (with Doane in second at 43) and the men have totaled 53 points (with Doane in second at 52). Concordia has already produced 23 all-conference event placements (top eight individuals; top three relays).

Considering the career accolades of Puelz, it would have been a major upset for anyone else to have seized the crown in the women’s pole vault. The five-time NAIA national champion cleared 12’ 9 ½” on Friday in the process of taking home her sixth career GPAC pole vault title. Four teammates joined her in all-conference territory in the event: Erin Mapson (second), Erin Boggs (fifth), Amira Cummings (seventh) and Sydney Reichert (eighth). The group combined to rack up 24.5 team points.

Zohner and the men’s pole vault group nearly matched that total as they posted 23 points. The Battle Creek, Neb., native Zohner turned heads this past March with an NAIA indoor national runner-up claim. He’s never looked back. Zohner won the first GPAC pole vault championship of his career while clearing 15’ 11” in Friday’s competition. Three teammates joined him with top-eight finishes: Mayson Ostermeyer (third), Zach Bennetts (fourth) and Spencer Kearn (seventh). Bennetts owns three career GPAC pole vault titles to his credit.

Friday action also featured the hammer throw, javelin and long jump. The men’s hammer proved fruitful for the Bulldogs, who notched 15 points in the event. After fighting off some pain this spring, three-time All-American Chris Wren rose to the occasion with a personal best hammer throw of 196’ 11 ¾” and placed as the conference runner up. He was followed by Darien Semedo (fourth – just shy of a PR) and Ben Moll (seventh). Meanwhile, the women’s hammer added 13 points to the team total thanks to the efforts of Kamryn Pokorney (third), Alli Owings (fifth) and Abi Wohlgemuth (sixth). The performance was especially noteworthy for Pokorney, who whirled a personal best of 175’ 6” and qualified for nationals in the hammer. As for the javelin, Gretchen Stottlemyre (third) and Wohlgemuth (sixth) placed on the women’s side and Matthew Boyer (sixth) placed on the men’s side.

In the long jump, Concordia emerged with the conference runner up for both men and women. Joel Rathe placed second with a mark of 23’ 4” and Hayley Miles took second with a mark of 17’ 6 ¼.” Wyatt Loga and Kellie Rohdes were both sixth-place finishers.

By the time the dust settles, the women’s heptathletes will likely produce a bushel of points for the Bulldogs. At the end of day one (with four events scored), Concordia holds down six of the top eight spots in the heptathlon. The 2023 GPAC indoor pentathlon champion, Amy Richert paces the field in the heptathlon with 2,587 points. Next in line among teammates are Josi Noble (third), Isabelle Salters (fourth), Elena Batenhorst (sixth), Amanda Steinke (seventh) and Faith Espinosa (eighth). The day two heptathlon events will be the long jump, javelin and 800 meters.

The vast majority of running events will be scored on Saturday, but Concordia did pick up a few early points on the track. The team’s women’s 4x800 meter relay placed seventh. That group was made up of Faith Williamson, Jaiden Tweton, Caitlyn Adams and Rachel Ada. One point came in the men’s 10,000 meters thanks to Jack Ellis’ eighth-place finish. In addition, prelims took place in the 100 meters and in the 100/110-meter hurdles. GPAC Indoor Athlete of the Year Adrianna Rodencal ran 14.72 in the 100 hurdle prelims and qualified for the finals. She also ran 12.35 in the 100 meters (fourth in the prelims). For the men, Mark Cooke placed fourth in the prelims of both the 100 meters and 110 hurdles.

The conference meet will resume with the multi events at 9 a.m. CT on Saturday. The first running events of the day are slated for 11 a.m. with field events to follow at 12 p.m. The awards ceremony is scheduled to take place at roughly 6 p.m. For more details on the GPAC Championships, visit the GPAC website HERE.

2023 GPAC Outdoor Champions

·        Josie Puelz – Pole Vault (12’ 9 ½”)

·        Zach Zohner – Pole Vault (15’ 11”)

Women's program claims ninth-straight GPAC title; men place third at 2023 outdoor meet 

May 6, 2023

SIOUX CENTER, Iowa – Fifth-year competitor Rachel Battershell knows nothing but winning GPAC championships. The two-time national champion and her teammates from Concordia University Track & Field celebrated the women’s program’s ninth GPAC meet championship in a row while running away with the title at the 2023 GPAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships (May 5-6) hosted by Dordt. Meanwhile, the Bulldog men’s team placed third in the conference. The haul for the Bulldogs included eight total GPAC event championships and freshman Adrianna Rodencal earned the distinction of the GPAC Female Athlete of the Meet.

Head Coach Matt Beisel’s squads accumulated point totals of 244.5 on the women’s side and 112 on the men’s side. The GPAC event champions included the team’s women’s 4x100 meter relay, women’s 4x400 meter relay, Battershell (400 meters), Rylee Haecker (1,500 meters), Hannah Newton (high jump), Josie Puelz (pole vault), Amy Richert (heptathlon) and Zach Zohner (pole vault).

“Every single conference championship has its own flavor,” Beisel said. “One of the things I love the most about this one is that it’s not all on one person. It’s about the team, enjoying your time with great teammates and competing hard against great competition on a beautiful day. We saw our athletes go out there and relax and do what God gave them the ability to do. We had a staggering number of outstanding performances in all event areas. The attitudes were great. There was a lot of laughter and a lot of fun had on both sides. Give all glory to God. We’ve been blessed with a lot of success and more importantly, phenomenal relationships and experiences. We’re so thankful to Him.”

Fittingly, Battershell capped the final conference meet of her collegiate career by anchoring the conference champion 4x4 to a first-place time of 3:49.24. The Wheatland, Wyo., native caught Dordt in the final stretch. Battershell followed Jenna Esch, Kayla Kirchner and Trinity Tuls in the 4x4 lineup. Battershell and Rodencal also combined with Kellie Rhodes and Rodencal on a school record time of 47.40 (‘A’ standard) in the winning performance from the 4x1. The previous standard had been 47.66 set at the 2021 national meet. In addition, Battershell won the 400 meters in a fresh automatic national qualifying time of 56.10. That race featured four ‘A’ standard times, including the 56.70 from Esch. Battershell’s now a 13-time GPAC champion in her career. As Beisel put it, Battershell ended her conference career “in style.”

Outside of relays, the Lincoln Lutheran alum Rodencal placed as the runner up in the 100-meter hurdles (14.00), and the 100 meters (12.22) and finished third in the 200 meters (25.28). Her time in the hurdles broke her own school record. Rodencal’s impressive freshman year now includes a sweep of 2023 GPAC Indoor/Outdoor Women’s Athlete of the Meet awards.

In the mid-distance races, Haecker keeps piling up GPAC titles (six career). She defended her 2022 conference championship in the 1,500 meters by clocking in at 4:40.11. As they did in so many of the 23 events, the Concordia women stacked points while posting finishes of 1-4-5-6-7 in the 1,500 meters. The Bulldogs loaded up even more significantly in the heptathlon as Richert, Noble and Elena Batenhorst placed 1-2-3 in the event. Richert made it a sweep of 2023 GPAC multi-event championships as she also took the indoor pentathlon title back in February. As for Newton, she was a first time GPAC champion as she reached the mountaintop with a high jump of 5’ 5.”

The wins in the pole vault came as part of Friday’s action in Sioux Center, Iowa. Puelz claimed her sixth career GPAC pole vault title and Zohner rose to the top of the podium for the first time. The pole vault crew combined for 24.5 team points on the women’s side and 23 points on the men’s side. Also as part of Friday’s slate, the Bulldogs got big things out of the hammer throw. Chris Wren placed as the GPAC runner up with a personal best (196’ 11 ¾”) and Kamryn Pokorney qualified for nationals with a PR (175’ 6”) of her own. She placed third in hammer.

The Concordia event runners up (not previously mentioned) this weekend included Mark Cooke (100 meters), Lauren Dawson (5,000-meter race walk), Erin Mapson (pole vault), Hayley Miles (long jump), Joel Rathe (long jump) and Austen Rozelle (discus – new ‘B’ standard). Third place (among those not previously mentioned) was claimed by Cooke (110 hurdles), Kylahn Freiberg (5,000 meters), Emma Lloyd (discus), Noble (triple jump), Mayson Ostermeyer (pole vault), Kaia Richmond (3,000-meter steeplechase), Darien Semedo (shot put), Camden Sesna (1,500 meters) and Gretchen Stottlemyre (javelin). It was a busy weekend for Cooke, who also ran the leadoff leg for the men’s 4x4.

As for Freiberg, she also placed fourth in the 1,500 meters. Coach Beisel’s daughter Keegan placed in the top five of the 1,500 and 5,000 meters. On the men’s side of the 1,500 meters, Calvin Rohde followed Sesna by placing fourth. Rohde also placed fourth in the 5,000 meters.

Afterwards, Beisel reflected on the senior class. Many seniors have now ended their collegiate track careers. Said Beisel, “We had 20 of them this year that are finished competing. They’re great team members who have given us so much. It’s a time to celebrate their performances.”

The active string of GPAC championships for the women’s program began with the 2019 GPAC indoor meet that took place in Seward. It took a hiatus in the spring of 2020 (due to COVID-19) before continuing into the present. The Bulldogs won the 2023 conference indoor title while also hosting that meet. As for the men, they placed third in the GPAC in ’23 for both indoor and outdoor.

A couple of ‘last chance’ meets remain on the outdoor schedule. As part of next week’s action, the Bulldogs will host the Concordia Twilight on May 12. Select members of the team will also compete at the UNK Loper Twilight Meet on May 13. The tentative schedule for the Concordia Twilight can be found HERE.

The top eight individuals and top three relays in each of the events earn all-conference accolades. The complete list of 2023 All-GPAC outdoor award winners for Concordia will be published next week on the website.

2023 GPAC Outdoor Champions

·        Women’s 4x100m Relay (47.40); Battershell, Kirchner, Rhodes, Rodencal

·        Women’s 4x400m Relay (3:49.24); Esch, Kirchner, Tuls, Battershell

·        Rachel Battershell – 400 Meters (56.10)

·        Rylee Haecker – 1,500 Meters (4:40.11)

·        Hannah Newton – High Jump (5’ 5”)

·        Josie Puelz – Pole Vault (12’ 9 ½”)

·        Amy Richert – Heptathlon (4,077)

·        Zach Zohner – Pole Vault (15’ 11”)

Meet Info: Concordia Twilight/UNK Twilight 

May 10, 2023

SEWARD, Neb. – For athletes still seeking automatic national qualifying marks, the meets this week will serve as a last chance. Select members of the Concordia University Track & Field programs will be in action at the Concordia Twilight on Friday and/or the University of Nebraska-Kearney Loper Twilight on Saturday. The Concordia Twilight will mark the second home meet of the 2023 outdoor season for the Bulldogs. Head Coach Matt Beisel’s squads are coming off GPAC championship outdoor placements of first on the women’s side and third on the men’s side.

This Week

Concordia Twilight
May 11-12, 2023 | Bulldog Stadium
--Meet Schedule (PDF) | Live Results

UNK Loper Twilight
May 13 | Kearney HS (Kearney, Neb.)
--Meet Schedule (PDF) | Live Results

Due to the temporary absence of lights inside Bulldog Stadium, this year’s Concordia Twilight schedule was revised to wrap up the meet prior to dark. The meet will actually get started on Thursday with four of the seven events in the women’s heptathlon. The bulk of the action will take place on Friday with field events getting underway at 12 p.m. CT and running events at 2 p.m. (race walk at 1 p.m.). The UNK Twilight will be smaller in scale but will have events running up until 9 p.m.

Below is a listing of the 13 automatic national qualifying standards achieved by Bulldog athletes through the conclusion of the GPAC Championships. It should also be noted that Lauren Dawson currently possesses the NAIA’s 10th fastest 5,000-meter race walk time (28:34.84) and four Concordia women’s heptathletes hit the minimum national reporting standard (3,900). Others like Wyatt Loga (high jump), Hannah Newton (high jump) and Kayla Svoboda (pole vault) also rank in the top 16 nationally of their respective events.

Concordia ‘A’ standards

·        Women’s 4x100m Relay (*47.40)

·        Women’s 4x400m Relay (3:49.24)

·        Women’s 4x800m Relay (9:20.98)

·        Rachel Battershell – 400 Meters (56.10)

·        Jenna Esch – 400 Meters (56.70)

·        Jordan Koepke – 400 Hurdles (1:02.71)

·        Erin Mapson – Pole Vault (11’ 11 ¾”)

·        Kamryn Pokorney – Hammer Throw (175’ 6”)

·        Josie Puelz – Pole Vault (12’ 9 ½”)

·        Adrianna Rodencal – 100 Hurdles (*14.00)

·        Darien Semedo – Hammer Throw (184’ 4”)

·        Chris Wren – Hammer Throw (197’)

·        Zach Zohner – Pole Vault (16’ 5 ¼”)

*School Record

To recap the 2023 GPAC outdoor championships, the Bulldogs won the title on the women’s side (ninth in a row as a program) with 244.5 points while the men placed third with 112 points. The GPAC event champions included the team’s women’s 4x100 meter relay, women’s 4x400 meter relay, Battershell (400 meters), Rylee Haecker (1,500 meters), Hannah Newton (high jump), Josie Puelz (pole vault), Amy Richert (heptathlon) and Zach Zohner (pole vault). School records were broken by the women’s 4x1 and Rodencal. A freshman out of Lincoln Lutheran High School, Rodencal was named the 2023 GPAC Outdoor Female Athlete of the Meet (after collecting that same award for indoor). Fresh automatic national qualifying standards came from the women’s 4x1, Battershell in the 400 meters and Kamryn Pokorney in the hammer throw. Three-time NAIA All-American Chris Wren achieved a personal best of 197 feet in the hammer.

The 2023 NAIA Outdoor Track & Field National Championships will be the focus after this weekend’s action concludes. The 2023 outdoor national meet will take place in Marion, Ind., May 24-26. More information on the national championship meet can be found HERE.

Going out on top: Battershell reclaims joy in capping incredible career 

May 11, 2023

That light at the end of the tunnel is glowing brightly, but Rachel Battershell has done her best to put on her blinders. That time for reflection is nearing for one of the most accomplished track athletes in Concordia Track & Field history. “It’s really special,” Battershell offers as she fights off a rush of emotion just a few days after competing in a GPAC championship meet for the final time in her career. It’s a challenge to sum up five years’ worth of mostly ups – and some downs – into a few sentences.

So fittingly, as the 2023 conference outdoor meet logged its final seconds, there was Battershell speeding to the finish line while lifting the 4x400 meter relay to a conference championship. In the moment, Battershell’s competitive expressions may have looked fierce, but that was her way of displaying joy. This was fun.

“It’s not been easy,” Battershell admitted in discussing the scope of her college career. “There have been some identity things I’ve had to work through. In that, I’ve had so much support from coaches, teammates and professors. Anyone doing this sport puts a lot of pressure on themselves to do well. It’s about overcoming that and finding that joy. You have to have joy in the opportunity and with the people that surround you. That’s what makes it fun. I’ve been trying to put less pressure on myself and focus on having fun.”

The incredible achievements for Battershell have included two 400-meter national titles, 11 All-America awards, 13 GPAC event championships and school records in the indoor 400 meters, indoor and outdoor 4x400 meter relay and the 4x100 meter relay (and previously held two hurdles records before they were broken in 2023 by Adrianna Rodencal). The Wheatland, Wyo., native really broke out during indoor 2020 when she was named the GPAC Athlete of the Year and won the 400-meter national title in a blistering school record time of 54.77. Over her 10 semesters, Battershell has contributed greatly to nine GPAC team championships (2020 outdoor canceled by COVID-19) and to five NAIA national team trophies (fourth place or higher).

Not only that, Battershell has triple-majored in Biology, Chemistry and Exercise Science and has done so with a nearly spotless GPA. In pursuing her career and athletic dreams, Battershell has found the right home. Faith is important to Battershell, and she saw Concordia as the place for her to grow in that aspect of her life. Prior to each race, Battershell clutches a tiny cross attached to her necklace and prays. It’s symbolic of Battershell the person – a servant leader and the epitome of what Concordia Track & Field aspires to be.

Says Battershell, “I chose Concordia because of the community that I saw – the Christ-centered community above that. The faith that I’ve gained here is above and beyond what I ever expected. That and the connections with people – it’s insane.”

The people of Concordia have helped guide Battershell in her journey. She’s worked especially closely with event coach Mark Samuels and professor Dr. Kristy Jurchen in the Department of Natural Sciences. Originally an education major, Battershell found herself headed towards a different path. To be honest, there are still a number of different ways this could go. Battershell could see herself in a coaching capacity in the future.

“The hardest decision was going a more medical route as opposed to a more academic research/professor type route,” Battershell explained. “I didn’t make that decision until last summer. It’s been really hard, but the triple major has allowed me to keep my doors open and to keep learning while figuring out where God is wanting me to go. I decided to triple major for the unique perspective I would get in looking at the same systems from three levels of complexity. Having the fifth year of eligibility helped solidify that decision, but it wasn't the basis for it.”

An elite athlete and student, Battershell can tell you firsthand that everyone goes through something. The path to success does not simply move in a straight upward trajectory. Battershell blew the roof off all expectations as just a sophomore when she won a national title that wasn’t fully expected. Perhaps too often, Battershell has tried to live up to that achievement. She managed to pull it off again in 2021 with another indoor 400-meter national title. Adversity then hit in the form of a chronic injury that kept her from hitting the same 400-meter times she worked tirelessly to achieve. Battershell had put too much pressure on herself, and she wasn’t finding the same joy.

“I do put a lot of pressure on myself, as I think anyone in my position would,” Battershell said. “A lot of it is realizing that from season to season, your body changes and your mind changes. There are so many factors. The thing to focus on is not the pressure, but what I can do today or this week to make myself better to hopefully be in that position again.”

Battershell has made her fifth and final season all about fun. There’s something about new freshmen teammates that has been reinvigorating. They have the perfect role model to lean upon in Battershell, who has made 2022-23 all about having fun. It’s why she got into track in the first place. When competition becomes solely about winning, disappointment is sure to follow. Battershell has that perspective now.

At the 2023 GPAC Championships at Dordt, Battershell had a ball. The wins were the byproduct of the right preparation and attitude. She placed first in the 400 meters and as part of the 4x1 and 4x4 relays. When Battershell needed that extra gear in order to push the 4x4 over the top, she found it. Asked if she knew the Bulldog 4x4 was going to win when she received the baton as the anchor leg, Battershell smiled and said matter of factly, “Yes, I did.”

One last time, Battershell enjoyed the victory lap with her teammates, the GPAC championship and banner in tow. She and teammate Erin Mapson have the distinction of being there from the beginning of the conference championship streak that started in 2019. Said Battershell, “I’ll remember sharing that joy with my teammates, especially the freshmen. Seeing their excitement was so fun. The races themselves were very fun. In the middle of a race, I don’t usually do this, but I was thinking to myself, ‘this is fun.’ I’ll remember before and after the races, talking to teammates and other GPAC people. It’s the people. It’s the people.” Added Battershell, “I’ve had so much fun this year.”

This balancing act that Battershell has performed for five years has been worth the toil. She will experience one more national championship meet before heading off for a new chapter. Battershell will be part of the Physiology PhD program at the University of Arizona. It’s a place she visited, interviewed at and found the type of community feel she sought, despite the school’s larger size.

Back in high school, Battershell began to look at Concordia after receiving an email from Head Coach Matt Beisel. Their shared faith resulted in an instant connection. As Beisel said in 2020, “She’s the first person to give glory to God.” In the years since, Battershell has experienced a life-changing journey. This part of the joy-filled journey is nearing the finish line.

“I'm thankful for this whole community supporting me and the team,” Battershell said. “It is not easy, but we are never on our own. I'm so thankful God brought me here, but at the same time I'm very excited to see where He takes me next.”

All-GPAC T&F: Rodencal sweeps GPAC Athlete of the Year awards; Beisel honored

May 11, 2023

SEWARD, Neb. – Courtesy of their performances at the 2023 GPAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships, 53 Bulldogs from the Concordia University Track & Field program have been officially recognized as all-conference award winners. Additionally, freshman standout Adrianna Rodencal has earned a clean sweep of 2023 GPAC indoor and outdoor Female Athlete of the Year accolades. Rodencal led all women’s athletes in points scored at last week’s championship meet. Meanwhile, Head Coach Matt Beisel was honored as the 2023 Jim McMahon GPAC Women’s Outdoor Coach of the Year. The complete list of Bulldog All-GPAC honorees can be found below.

At the 2023 GPAC outdoor meet hosted by Dordt, the Concordia women claimed their ninth GPAC title in a row while the men placed third. Beisel has garnered the 10th GPAC Coach of the Year award of his tenure. Nine of those honors have come in track & field and one resulted from winning the GPAC women’s cross country title in 2019. Beisel and his staff have built the women’s track program into a powerhouse that has placed first at every GPAC meet since the 2019 outdoor conference championships. At the 2023 GPAC outdoor meet in Sioux Center, Iowa, the women racked up 244.5 points, compared to 132 for second place.

A freshman out of Lincoln Lutheran High School, Rodencal earned individual GPAC outdoor place finishes of second in the 100 hurdles (14.00), second in the 100 meters (12.22) and third in the 200 meters (25.28). She broke her own school record with that time in the hurdles and also ran the anchor leg for the 4x100 meter relay that won the GPAC title and reset the program standard with a time of 47.40. Other GPAC champions last week included the women’s 4x400 meter relay, Rachel Battershell (400 meters), Rylee Haecker (1,500 meters), Hannah Newton (high jump), Josie Puelz (pole vault), Amy Richert (heptathlon) and Zach Zohner (pole vault).

There were 20 Bulldogs who picked up all-conference honors in multiple events. That group included Battershell, who competed in the final GPAC meet of her terrific career. Battershell was part of the championship 4x1 and 4x4 relays, in addition to her title in the 400 meters. Notable on the men’s side, Mark Cooke placed second in the 100 meters and third in the 110-meter hurdles. Concordia cleaned up in the heptathlon with five of the top seven finishers in the event. Between the men and women, there were nine pole vaulters who collected All-GPAC medals. All-conference accolades are handed out to athletes who place in the top eight of individual events and top three in relays.

Prior to the national meet, select Bulldogs will compete this week at the Concordia Twilight (Friday) and the UNK Loper Twilight (Saturday). The 2023 NAIA Outdoor Track & Field National Championships will take place in Marion, Ind., May 24-26. More information on the national championship meet can be found HERE.

2023 GPAC Outdoor All-Conference

MEN

·        Zach Bennetts – Pole Vault (4th)

·        Matthew Boyer – Discus (6th); Javelin (6th)

·        Mark Cooke – 100 Meters (2nd); 110 Hurdles (3rd)

·        Jack Ellis – 10,000 Meters (8th)

·        Carson Fehlhafer – Shot Put (8th)

·        Spencer Kearn – Pole Vault (7th)

·        Trevor Kuncl – 1,500 Meters (7th)

·        Wyatt Loga – Long Jump (6th); High Jump (7th)

·        Ben Moll – Hammer Throw (7th)

·        Mayson Ostermeyer – Pole Vault (3rd)

·        Nathan Pennekamp – 3,000m Steeplechase (7th)

·        Joel Rathe – Long Jump (2nd)

·        Calvin Rohde – 1,500 Meters (4th); 5,000 Meters (4th)

·        Austen Rozelle – Discus (2nd)

·        Darien Semedo – Shot Put (3rd); Hammer Throw (4th)

·        Camden Sesna – 1,500 Meters (3rd); 5,000 Meters (6th)

·        Colby Sugden – 400 Meters (7th)

·        Chris Wren – Hammer Throw (2nd)

·        Zach Zohner – Pole Vault (1st)

WOMEN

·        Elena Batenhorst – Heptathlon (3rd)

·        Rachel Battershell – 400 Meters (1st); 4x100m Relay (1st); 4x400m Relay (1st)

·        Hannah Beintema – 1,500 Meters (6th)

·        Keegan Beisel – 5,000 Meters (4th); 1,500 Meters (5th)

·        Erin Boggs – Pole Vault (5th)

·        Amira Cummings – 100 Meters (7th); Pole Vault (7th)

·        Jenna Esch – 4x400m Relay (1st); 400 Meters (4th); 800 Meters (5th)

·        Kylahn Freiberg – 5,000 Meters (3rd); 1,500 Meters (4th)

·        Rylee Haecker – 1,500 Meters (1st); 800 Meters (6th)

·        Kayla Kirchner – 4x100m Relay (1st); 4x400m Relay (1st); 200 Meters (5th)

·        Emma Lloyd – Discus (3rd)

·        Emily Loseke – 400 Meters (8th)

·        Erin Mapson – Pole Vault (2nd)

·        Julie McIntyre – 1,500 Meters (7th)

·        Hayley Miles – Long Jump (2nd)

·        Taylor Moes – Triple Jump (4th)

·        Hannah Newton – High Jump (1st)

·        Katelyn Nix – 3,000m Steeplechase (8th)

·        Josi Noble – Heptathlon (2nd); Triple Jump (3rd)

·        Alli Owings – Hammer Throw (5th)

·        Erin Painter – Discus (5th)

·        Kamryn Pokorney – Hammer Throw (3rd)

·        Josie Puelz – Pole Vault (1st)

·        Sydney Reichert – Pole Vault (8th)

·        Kellie Rhodes – 4x100m Relay (1st); Long Jump (6th)

·        Amy Richert – Heptathlon (1st); High Jump (8th)

·        Kaia Richmond – 3,000m Steeplechase (3rd)

·        Adrianna Rodencal – 4x100m Relay (1st); 100 Hurdles (2nd); 100 Meters (2nd); 200 Meters (3rd)

·        Isabelle Salters – Heptathlon (7th)

·        Amanda Steinke – High Jump (4th); Heptathlon (6th)

·        Gretchen Stottlemyre – Javelin (3rd)

·        Kayla Svoboda – 100 Hurdles (6th)

·        Trinity Tuls – 4x400m Relay (1st); 400 Meters (6th)

·        Abi Wohlgemuth – Hammer Throw (6th); Javelin (6th)

Throwers add four new 'A' standards in highlighting Concordia Twilight 

May 12, 2023

SEWARD, Neb. – Come lightning delays or looming darkness, Concordia University Track & Field was determined to host a (mostly) complete home meet. Nearly 40 institutions were represented at the annual Concordia Twilight meet that unfolded on Friday (May 12) inside Bulldog Stadium. Concordia throwers seized the opportunity and put four new automatic national qualifying standards on the board, courtesy of Emma Lloyd, Alli Owings, Austen Rozelle and Abi Wohlgemuth. In addition, Lauren Dawson broke her own school record in the 5,000-meter race walk.

The Concordia Twilight provided one more chance for the program’s seniors to compete on the home turf. Because the Concordia Invite in mid-April had to be condensed, Head Coach Matt Beisel and company did not want to let go of this home meet. Afternoon lightning caused a delay of nearly four hours before action resumed at 6:15 p.m.

This is the final weekend of action prior to the upcoming NAIA outdoor national meet (May 24-26). Down to the wire, Coach Ed McLaughlin’s throws crew came through with the clutch performances they had been working towards. In the women’s hammer throw, Kamryn Pokorney (Shelby, Neb.) led the way with a toss of 172’ 6.” Already a hammer national qualifier, Pokorney will have company in Marion, Ind., later this month. Owings won the hammer in the Twilight’s “college” breakdown of the event with a toss of 169 feet. Wohlgemuth came in second by throwing 165’ 11” for another automatic national qualifying standard.

The discus supplied similar thrills as Rozelle of Wauneta, Neb., whirled the discus a personal best 162’ 7,” booking his trip to the national meet (while also placing first in the college division). Not long after, Lloyd (former Nebraska Cornhusker) popped a throw of 145’ 6” in the discus for another feel-good moment. Heading into Saturday, the throws crew now has seven individuals officially qualified for the national championships (five in the hammer). In the javelin competition on Friday, Matthew Boyer again hit a ‘B’ mark and won the college breakdown with a throw of 181’ 1” (in addition to placing second to Rozelle in the discus). Brady Klute also hit a ‘B’ mark of 178 feet in the hammer. The team’s best shot put performers were Darien Semedo (51’ 9”) and Pokorney (43’ 6”).

It was a light day for GPAC Women’s Outstanding Athlete of the Year Adrianna Rodencal. While taking on the 100-meter hurdles, Rodencal approached her own school record by clocking in at 14.04 in the prelims. She wound up second in the event at the Twilight. Afterwards, the freshman reflected on her efforts at last week’s GPAC Championships. Said Rodencal, “Whether we, as a team, won GPAC or not, which was an amazing thing, it’s just so fun to be out there with all those people. Having gotten to know my teammates the entire school year, it’s fun to cheer for them. It was a joy – a lot of amazing events. All of us wanted to grind and go.”

In the pole vault, Zach Zohner continues to achieve remarkable consistency. He went up and over 16 feet again (16’ 4 ¾”) and was the third-place finisher in a loaded competition on the men’s side. On the women’s side, both Kayla Svoboda and Erin Boggs cleared 11’ 7 ¾” for a ‘B’ standard. Based on the results entering the day, that mark would be good enough to rank in a tie for 16th nationally. Josie Puelz and Erin Mapson are qualified with ‘A’ standards.

A Cedar Falls, Iowa, native, Dawson has hopes of competing at the national meet in the race walk. She shaved roughly a second off her personal best and clocked in at 28:33.68 (outpacing her former school standard of 28:34.84). Dawson entered the weekend ranked 10th nationally in the event (top 16 become automatic qualifiers).

The Twilight included a women’s heptathlon competition that featured Bulldogs Amy Richert and Josi Noble. Both athletes improved upon previous point totals as Richert accumulated 4,336 points and Noble notched 4,241 points. Both Richert and Noble ran the 800 meters after darkness had set upon Bulldog Stadium. GPAC champion of the heptathlon, Richert is one of 12 NAIA athletes this season to total 4,300+ points in the heptathlon (based on the national list entering the day). The top 16 will qualify for nationals.

From a jumps perspective, Hayley Miles and Joel Rathe continue to star in the long jump. Both Bulldogs just missed out on ‘B’ standards on Friday. Miles placed second (18’ 3 ¼”) on the women’s side and Rathe placed fourth (23’ 4”) on the men’s side. Miles was also a third-place finisher in the triple jump (36’ 10 ½”). In the high jump, GPAC champion Hannah Newton placed third (5’ 3”) on the women’s side and Wyatt Loga finished eighth (6’ 4 ¾”) among men.

On the track, several top women’s 400-meter runners gave it their best shot. GPAC champion Rachel Battershell ran 57.54 (third place) and was followed by teammate Trinity Tuls (59.48; seventh). In the men’s 1,500 meters, Micah Willweber ran 4:09.14 and placed third.

This was the swan song for several of the seniors who have wrapped up their collegiate careers. For fifth-year members of the program like Battershell and Mapson, the season will continue with a trip to nationals. On the women’s side, the seniors have contributed to GPAC title after GPAC title (nine in a row) while the men have consistently placed in the top three or four of the conference.

Select Bulldogs will also be in action on Saturday at the UNK Loper Twilight. The University of Nebraska-Kearney will host the meet at Kearney High School. For more information on the meet, click HERE. Black Squirrel Timing will provide live results.

‘A’ standards achieved at Concordia Twilight

·        Emma Lloyd – Discus (145’ 6”)

·        Alli Owings – Hammer Throw (169’)

·        Kamryn Pokorney – Hammer Throw (172’ 6”)

·        Adrianna Rodencal – 100 Hurdles (14.04)

·        Austen Rozelle – Discus (162’ 7”)

·        Abi Wohlgemuth – Hammer Throw (165’ 11”)

·        Zach Zohner – Pole Vault (16’ 4 ¾”)

Pre-nationals schedule completed with three fresh qualifying marks at Loper Twilight 

May 13, 2023

KEARNEY, Neb. – It was a weekend for throwers to flex their muscles as six new automatic national qualifying standards were posted in the throws over action on Friday and Saturday (May 12-13). In one final outing prior to the upcoming NAIA outdoor national meet, throwers Erin Painter and Gretchen Stottlemyre and long jumper Joel Rathe became the latest Concordia University Track & Field athletes to add their names to the national qualifying field. Painter, Stottlemyre and Rathe turned in ‘A’ standards at Saturday’s UNK Loper Twilight at Kearney High School. Thirty-four Bulldogs competed at the meet, which was heavy on both NAIA and NCAA Division II athletes.

Taking this weekend’s results into account, Head Coach Matt Beisel’s men’s and women’s teams have combined for 20 automatic national qualifying marks this 2023 outdoor season. Several other marks produced by Concordia athletes rank within the top 16 and are likely to become ‘A’ standards after the dust settles.

Four throwers achieved fresh qualifying marks at Friday’s Concordia Twilight. The momentum carried into Saturday as Painter threw 149’ 7” in the discus (fourth place) and Stottlemyre landed a javelin toss of 133’ 10” (second place) in Kearney. An Ainsworth, Neb., native, Painter will make the third nationals appearance of her career. She’s a returning All-American in the discus. Meanwhile, Stottlemyre will appear on the NAIA national stage for the first time. Her older sister Liz won the 2021 javelin national title as a Bulldog.

Three athletes represented Concordia in the jumps in Kearney. Also a 2023 NAIA indoor national qualifier, Rathe hit the ‘A’ standard right on the button with a long jump of 23’ 9 ½” (fourth place) on Saturday. Rathe found the extra boost he needed after landing at 23’ 4” at Friday’s Concordia Twilight. Elsewhere at the Loper Twilight, Hayley Miles recorded a long jump of 18’ 4 ½” and Taylor Moes came in at 36’ 4” in the triple jump.

Roughly half of Concordia’s competitors at UNK were entered into the throws. In the shot put, Darien Semedo missed the ‘A’ standard by mere centimeters with his mark of 51’ 10 ½” (third place). On the women’s side, Kamryn Pokorney again hit the ‘B’ standard as she landed the shot at 42’ 11.” Other top Bulldog throwers included Carson Fehlhahfer in the discus (169’ 9”; third), Brady Klute in the hammer (169’ 9”; third), Cortney Covington in the hammer (150’ 5”; sixth) and Matthew Boyer in the javelin (171’ 11”; second).

A highlight on the track in Kearney was the race turned in by sophomore Jenna Esch. She ran an 800-meter time of 2:14.81, a ‘B’ standard that ranks just outside the top five of the program’s all-time list. Teammates Keegan Beisel (2:22.70) and Hannah Beintema (2:25.03) also ran the 800. So too did Trevor Kuncl (1:57.69) on the men’s side. In the men’s 5,000 meters, Camden Sesna (14:53.88) and Calvin Rohde (15:16.76) placed first and second, respectively, at the Loper Twilight. Rohde was just off a ‘B’ standard (which he achieved in April at the Central College Invite). In the women’s 1,500 meters, Rylee Haecker clocked in at 4:44.57 as the lone runner in the event. She was less than five seconds off the ‘B’ standard.

Four women’s pole vaulters took aim at qualifying standards. Kayla Svoboda equaled a season best by clearing 11’ 7 ¾,” as she remains in a tie for 16th on the national list. She placed seventh in Saturday’s competition in Kearney and was followed by teammates Erin Boggs (11’ 1 ¾”), Amira Cummings (11’ 1 ¾”) and Sydney Reichert (11’ 1 ¾”). On the men’s side, Mayson Ostermeyer (14’ 11”) and Spencer Kearn (14’ 3 ¼”) went above 14 feet.

New ‘A’ standards achieved May 12-13

·        Emma Lloyd – Discus (145’ 6”)

·        Alli Owings – Hammer (169’)

·        Erin Painter – Discus (149’ 7”)

·        Joel Rathe – Long Jump (23’ 9 ½”)

·        Austen Rozelle – Discus (162’ 7”)

·        Gretchen Stottlemyre – Javelin (133’ 10”)

·        Abi Wohlgemuth – Hammer (165’ 11”)

The full national qualifying field for the 2023 NAIA outdoor meet will be announced by the NAIA on Friday, May 19. The 2023 NAIA Outdoor Track & Field National Championships are set to take place in Marion, Ind., May 24-26.

Track program reveals 2023 outdoor national qualifying roster of 32 

May 19, 2023

SEWARD, Neb. – The field of 2023 NAIA Outdoor Track and Field National Championships Qualifiers was unveiled on Friday (May 19) by the NAIA. In conjunction with that release, the Concordia University Track & Field program has announced a nationals team of 32 individuals. The event will run May 24-26 at Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, Ind. Marion will serve as the host location after the NAIA outdoor meet took place in Gulf Shores, Ala., 2014 through 2022.

Head Coach Matt Beisel’s squads are coming off conference places finishes of first for the women and third for the men at the 2023 GPAC outdoor meet hosted by Dordt. In the most recent NAIA ratings released by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (May 17), Concordia appeared at No. 8 on the women’s side and at No. 24 on the men’s side.

The GPAC champion women’s program had placed in the top five of six-straight NAIA national championship meets prior to finishing sixth at the 2023 indoor championships. The list of Bulldog female athletes with previous All-America awards includes Rachel Battershell (11), Jenna Esch (two), Kylahn Freiberg (four), Rylee Haecker (seven), Jordan Koepke (five), Erin Mapson (six), Alli Owings (one), Erin Painter (one), Josie Puelz (six), Amy Richert (three) and Trinity Tuls (one). Puelz is the winner of each of the past five NAIA pole vault national championships and Battershell is a two-time national champ in the 400 meters. Puelz is one of four Concordia women’s vaulters headed to Marion.

On the men’s side, the Bulldogs are seeking to improve upon the seven points they scored at the 2022 outdoor national meet. Returners with past All-America awards include Wyatt Loga (two), Chris Wren (three) and Zach Zohner (one). Both of Loga’s All-America awards have come in the high jump. A rising star, Zohner placed as the 2023 NAIA indoor national runner up in the pole vault. He will enter next week seeded third with an outdoor personal best of 16’ 5 ¼.” Unfortunately, Wren will not compete in Marion. He was a fifth-place hammer throw finisher at the ’22 NAIA outdoor meet.

The list of Bulldogs making their first-ever national championship appearance includes Keegan Beisel, Lauren Dawson, Kayla Kirchner, Emma Lloyd, Kellie Rhodes, Austen Rozelle and Gretchen Stottlemyre. Dawson has qualified in the race walk, an event Beisel and his staff have put greater emphasis upon the past couple years. Notably, Stottlemyre is the younger sister of Liz Stottlemyre, the 2021 NAIA javelin national champion.

For additional details on the national meet, visit the NAIA website HERE.

2023 Concordia outdoor national qualifiers

(Current national seeding in parentheses)

MEN

·        Wyatt Loga, junior
-High Jump (9th, 6’ 8 ¾”)

·        Joel Rathe, junior
-Long Jump (21st, 23’ 9 ½”)

·        Calvin Rohde, junior
-5,000 Meters (24th, 14:42.28)

·        Austen Rozelle, sophomore
-Discus (14th, 162’ 7”)

·        Darien Semedo, junior
-Hammer Throw (13th, 184’ 4”)
-Shot Put (25th, 51’ 10 ½”)

·        Chris Wren, junior
-Hammer Throw (8th, 197’) – will not compete

·        Zach Zohner, junior
-Pole Vault (3rd, 16’ 5 ¼”)

WOMEN

·        Rachel Battershell, senior
-4x400m Relay (5th, 3:49.24)
-400 Meters (14th, 56.10)
-4x100m Relay (17th, 47.40)

·        Keegan Beisel, freshman
-4x800m Relay (11th, 9:20.98)

·        Erin Boggs, sophomore
-Pole Vault (16th, 11’ 7 ¾”)

·        Lauren Dawson, junior
-5,000m Race Walk (10th, 28:33.68)

·        Jenna Esch, sophomore
-4x400m Relay (5th, 3:49.24)
-4x800m Relay Alternate (11th, 9:20.98)
-800 Meters (25th, 2:14.81)

·        Kylahn Freiberg, senior
-4x800m Relay (11th, 9:20.98)

·        Rylee Haecker, junior
-4x800m Relay (11th, 9:20.98)
-1,500 Meters (27th, 4:40.11)

·        Rhaya Kaschinske, sophomore
-4x800m Relay (11th, 9:20.98)

·        Kayla Kirchner, freshman
-4x100m Relay (17th, 47.40)

·        Jordan Koepke, sophomore
-400 Hurdles (13th, 1:02.71) – will not compete
-4x400m Relay Alternate (5th, 3:49.24)

·        Emma Lloyd, freshman
-Discus (20th, 145’ 6”)

·        Erin Mapson, senior
-Pole Vault (12th, 11’ 11 ¾”)

·        Hannah Newton, sophomore
-High Jump (10th, 5’ 5 ¼”)

·        Josi Noble, freshman
-4x400m Relay (5th, 3:49.24)
-Heptathlon (16th, 4,241 pts)
-4x100m Relay Alternate (17th, 47.40)

·        Alli Owings, junior
-Hammer Throw (19th, 169’)

·        Erin Painter, junior
-Discus (11th, 149’ 7”)

·        Kamryn Pokorney, junior
-Hammer Throw (8th, 175’ 6”)
-Shot Put (24th, 43’ 6”)

·        Josie Puelz, junior
-Pole Vault (4th, 12’ 9 ½”)

·        Kellie Rhodes, junior
-4x100m Relay (17th, 47.40)

·        Amy Richert, junior
-Heptathlon (12th, 4,336 pts)

·        Adrianna Rodencal, freshman
-100 Hurdles (12th, 14.00)
-4x100m Relay (17th, 47.40)

·        Gretchen Stottlemyre, sophomore
-Javelin (18th, 133’ 10”)

·        Kayla Svoboda, freshman
-Pole Vault (16th, 11’ 7 ¾”)

·        Trinity Tuls, sophomore
-4x400m Relay (5th, 3:49.24)

·        Abi Wohlgemuth, sophomore
-Hammer Throw (23rd, 165’ 11”)

2023 Concordia Outdoor National Qualifiers – a closer look
Rachel Battershell, senior (ninth trip to nationals; 11 All-America awards; two-time 400 meter national champ)
Keegan Beisel, freshman (first trip to nationals)
Erin Boggs, sophomore (second trip to nationals)
Lauren Dawson, junior (first trip to nationals)
Jenna Esch, sophomore (third trip to nationals; two All-America awards)
Kylahn Freiberg, junior (sixth trip to nationals; four All-America awards; 2023 indoor 1,000 meter national runner up)
Rylee Haecker, sophomore (fifth trip to nationals; seven All-America awards)
Rhaya Kaschinske, sophomore (third trip to nationals)
Kayla Kirchner, freshman (first trip to nationals)
Jordan Koepke, sophomore (fourth trip to nationals; five All-America awards)
Emma Lloyd, freshman (first trip to nationals)
Wyatt Loga, junior (sixth trip to nationals, two All-America awards)
Erin Mapson, senior (eighth trip to nationals; six All-America awards)
Hannah Newton, sophomore (third trip to nationals)
Josi Noble, freshman (second trip to nationals)
Alli Owings, junior (third trip to nationals; one All-America award)
Erin Painter, junior (third trip to nationals; one All-America award)
Kamryn Pokorney, sophomore (second trip to nationals)
Josie Puelz, junior (seventh trip to nationals; six All-America awards; five-time pole vault national champ)
Joel Rathe, sophomore (fourth trip to nationals)
Kellie Rhodes, junior (first trip to nationals)
Amy Richert, sophomore (sixth trip to nationals; three All-America awards)
Adrianna Rodencal, freshman (second trip to nationals)
Calvin Rohde, sophomore (fourth trip to nationals)
Austen Rozelle, sophomore (first trip to nationals)
Darien Semedo, sophomore (second trip to nationals)
Gretchen Stottlemyre, sophomore (first trip to nationals)
Kayla Svoboda, freshman (second trip to nationals)
Trinity Tuls, sophomore (third trip to nationals; one All-America award)
Abi Wohlgemuth, sophomore (second trip to nationals)
Chris Wren, junior (sixth trip to nationals; three All-America awards)
Zach Zohner, sophomore (fourth trip to nationals; one All-America award; 2023 indoor pole vault national runner up)

Beisel named NAIA Midwest Region Coach of the Year for eighth time 

May 20, 2023

SEWARD, Neb. – Another dominant conference meet for Concordia University Women’s Track & Field has led to another coaching award for Matt Beisel. On Friday (May 19), the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) recognized Beisel as the 2023 NAIA Midwest Region Women’s Outdoor Coach of the Year. This outdoor season, Beisel also garnered the Jim McMahon GPAC Women’s Track & Field Coach of the Year honor. The USTFCCCA designates five separate regions of the NAIA in its list of awards for the 2023 outdoor season.

Currently in his seventh season heading the cross country and track & field programs, Beisel has collected his eighth career Midwest Region Coach of the Year accolade. The award comes on the heels of the Bulldog women’s track program capturing its ninth GPAC title in a row. Concordia ran away with the 2023 GPAC Outdoor Championships while piling up 244.5 team points. Conference event champions on the women’s side were the 4x100 meter relay, 4x400 meter relay, Rachel Battershell (400 meters), Rylee Haecker (1,500 meters), Hannah Newton (high jump), Josie Puelz (pole vault) and Amy Richert (heptathlon). Just a freshman, Adrianna Rodencal was honored as the GPAC Athlete of the Year for both indoor and outdoor. A total of 34 Concordia women’s athletes earned All-GPAC honors in one or more events. The women’s program leads all NAIA programs with 25 athletes headed to Marion, Ind., for the outdoor national meet.

Beisel has been honored with 10 career GPAC Coach of the Year awards (including one in cross country). During Beisel’s tenure, the women’s track and field program has placed 12th or better at every single national meet (12 total). In 2022, the Bulldog women placed third in the NAIA for indoor and fourth for outdoor, earning team trophies at both national meets. Along the way, Beisel’s staff for his entire tenure has included assistants Ed McLaughlin, Mark Samuels and Jason Berry. In addition, Ben Hinckfoot joined the staff in January 2021. Maddie Robinson currently serves as a graduate assistant coach.

Beisel and the Bulldogs are preparing for the national outdoor meet, which will take place in Marion, Ind., May 24-26.

Meet Preview: 2023 NAIA Outdoor National Championships

May 21, 2023

SEWARD, Neb. – Thirty-two members of the Concordia University Track & Field programs are making their final preparations for the 2023 NAIA Outdoor Track & Field National Championships. The outdoor national meet returns to Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, Ind., for the first time since 2013. The three-day national championship meet will run Wednesday through Friday (May 24-26) of this coming week. A full list of Concordia’s national qualifiers can be found at the bottom. The 32 Bulldog qualifiers have combined for 53 past NAIA All-America awards.

2023 NAIA Outdoor National Championships – Meet Info

--Wednesday-Friday, May 24-26 | Indiana Wesleyan University (Wildcat Track & Field Complex)
--Live Results (Crossroads Timing)
--Live Webcast (NAIA Network)
--Meet Schedule
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Entering the meet, head coach Matt Beisel’s squads own national rankings of eighth on the women’s side and 24th on the men’s side, according to the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association NAIA ratings index. The top-ranked teams are Southeastern University (Fla.) on the men’s side and the University of British Columbia on the women’s side.

The Bulldog women’s program placed sixth nationally this past indoor season and has finished in the top 10 of eight-consecutive NAIA national meets. During that stretch, the program has brought home five team trophies (fourth place or better). The 2023 outdoor nationals roster is 25 athletes strong on the women’s side. The group includes past All-Americans Rachel Battershell (11), Jenna Esch (two), Kylahn Freiberg (four), Rylee Haecker (seven), Jordan Koepke (five), Erin Mapson (six), Alli Owings (one), Erin Painter (one), Josie Puelz (six), Amy Richert (three) and Trinity Tuls (one). Puelz has won each of the past five pole vault national titles while Battershell is a two-time national champ in the 400 meters. On the current NAIA national lists, Concordia boasts five top 10 marks: Puelz (fourth in the pole vault), the 4x400 meter relay (fifth), Lauren Dawson (10th in the 5,000m race walk), Kamryn Pokorney (eighth in hammer) and Hannah Newton (10th in high jump).

On the men’s side, the Bulldogs qualified seven athletes for nationals. Returners with past All-America awards include Wyatt Loga (two), Chris Wren (three) and Zach Zohner (one). The trajectory for the Battle Creek, Neb., native Zohner has taken off. He will enter the national meet seeded third in the pole vault with his outdoor personal best of 16’ 5 ¼.” Zohner placed as the 2023 NAIA indoor pole vault national runner up and was the GPAC outdoor pole vault champion. As for Loga, both of his All-America awards have come in the high jump. Unfortunately, Wren will not be competing following his GPAC runner-up claim in the hammer throw. The men placed 47th at the 2022 national outdoor meet and placed in the top 10 of the NAIA as recently as the 2019 indoor meet.

According to the USTFCCCA, the Bulldogs boast many of the top event groupings in the NAIA. Based on the coaches association’s event squad rankings, Concordia owns the nation’s top men’s hammer throw and women’s heptathlon groups. In addition, the Bulldogs have the No. 2 rated event crews in the women’s discus, women’s hammer, women’s pole vault, men’s discus and men’s pole vault. Concordia qualified four athletes in the women’s pole vault and three in the women’s hammer.

Concordia Track & Field will always have fond memories of the national meets that took place in Gulf Shores, Ala., from 2014 through 2022. The red banners that hang in the Walz Fieldhouse were secured thanks to NAIA team national titles won by the Bulldogs in 2015 on the men’s side and in 2016 on the women’s side. Individual national champions for the program during the Gulf Shores era included women’s athletes in Liz King (2014 and 2016), Samantha Liermann (2017 and 2019), Addie Shaw (2018 and 2019), Liz Stottlemyre (2021) and Josie Puelz (2021 and 2022). During that same stretch, national titles were won by the following men’s athletes: Cody Boellstroff (2015 and 2017), Zach Lurz (2016), Lucas Wiechman (2017) and Jacob Cornelio (2021).

The NAIA held the outdoor national meet at Indiana Wesleyan from 2010 through 2013. At the 2013 NAIA outdoor championships, Concordia placed 20th on the women’s side and 42nd on the men’s side. The NAIA signed a contract with Indiana Wesleyan to host the NAIA outdoor meet from 2023 through 2025 (with an option for 2026) at the Wildcat Track & Field Complex.

A live stream of each of the events will be available for purchase. For more details, check out the NAIA Network home page here: https://www.naianetwork.com/.

2023 Concordia outdoor national qualifiers
Rachel Battershell, senior (ninth trip to nationals; 11 All-America awards; two-time 400 meter national champ)
Keegan Beisel, freshman (first trip to nationals)
Erin Boggs, sophomore (second trip to nationals)
Lauren Dawson, junior (first trip to nationals)
Jenna Esch, sophomore (third trip to nationals; two All-America awards)
Kylahn Freiberg, junior (sixth trip to nationals; four All-America awards; 2023 indoor 1,000 meter national runner up)
Rylee Haecker, sophomore (fifth trip to nationals; seven All-America awards)
Rhaya Kaschinske, sophomore (third trip to nationals)
Kayla Kirchner, freshman (first trip to nationals)
Jordan Koepke, sophomore (fourth trip to nationals; five All-America awards)
Emma Lloyd, freshman (first trip to nationals)
Wyatt Loga, junior (sixth trip to nationals, two All-America awards)
Erin Mapson, senior (eighth trip to nationals; six All-America awards)
Hannah Newton, sophomore (third trip to nationals)
Josi Noble, freshman (second trip to nationals)
Alli Owings, junior (third trip to nationals; one All-America award)
Erin Painter, junior (third trip to nationals; one All-America award)
Kamryn Pokorney, sophomore (second trip to nationals)
Josie Puelz, junior (seventh trip to nationals; six All-America awards; five-time pole vault national champ)
Joel Rathe, sophomore (fourth trip to nationals)
Kellie Rhodes, junior (first trip to nationals)
Amy Richert, sophomore (sixth trip to nationals; three All-America awards)
Adrianna Rodencal, freshman (second trip to nationals)
Calvin Rohde, sophomore (fourth trip to nationals)
Austen Rozelle, sophomore (first trip to nationals)
Darien Semedo, sophomore (second trip to nationals)
Gretchen Stottlemyre, sophomore (first trip to nationals)
Kayla Svoboda, freshman (second trip to nationals)
Trinity Tuls, sophomore (third trip to nationals; one All-America award)
Abi Wohlgemuth, sophomore (second trip to nationals)
Chris Wren, junior (sixth trip to nationals; three All-America awards)
Zach Zohner, sophomore (fourth trip to nationals; one All-America award; 2023 indoor pole vault national runner up)

Concordia Event Schedule – 2023 NAIA Outdoor T&F National Championships
NOTE: Listed times are EDT

Heptathlon (Wednesday, 10:30 a.m.) – Josi Noble, Amy Richert
Men’s Hammer (Wednesday, 11:30 a.m.) – Darien Semedo
Women’s Pole Vault (Wednesday, 12:00 p.m.) – Erin Boggs, Erin Mapson, Josie Puelz, Kayla Svoboda
Women’s 4x100m Relay (Wednesday, 3:00 p.m.) – Rachel Battershell, Kayla Kirchner, Kellie Rhodes, Adrianna Rodencal; Alternate: Josi Noble
Women’s Hammer (Wednesday, 3:30 p.m.) – Alli Owings, Kamryn Pokorney, Abi Wohlgemuth
Women’s 1,500m (Wednesday, 3:50 p.m.) – Rylee Haecker
Women’s 4x800m Relay (Wednesday, 6:15 p.m.) – Rylee Haecker, Keegan Beisel, Rhaya Kaschinske, Kylahn Freiberg; Alternate: Jenna Esch
Women’s Javelin (Wednesday, 7:00 p.m.) – Gretchen Stottlemyre

Heptathlon (Thursday, 10:00 a.m.) – Josi Noble, Amy Richert
Women’s 100m Hurdles (Thursday, 2:00 p.m.) – Adrianna Rodencal
Women’s Shot Put (Thursday, 2:30 p.m.) – Kamryn Pokorney
Women’s 800m (Thursday, 2:30 p.m.) – Jenna Esch
Men’s Long Jump (Thursday, 2:30 p.m.) – Joel Rathe
Women’s 400m (Thursday, 4:00 p.m.) – Rachel Battershell
Men’s High Jump (Thursday, 4:30 p.m.) – Wyatt Loga
Women’s 5,000m Race Walk (Thursday, 4:45 p.m.) – Lauren Dawson
Men’s Discus (Thursday, 5:00 p.m.) – Austen Rozelle
Women’s 4x800m Relay-Final (Thursday, 6:10 p.m.)
Men’s 5,000m (Thursday, 7:35 p.m.) – Calvin Rohde
Women’s 4x400m Relay (Thursday, 8:15 p.m.) – Jenna Esch, Josi Noble, Trinity Tuls, Rachel Battershell; Alternate: Jordan Koepke

Women’s Discus Throw (Friday, 1:00 p.m.) – Emma Lloyd, Erin Painter
Men’s Pole Vault (Friday, 1:00 p.m.) – Zach Zohner
Women’s High Jump (Friday, 2:00 p.m.) – Hannah Newton
Men’s Shot Put (Friday, 3:00 p.m.) – Darien Semedo

Friday race final times:
1:40 p.m. – Women’s 4x100m Relay
2:00 p.m. – Women’s 1,500 Meters
2:20 p.m. – Women’s 100m Hurdles
3:30 p.m. – Women’s 400 Meters
3:50 p.m. – Women’s 800 Meters
4:55 p.m. – Men’s 5,000 Meters
5:15 p.m. – Women’s 4x400m Relay

Concordia indoor national finishes since 2000
2023: M – 31st | W – 6th
2022: M – 36th | W – 3rd
2021: M – 12th | W – 3rd
2020: M – 17th | W – 4th
2019: M – 9th | W – 9th
2018: M – 42nd | W – 9th
2017: M – 2nd | W – 7th
2016: M – 3rd | W – 5th
2015: M – 5th | W – 11th
2014: M – 17th | W – 11th
2013: M – 27th | W – 13th
2012: M – 38th | W – 29th
2011: M – 7th | W – 26th
2010: M – 15th | W – 12th
2009: M – 12th | W – 11th
2008: M – 7th | W – 14th
2007: M – 19th | W – 36th
2006: M – 5th | W – 29th
2005: M – 26th | W – 15th
2004: M – 7th | W – 27th
2003: M – 5th | W – 9th
2002: M – 20th | W – 8th
2001: M – 12th | W – 21st
2000: M – 2nd | W – 12th

Concordia outdoor national finishes since 2005
2022: M – 47th | W – 4th
2021: M – 28th | W – 3rd
2019: M – 31st | W – 5th
2018: M – 69th | W – 12th
2017: M – 5th | W – 6th
2016: M – 2nd | W – 1st
2015: M – 1st | W – 5th
2014: M – 11th | W – 9th
2013: M – 42nd | W – 20th
2012: M – 57th | W – 15th
2011: M – 11th | W – 57th
2010: M – 24th | W – 14th
2009: M – 7th | W – 19th
2008: M – 11th | W – 29th
2007: M – 15th | W – 24th
2006: M – 7th | W – 28th
2005: M – 13th | W – 17th

Concordia Track & Field tops nation with 60 NAIA Scholar-Athletes

May 24, 2023

SEWARD, Neb. – Sixty Bulldogs have represented Concordia University Track & Field with 2023 Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete recognition. Those individuals were officially honored along with the NAIA announcement on Wednesday (May 24). Head Coach Matt Beisel’s program led the nation in NAIA Scholar-Athletes for both men and women. The full list of Bulldog award winners can be found below.

The 2022-23 list of track & field honorees features 1,076 student-athletes on the women’s side and 805 on the men’s side. In order to be nominated by an institution’s head coach or sports information director, a student-athlete must maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale, must appear on the eligibility certificate for the sport and have attended one full year at said institution.

The list of 2023 NAIA Scholar-Athletes includes past CoSIDA Academic All-Americans in Rachel Battershell, Zach Bennetts, Erin Mapson and Josie Puelz. Among the honorees are several individuals who were also recognized as NAIA Scholar-Athletes for cross country.

Concordia University ranks as the NAIA’s all-time leader in number of Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athletes with 2,121 entering the 2022-23 academic year. The school record for number of Scholar-Athletes in one academic year is 226 achieved in 2019-20. Concordia has been a regular national leader for both Scholar-Athletes and Scholar-Teams.

2023 Track & Field NAIA Scholar-Athletes

MEN

·        Logan Adam (Crete, Neb.)

·        Zach Bennetts (Denton, Neb.)

·        Chase Berry (Seward, Neb.)

·        Jack Ellis (Bend, Ore.)

·        Marc Freiberg (Seward, Neb.)

·        Thomas Gorline (St. Louis, Mo.)

·        Charlie Hayden (Elkhorn, Neb.)

·        Ethan Ideus (Seward, Neb.)

·        Quinton Janecek (Gering, Neb.)

·        Zachary Johnson (Aberdeen, S.D.)

·        Wyatt Loga (Bee, Neb.)

·        Colton Meyer (Eagle, Neb.)

·        Teagan Meyer (Alta, Iowa)

·        Ben Moll (Seward, Neb.)

·        Nathan Pennekamp (Fort Wayne, Ind.)

·        Joel Rathe (Sterling, Neb.)

·        Calvin Rohde (Reed City, Mich.)

·        Darien Semedo (Sacramento, Calif.)

·        Camden Sesna (Kearney, Neb.)

·        Kadin Vrbas (Imperial, Neb.)

·        Logan Walgate (St. Charles, Mo.)

·        Micah Willweber (Kailua, Hawaii)

·        Zach Zohner (Battle Creek, Neb.)

WOMEN

·        Lauren Ada (DeSoto, Kan.)

·        Emily Agena (Sterling, Neb.)

·        Elena Batenhorst (Columbus, Neb.)

·        Rachel Battershell (Wheatland, Wyo.)

·        Greta Corneliusen (Colorado Springs, Colo.)

·        Amira Cummings (Cheyenne, Wyo.)

·        Mickey Curl (Colorado Springs, Colo.)

·        Lauren Dawson (Cedar Falls, Iowa)

·        Kylahn Freiberg (Nampa, Idaho)

·        Abigail Gerber (Columbus, Neb.)

·        Peyton Gissler (Malcolm, Neb.)

·        Rylee Haecker (Davenport, Neb.)

·        Sara Huss (Fairbury, Neb.)

·        Ellie Jander (St. Louis, Mo.)

·        Rhaya Kaschinske (Fort Wayne, Ind.)

·        Skylar Kreifels (Lincoln, Neb.)

·        Emily Loseke (Leigh, Neb.)

·        Erin Mapson (Lincoln, Neb.)

·        Amie Martin (Arnold, Mo.)

·        Anna McCoy (Grand Island, Neb.)

·        Taylor Moes (Elm Creek, Neb.)

·        Hannah Mundt (Blue Springs, Mo.)

·        Hannah Newton (Crete, Neb.)

·        Katelyn Nix (Fort Wayne, Ind.)

·        Erin Painter (Ainsworth, Neb.)

·        Grace Pennekamp (Fort Wayne, Ind.)

·        Mary Pennekamp (Fort Wayne, Ind.)

·        Kamryn Pokorney (Shelby, Neb.)

·        Josie Puelz (Lincoln, Neb.)

·        Aubrey Rathke (Fremont, Neb.)

·        Grace Reimer (Hartland, Wis.)

·        Kellie Rhodes (Mullinville, Kan.)

·        Amy Richert (Gresham, Neb.)

·        Amanda Steinke (Milwaukee, Wis.)

·        Trinity Tuls (Columbus, Neb.)

·        Jaiden Tweton (Ashland, Neb.)

·        Lainey Werts (St. Edward, Neb.)

NAIA Day 1: Puelz places as NAIA runner up, Haecker reaches finals of 1,500 meters

May 24, 2023

MARION, Ind. – Another national meet saw Josie Puelz right in the hunt for another pole vault national title as day one action unfolded in Marion, Ind., home to Indiana Wesleyan University. Puelz ultimately settled for runner-up status in a tight battle with British Columbia's Sonya Urbanowicz at the 2023 NAIA Outdoor Track & Field National Championships on Wednesday (May 24). A total of 19 Bulldogs represented Concordia University Track & Field on the first of three days in Marion. The NAIA outdoor meet shifted to Indiana after it had been held in Gulf Shores, Ala., since 2014.

Head Coach Matt Beisel’s squads entered the national meet with NAIA national rankings of eighth on the women’s side and 24th on the men’s side. The Concordia women got their first team points of the meet courtesy of Puelz and her continued greatness.

Puelz is the leader of one of the nation’s best vault crews. Owner of five pole vault national titles, Puelz gave it her best shot on Wednesday and came through with a vault of 12’ 9 ½,” putting her in first place at the time. Urbanowicz then gained the upper hand when she went over 12’ 11 ½,” securing the championship. The runner-up claim gave Puelz the seventh All-America award of her incredible career. This was the first time since the 2020 NAIA indoor meet that someone other than Puelz claimed the women’s vault title. The gracious Puelz gave credit to her competition in the aftermath of the latest nationals outing.

“In (tense) moments like those, I thank the Lord for a competitive spirit and for Coach (Jason) Berry and all he’s done to support me. It was great competition – so fun. Sonya was a phenomenal competitor. I really admire her a lot. I was proud of how I handled some stressful attempts. That was the highlight of the day.”

The Lincoln Lutheran alum Puelz was joined in the vault by three national qualifying teammates in Erin Mapson, Erin Boggs and Kayla Svoboda. A freshman from Wisner, Neb., Svoboda cleared 11’ 3 ¾” on Wednesday and placed 14th. Meanwhile, Boggs and Mapson were unsuccessful on three attempts at that same height. That meant the end of the line for Mapson, a six-time NAIA All-American and another key figure behind the string of nine consecutive GPAC titles for the Concordia women’s program. While Puelz and Mapson have been the standard bearers as program veterans, vault coach Jason Berry sees a bright future for Boggs and Svoboda. Puelz got emotional in discussing her teammates. Said Puelz, “It makes me teary-eyed. I adore the people I get to jump with. They make the experience so valuable, and I love them to death. I’m so proud of how far they’ve come this year.”

A combined four Bulldogs competed in the hammer throw on Wednesday. Darien Semedo led the charge for the men’s team. He placed 14th out of 19 national qualifiers with a throw of 175’ 6.” Three-time All-American Chris Wren did not compete as he and his wife await the birth of their child. As for the women, Abi Wohlgemuth (167’ 2”), Kamryn Pokorney (162’) and Alli Owings (152’ 4”) placed 15th, 19th and 27th, respectively. Because of its depth, Concordia was rated as having top-two event groupings nationally in both the men’s and women’s hammer this outdoor season.

It was a fine day for junior Rylee Haecker, who has qualified for Friday’s finals in the 1,500 meters. The seven-time NAIA All-American placed fifth in her heat and eighth overall in the prelims by running a season best of 4:39.87. Her personal best of 4:36.96 was achieved in an All-America performance at the 2022 outdoor national meet. In the evening, Haecker returned to the track with her 4x800 meter relay teammates and combined on a 12th-place finish in the prelims. The group finished in 9:23.18 and just missed out on qualifying for finals. The 4x8 was made up of Keegan Beisel, Kylahn Freiberg, Rhaya Kaschinske and Haecker. The fastest split of 2:18.33 was turned in by Freiberg.

In the women’s 4x100 meter relay, the Bulldogs also came up shy of qualifying for the finals. They placed 17th in a preliminary time of 47.65 (a bit slower than the school record of 47.40 achieved this season). The 4x1 featured Rachel Battershell, Kayla Kirchner, Kellie Rhodes and Adrianna Rodencal. Both Battershell and Rodencal will be back at it on Thursday in individual races (and the 4x4 for Battershell). The Wheatland, Wyo., native Battershell leads all active Bulldogs with 11 career All-America awards.

In the heptathlon, Amy Richert has positioned herself for a shot at adding to her three career All-America plaques. The Gresham, Neb., native resides in 11th place (2,684 points) with four of seven events scored. Meanwhile, Josi Noble stands in 16th place (2,528 points) on the strength of her time of 25.83 in the 200 meters (second among heptathletes). The heptathlon will wrap up on Thursday with the long jump, javelin and 800 meters.

The sister of 2021 NAIA javelin national champion Liz Stottlemyre, Gretchen Stottlemyre made her first NAIA nationals appearance on Wednesday. The Olympia, Wash., native missed the finals of the event after throwing 118’ 10” as part of flight two. Stottlemyre got her qualifying mark in the final weekend of regular season competition.

The Concordia schedule for Thursday can be found below. The heptathlon will resume at 10 a.m. ET from Marion. The afternoon will heat up with Rodencal set to take the track for the 100-meter hurdles at 2 p.m. The day will be capped off by the women’s 4x400 meter relay.

2023 NAIA Outdoor All-Americans

·        Josie Puelz – Pole Vault (2nd)

Concordia remaining events:
Listed times are EDT

Heptathlon (Thursday, 10:00 a.m.) – Josi Noble, Amy Richert
Women’s 100m Hurdles (Thursday, 2:00 p.m.) – Adrianna Rodencal
Women’s Shot Put (Thursday, 2:30 p.m.) – Kamryn Pokorney
Women’s 800m (Thursday, 2:30 p.m.) – Jenna Esch
Men’s Long Jump (Thursday, 2:30 p.m.) – Joel Rathe
Women’s 400m (Thursday, 4:00 p.m.) – Rachel Battershell
Men’s High Jump (Thursday, 4:30 p.m.) – Wyatt Loga
Women’s 5,000m Race Walk (Thursday, 4:45 p.m.) – Lauren Dawson
Men’s Discus (Thursday, 6:30 p.m.) – Austen Rozelle
Men’s 5,000m (Thursday, 7:35 p.m.) – Calvin Rohde
Women’s 4x400m Relay (Thursday, 8:15 p.m.) – Jenna Esch, Josi Noble, Trinity Tuls, Rachel Battershell; Alternate: Jordan Koepke

Women’s Discus Throw (Friday, 1:00 p.m.) – Emma Lloyd, Erin Painter
Men’s Pole Vault (Friday, 1:00 p.m.) – Zach Zohner
Women’s High Jump (Friday, 2:00 p.m.) – Hannah Newton
Men’s Shot Put (Friday, 3:00 p.m.) – Darien Semedo

Friday race final times:
2:00 p.m. – Women’s 1,500 Meters
2:20 p.m. – Women’s 100m Hurdles
3:30 p.m. – Women’s 400 Meters
3:50 p.m. – Women’s 800 Meters
4:55 p.m. – Men’s 5,000 Meters
5:15 p.m. – Women’s 4x400m Relay

NAIA Day 2: Women's 4x4 stars, Rozelle crashes discus All-America podium

May 25, 2023

MARION, Ind. – In highlighting day two of the 2023 NAIA Outdoor Track & Field National Championships, the Concordia women’s 4x400 meter relay blazed to a first-place time in its heat of the prelims and Austen Rozelle crashed the All-America party in the discus. In sum, 12 Bulldogs represented Concordia University Track & Field as part of the day’s action at the Wildcat Track & Field Complex in Marion, Ind. Fifth-year senior Rachel Battershell will enter the final day of her collegiate track career ready to take on the finals of both the 4x4 and the open 400 meters.

Head Coach Matt Beisel’s squads are on the board on both sides at the national meet. The women’s team earned eight points thanks to Josie Puelz’s pole vault runner-up claim on Wednesday. Rozelle’s sixth-place finish in the discus has supplied three points on the men’s side.

A junior from Wauneta, Neb., Rozelle waited until the Concordia Twilight to add his name to the qualifying field in the discus. He rose to the occasion at just the right time and then came through at the national meet on his very first attempt. A three-foot personal best of 165’ 7” led the field at the end of two flights. That mark stood up as an All-America performance for Rozelle, who even beat out the event’s No. 2 seed heading into the week.

Said Rozelle, “It’s been a lot of up and down. We’ve had a lot of practice where we’ve been going hard every day with a lot of guys pushing us. We have a really strong discus squad. We’ve been really technical about everything, just trying to find the kinks that we can work out. Coach has been pushing really hard. It was good to finally get one to connect … I’ve been really blessed. Coach Ed (McLaughlin) gave me the opportunity and I’ve been taking off with it. I’m really thankful for it.”

There are always high expectations for a women’s 4x4 led by Battershell. Like she did at the GPAC Championships, Battershell chased down the opposition in the final stretch as the Bulldogs won the first of four heats on a chilly and breezy Thursday evening. Battershell was preceded by Jenna Esch, Josi Noble and Trinity Tuls. The conference championship group finished sixth overall in the prelims in a time of 3:49.92. Concordia’s 4x4 placed sixth nationally at the 2023 NAIA indoor meet. As for Battershell, she was given an initial unofficial time of 56.26 in the open 400 meters. Battershell was ultimately granted a spot in the finals due to her being impeded by another runner. The Wheatland, Wyo., native will be attempting to add to her 11 career All-America awards when the action resumes on Friday.

In a heptathlon field of 18 athletes, Josi Noble and Amy Richert made a push for spots on the podium. A freshman from Stromsburg, Neb., Noble finished strong while posting a personal best in the javelin (116’ 8”) and then placing sixth in the 800 meters (2:27.71). Those efforts vaulted her to No. 10 in the final heptathlon standings with 4,370 points. She wound up leaping Richert (4,368) on the leaderboard. A three-time All-American, Richert was the GPAC champion in the heptathlon as part of a strong 2023 outdoor season.

As a freshman, Noble has made a major impact. As she explained afterwards, “It’s definitely been a wild ride. College is a lot different from high school. It’s a lot harder work, but I’m not one to back down from a challenge … it’s a competition-mindset. I don’t like losing and I’m going to try my hardest to prevent it from happening. I’m coming back next year and I’m excited for it.”

Credit goes to Lauren Dawson for helping revive the race walk at Concordia. Under the tutelage of former Bulldog All-American race walker Steve Hoger, Dawson qualified for nationals and crossed the finish line in 10th place on Thursday with a 5,000-meter race walk time of 28:34.97. She was only about 26 seconds away from being an All-American and narrowly missed her own school record (28:33.68).

A couple other Concordia women’s athletes took to the track on Thursday. The school 100-meter hurdle record holder Adrianna Rodencal clocked in at 14.18 in the prelims and placed 13th (.17 seconds short of reaching the finals). Rodencal concluded a freshman year that included a sweep of 2023 GPAC indoor/outdoor Female Athlete of the Year awards. Later in the afternoon, Jenna Esch crossed the finish line in 2:17.32 while placing 18th in the prelims of the 800 meters. Esch will be back on the track on Friday as part of the 4x4.

Kamryn Pokorney also represented the throws crew in Thursday’s action. The Shelby, Neb., native Pokorney notched a personal best in the shot put with her mark of 43’ 11.” That figure was second best in Pokorney’s flight and put her No. 15 on the overall national leaderboard. Pokorney also competed in the hammer throw on Wednesday.

In the men’s 5,000 meters, Calvin Rohde hoped to give the school record a run. He finished in 23rd place in the prelims as he clocked in at 15:10.39 (roughly 30 seconds off the school standard). He was one of three GPAC competitors in the race.

As for the jumps crew, Joel Rathe and Wyatt Loga both took on the spotlight. In the long jump, Rathe rivaled his personal best with a jump of 23’ 5” and placed 16th out of 26 national qualifiers. Rathe was the GPAC runner up in the event. A two-time All-American in the high jump, Loga was unable to clear the opening height of 6’ 6 ¾.”

Ten Bulldogs are scheduled to compete on the third and final day of the championship meet. The first action is slated for 1 p.m. ET when the women’s discus and men’s pole vault will take place. The closing event for Concordia will be the women’s 4x4 at 5:15 p.m. ET. The complete schedule can be found below.

2023 NAIA Outdoor All-Americans

·        Josie Puelz – Pole Vault (2nd)

·        Austen Rozelle – Discus (6th)

Concordia remaining events on Friday:
Listed times are EDT

Women’s Discus Throw (1:00 p.m.) – Emma Lloyd, Erin Painter
Men’s Pole Vault (1:00 p.m.) – Zach Zohner
Women’s 1,500 Meter Finals (2:00 p.m.) – Rylee Haecker
Women’s High Jump (2:00 p.m.) – Hannah Newton
Men’s Shot Put (3:00 p.m.) – Darien Semedo
Women’s 400 Meter Finals (3:30 p.m.) – Rachel Battershell
Women’s 4x400m Relay Finals (5:15 p.m.) – Jenna Esch, Josi Noble, Trinity Tuls, Rachel Battershell

NAIA Day 3: Seven Bulldogs claim All-America awards on meet's final day

May 26, 2023 

MARION, Ind. – Concordia University Track & Field wrapped up the 2023 NAIA Outdoor Track & Field National Championships in style on Friday (May 26) as seven Bulldogs stepped up to the podium with All-America placements. The latest All-America plaques were claimed by the women’s 4x400 meter relay, Rachel Battershell, Rylee Haecker, Darien Semedo and Zach Zohner. Haecker even clipped a school record that had stood since 2005. Those efforts headlined the third and final day of action at the Wildcat Track & Field Complex in Marion, Ind.

Head Coach Matt Beisel’s squads ultimately combined to put nine individuals on the All-America stand while recording NAIA national team place finishes of tied for 23rd (13 points) on the women’s side and tied for 26th (12 points) on the men’s side. That is a wrap on track & field for 2023. Afterwards, Beisel made special mention of the seniors among the national qualifying roster: Battershell, Wyatt Loga and Erin Mapson.

“We have a lot of things to celebrate,” Beisel said. “Our athletes came here and did an amazing job and, in many cases, exceeded their seed marks. Not all of them made All-American, but that’s not how it works. We had some personal bests in every event area. A lot of great things happened. Obviously the highlights are the people who were able to make the podium. For our seniors, this was their last time and their last competition collegiately. I’m just grateful to God that He has given us this awesome experience and this awesome weather at Indiana Wesleyan.”

Now an eight-time NAIA All-American, the Davenport, Neb., native Haecker has a way of rising to the occasion. Late in the season, Haecker wasn’t certain to qualify for the 1,500 meters, but she made the cut and then thrived. She ran the finals of the event on Friday and placed sixth in a school record time of 4:33.84. That time just did eclipse the previous standard of 4:33.98 by Concordia Athletic Hall of Famer Molly Engel in 2005.

Said Haecker, “I was not expecting it. The last meet at Twilight I was just like, Obviously God just wants me to go in the 4x8 and I’ll do the best I can for my teammates. It was an answered prayer that I was able to come and glorify Him with this gift. I’ve found a love for the 1,500 so I was excited to run it a couple more times this season.”

Lefty throwers made a splash on back-to-back days for Concordia. After Austen Rozelle crashed the All-America party on Thursday in the discus, Semedo took his turn in writing an underdog tale. The junior from Sacramento, Calif., seized the moment on his third throw of flight one, unleashing a personal best of 54’ in the shot put. That mark held up as the national leader until the third flight. Semedo ultimately took sixth place.

Said Semedo, “(Coach) Ed (McLaughlin) kept me ready to compete and do my best. Coming into this, I felt really good. I felt like I could do something here. It took a two-foot PR and it ended up working out. Being in the first flight, it was a nervous 30 minutes waiting for everything to settle down. There was one thing I felt like was missing and I finally got it, and it clicked.”

The career of Zohner literally took flight in 2023. The Battle Creek, Neb., native enjoyed a major breakthrough at indoor nationals when he placed as the NAIA runner up. He can now add a third-place claim to his resume. Zohner landed at No. 3 in Friday’s competition with a vault of 15’ 11.” It’s been a big year for the vault crew. On the women’s side, Josie Puelz placed as the national runner up two days earlier (for her seventh career All-America award). Mapson also qualified for nationals and will depart from Concordia as a six-time All-American.

The best may be yet to come for Zohner, the 2023 GPAC outdoor pole vault champion. As he said afterwards, “A lot of it probably started last year. I’ve had a lot of injuries. I was able to fight through them freshman year and they kind of stayed around sophomore year. I’ve found different stretches to stay loose – that’s been the main key along with my coaches and teammates.”

The career All-America count for Battershell finishes at 13. The Wheatland, Wyo., native placed eighth in the 400 meters while running the finals in 57.41. The Bulldog journey for Battershell included two 400-meter national titles. She then put a bow on her career by running the anchor leg for the 4x400 meter relay. Her teammates included Jenna Esch, Josi Noble and Trinity Tuls. They placed eighth in a time of 3:50.06. The 4x4 turned in All-America claims in both indoor and outdoor in 2023. Esch, Noble and Tuls will be back, but Battershell will move on to the next chapter of her life.

There were plenty of emotional hugs to go around with coaches and teammates as Battershell began to say her goodbyes. Said Battershell, “It’s a long season and it’s a long year. We’ve been through a lot of ups and downs together and have grown a lot together, succeeded and failed together. At the end, being able to say, ‘Amen,’ with someone and having that faith is what it’s about. These people are my family. How can you not be emotional at the end of something like that?”

The 2023 GPAC outdoor high jump champion, Hannah Newton successfully cleared the first two heights (5’ 3” and 5’ 5”) in the competition on Friday. The sophomore from Crete, Neb., narrowly missed out on being an All-American as she came up short on her three attempts at 5’ 6” and placed ninth. This was the third career nationals appearance for Newton. The jumps crew in Indiana also featured Wyatt Loga and Joel Rathe. Loga earned two All-America awards in his Bulldog career.

In the women’s discus, Erin Painter returned to the qualifying field after earning All-America accolades (fourth place) in 2022. Painter threw 134’ 3” at the 2023 competition and placed 23rd out of 30 qualifiers. Teammate Emma Lloyd (134’ 1”) placed immediately behind Painter in 24th. The outing marked the first career nationals appearance for Lloyd, a transfer from the University of Nebraska.

The accomplishments in 2023 for the program included two more GPAC championships for the women (indoor and outdoor) and two conference third-place finishes for the men. In addition, Concordia led all track & field programs for number of 2023 NAIA Scholar-Athletes for both men and women. Said Beisel, “These are exceptional human beings and they are so much fun to be with. God keeps bringing great people to our teams, and they all build these close relationships.”

2023 NAIA Outdoor All-Americans

·        Rachel Battershell – 400 Meters (8th); 4x400m Relay (8th)

·        Jenna Esch – 4x400m Relay (8th)

·        Rylee Haecker – 1,500 Meters (6th)

·        Josi Noble – 4x400m Relay (8th)

·        Josie Puelz – Pole Vault (2nd)

·        Austen Rozelle – Discus (6th)

·        Darien Semedo – Shot Put (6th)

·        Trinity Tuls – 4x400m Relay (8th)

·        Zach Zohner – Pole Vault (3rd)

Nine Bulldogs claim 2023 outdoor All-America awards

May 29, 2023

SEWARD, Neb. – Courtesy of their performances at the 2023 NAIA Outdoor Track & Field National Championships, nine Bulldogs have earned All-America honors (full list below). In order to receive an All-America plaque, a top eight placement at the national championship meet is required. The list of Concordia University Track & Field outdoor All-Americans in 2023 includes pole vault national runner up Josie Puelz. In addition, fellow All-American Rylee Haecker broke a school record while running 4:33.84 in the 1,500 meters.

Among the 2023 Bulldog outdoor All-Americans, Rachel Battershell leads the way in terms of most career All-America awards with 13. Other current Concordia athletes (who took home All-America awards this past week) with multiple career All-America plaques are Rylee Haecker (eight), Josie Puelz (seven), Jenna Esch (three), Trinity Tuls (two) and Zach Zohner (two). First-time All-Americans were Josi Noble, Austen Rozelle and Darien Semedo. Three Concordia national qualifiers concluded their careers in action in Marion, Ind., this past week: Battershell, Erin Mapson (six-time All-American) and Wyatt Loga (two-time All-American).

Head Coach Matt Beisel’s squads earned 2023 NAIA outdoor national finishes of tied for 23rd on the women’s side and tied for 26th on the men’s side. At the conference level, the women won the GPAC title (ninth in a row) and the men placed third.

2023 Outdoor All-Americans

Rachel Battershell
2023 Outdoor Placements: 8th in 400 meters (57.41); 8th in 4x400m relay (3:49.92)
Career All-America Awards: 13 (2 national titles)
National Meet Appearances: 9

Jenna Esch
2023 Outdoor Placement: 8th in 4x400m relay (3:49.92)
Career All-America Awards: 3
National Meet Appearances: 3

Rylee Haecker
2023 Outdoor Placement: 6th in 1,500 meters (4:33.84) *school record
Career All-America Awards: 8
National Meet Appearances: 5

Josi Noble
2023 Outdoor Placement: 8th in 4x400m relay (3:49.92)
Career All-America Awards: 1
National Meet Appearances: 2

Josie Puelz
2023 Outdoor Placement: 2nd in pole vault (12’ 9 ½”)
Career All-America Awards: 7 (5 national titles)
National Meet Appearances: 7

Austen Rozelle
2023 Outdoor Placement: 6th in discus (165’ 7”)
Career All-America Awards: 1
National Meet Appearances: 1

Darien Semedo
2023 Outdoor Placement: 6th in shot put (54’)
Career All-America Awards: 1
National Meet Appearances: 2

Trinity Tuls
2023 Outdoor Placement: 8th in 4x400m relay (3:49.92)
Career All-America Awards: 2
National Meet Appearances: 3

Zach Zohner
2023 Indoor Placement: 3rd in pole vault (15’ 11”)
Career All-America Awards: 2
National Meet Appearances: 4

Ten Bulldogs named to Academic All-District Track/Cross Country Team

May 31, 2023

SEWARD, Neb. – The national leader for number of 2023 NAIA Scholar-Athletes, Concordia University Track & Field can now boast 10 award winners honored by College Sports Communicators (CSC). The organization recognized 10 Bulldogs on Wednesday (May 31) as 2022-23 Academic All-District® Men's and Women's Track & Field/Cross Country Team selections. The full list of Concordia honorees can be found below. Repeat Academic All-District recipients are Rachel Battershell, Zach Bennetts, Erin Mapson and Josie Puelz.

The 2022-23 Academic All-District® Cross Country/Track & Field Teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognize the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom. Student-athletes must achieve a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher in order to be nominated for this award. The CSC Academic All-America® program separately recognizes honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA — for each gender.

Women’s Honorees

Rachel Battershell | Wheatland, Wyo.

2x 400-meter NAIA national champion … 3x CoSIDA First Team Academic All-American/All-District (entering 2023) … 13x NAIA All-American … 13 Great Plains Athletic Conference event championships … has led Concordia to nine-straight GPAC team titles and to six NAIA top-five team placements … owns school records in the indoor 400 meters (54.77), indoor 4x400m relay (3:47.39), outdoor 4x100m relay (47.40) and outdoor 4x400m relay (3:47.26) … has appeared at nine national championship meets … 3x NAIA Scholar-Athlete.

Kylahn Freiberg | Nampa, Idaho

T&F: 2x Great Plains Athletic Conference event champion (indoor 1,000m and outdoor 3,000m) … 4x NAIA All-American … five NAIA national meet appearances … 2023 NAIA indoor 1,000-meter national runner up (2:54.87) … member of seven GPAC championship winning teams … 3x NAIA Scholar-Athlete.

XC: 2x GPAC All-Conference … qualified for the NAIA national meet in 2019 and 2022 … helped the 2019 team to a GPAC title while placing as the conference individual runner up … 2019 team also placed 12th nationally … 3x NAIA Scholar-Athlete.

Rylee Haecker | Davenport, Neb.

T&F: 8x NAIA All-American (five in individual events; three in relays) … 6x Great Plains Athletic Conference event champion … school record holder in the outdoor 1,500 meters (4:33.84) and ranks No. 2 in on the program’s all-time indoor 1,000-meter list (2:53.68) … member of teams that have won six GPAC team championships and have placed in the top five of nationally four times … 2x NAIA Scholar-Athlete.

XC: 2x All-GPAC runner; 2x NAIA national qualifier … 2x NAIA Scholar-Athlete.

Erin Mapson | Lincoln, Neb.

6x NAIA pole vault All-American … 8x NAIA national qualifier … on program all-time lists, ranks No. 3 for the indoor pole vault (12’ 9 ½”) and No. 4 for the outdoor pole vault (12’ 7 ½”) … won one GPAC pole vault title … 2x CoSIDA Academic All-American/All-District (entering 2023) … has helped Concordia to nine-straight GPAC team titles and to six NAIA top-five team placements … 3x NAIA Scholar-Athlete.

Josie Puelz | Lincoln, Neb.

5x NAIA pole vault national champion (runner up 2023 outdoor) … 7x NAIA pole vault All-American … 6x Great Plains Athletic Conference pole vault champion … 2021-22 CoSIDA Academic All-America® Team Member of the Year award winner … 2x CoSIDA Academic All-American/All-District (entering 2023) … 2021 State College Female Athlete of the Year in the state of Nebraska by the Lincoln Journal Star … owns the GPAC conference meet records for both the indoor and outdoor pole vault and holds school records in the indoor (13’ 4 ½”) and outdoor (13’ 7 ¼”) pole vault … has helped the program to seven GPAC team titles and to five NAIA top-five team placements … 3x NAIA Scholar-Athlete.

Men’s Honorees

Zach Bennetts | Denton, Neb.

2x NAIA pole vault All-American … 3x Great Plains Athletic Conference pole vault champion … 4x NAIA national qualifier … six career All-GPAC awards … 2022 CoSIDA Academic All-America/All-District … cleared 16’ 1” at the 2023 NAIA indoor national meet and placed seventh … 3x NAIA Scholar-Athlete.

Joel Rathe | Sterling, Neb.

4x NAIA national qualifier … member of 4x100m relay that won 2021 Great Plains Athletic Conference title … personal best in the long jump is 23’ 9 ½” (No. 3 in school history) … 2x NAIA Scholar-Athlete.

Calvin Rohde | Reed City, Mich.

T&F: 4x NAIA national qualifier … won two GPAC Athlete of the Week awards in 2023 … nine career all-conference awards … owns personal bests of 3:54.98 in the 1,500 meters, 8:44.80 in the 3,000 meters, 4:12.33 in the mile and 14:42.28 in the 5,000 meters (No. 2 in school history) … 2x NAIA Scholar-Athlete.

XC: 2021 NAIA national qualifier … 2x all-conference award winner … helped Concordia place second in the GPAC in 2022 … 2x NAIA Scholar-Athlete.

Camden Sesna | Kearney, Neb.

T&F: 2022 Great Plains Athletic Conference outdoor 5,000-meter champion … 4x NAIA national qualifier … eight career all-conference awards … owns career bests of 3:54.23 in the 1,500 meters, 8:38.78 in the 3,000 meters, 4:14.88 in the mile and 14:53.88 in the 5,000 meters … 3x NAIA Scholar-Athlete.

XC: 2x NAIA national qualifier … 2x all-conference award winner … helped Concordia place second in the GPAC in 2022 … 4x GPAC Runner of the Week … 3x NAIA Scholar-Athlete.

Zach Zohner | Battle Creek, Neb.

2023 NAIA indoor pole vault national runner up … 2x pole vault All-American … 2023 Great Plains Athletic Conference outdoor pole vault champion … five career all-conference awards … ranks No. 5 on school’s all-time indoor pole vault list with personal best of 16’ 6 ¾” … 2x NAIA Scholar-Athlete.

Academic All-District® honorees advance to the CSC Academic All-America® ballot. First-, second- and third-team Academic All-America® honorees will be announced on June 28 (women) and June 29 (men).

Battershell named Academic All-American of the Year; five Bulldogs honored by CSC

Jun. 28, 2023

SEWARD, Neb. – The highest honor awarded by College Sports Communicators (CSC) to an NAIA women’s track & field athlete has been handed out to Concordia University’s Rachel Battershell. The Wheatland, Wyo., native was announced on Wednesday (June 28) by CSC as the 2022-23 Academic All-America® Team Member of the Year for NAIA women’s track & field/cross country. She was joined with Academic All-America awards by teammates Kylahn Freiberg (second team), Rylee Haecker (second team), Erin Mapson (first team) and Josie Puelz (first team).

The 2022-23 NAIA Academic All-America® Women's Track & Field/Cross Country Teams, selected by CSC, recognize the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances in athletic competition and in the classroom. The College Sports Communicators Academic All-America® program separately recognizes honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA.

The Concordia women’s track program has been responsible for four of the past six NAIA Academic All-America® Team Member of the Year awards. Puelz took that honor in 2022 while Samantha Liermann did the same in both 2018 and 2019.

Concordia CSC NAIA Track & Field Academic All-Americans of the Year

·        Rachel Battershell (2023)

·        Samantha Liermann (2018 and 2019)

·        Josiah McAllister (2019)

·        Josie Puelz (2022)

The latest award for Battershell caps what was an incredible career as a Concordia student-athlete. She has garnered four career Academic All-America honors from College Sports Communicators and was a 13-time NAIA All-American. Battershell triple-majored in Biology, Chemistry and Exercise Science and claimed two NAIA national titles in the 400 meters. Additional honors for Battershell (and her Academic All-America teammates) are included below.

2022-23 Academic All-Americans, as selected by College Sports Communicators

Rachel Battershell | Wheatland, Wyo. (Academic All-American of the Year/First Team)

2x 400-meter NAIA national champion … 4x CSC First Team Academic All-American/All-District … 13x NAIA All-American … 13 Great Plains Athletic Conference event championships … led Concordia to nine-straight GPAC team titles and to six NAIA top-five team placements … owns school records in the indoor 400 meters (54.77), indoor 4x400m relay (3:47.39), outdoor 4x100m relay (47.40) and outdoor 4x400m relay (3:47.26) … has appeared at nine national championship meets … 3x NAIA Scholar-Athlete.

Kylahn Freiberg | Nampa, Idaho (Second Team)

T&F: 2x Great Plains Athletic Conference event champion (indoor 1,000m and outdoor 3,000m) … 4x NAIA All-American … five NAIA national meet appearances … 2023 NAIA indoor 1,000-meter national runner up (2:54.87) … member of seven GPAC championship winning teams … 3x NAIA Scholar-Athlete.

XC: 2x GPAC All-Conference … qualified for the NAIA national meet in 2019 and 2022 … helped the 2019 team to a GPAC title while placing as the conference individual runner up … 2019 team also placed 12th nationally … 3x NAIA Scholar-Athlete.

Rylee Haecker | Davenport, Neb. (Second Team)

T&F: 8x NAIA All-American (five in individual events; three in relays) … 6x Great Plains Athletic Conference event champion … school record holder in the outdoor 1,500 meters (4:33.84) and ranks No. 2 in on the program’s all-time indoor 1,000-meter list (2:53.68) … member of teams that have won six GPAC team championships and have placed in the top five nationally four times … 2x NAIA Scholar-Athlete.

XC: 2x GPAC All-Conference … 2x NAIA national qualifier … 2x NAIA Scholar-Athlete … member of 2022 national qualifying team.

Erin Mapson | Lincoln, Neb. (First Team)

6x NAIA pole vault All-American … 8x NAIA national qualifier … on program all-time lists, ranks No. 3 for the indoor pole vault (12’ 9 ½”) and No. 4 for the outdoor pole vault (12’ 7 ½”) … won one GPAC pole vault title … 3x CSC Academic All-American/All-District … helped Concordia to nine-straight GPAC team titles and to six NAIA top-five team placements … 3x NAIA Scholar-Athlete.

Josie Puelz | Lincoln, Neb. (First Team)

5x NAIA pole vault national champion (runner up 2023 outdoor) … 7x NAIA pole vault All-American … 6x Great Plains Athletic Conference pole vault champion … 2021-22 CoSIDA Academic All-America® Team Member of the Year award winner … 3x CSC Academic All-American/All-District … 2021 State College Female Athlete of the Year in the state of Nebraska by the Lincoln Journal Star … owns the GPAC conference meet records for both the indoor and outdoor pole vault and holds school records in the indoor (13’ 4 ½”) and outdoor (13’ 7 ¼”) pole vault … has helped the program to seven GPAC team titles and to five NAIA top-five team placements … 3x NAIA Scholar-Athlete.

Bennetts chosen as Academic All-American of the Year; two teammates honored by CSC

Jun. 29, 2023

SEWARD, Neb. – The most prestigious award handed out each year by College Sports Communicators (CSC) to an NAIA men’s track & field athlete has been reeled in by Concordia University’s Zach Bennetts. The Denton, Neb., native was announced on Thursday (June 29) by CSC as the 2022-23 Academic All-America® Team Member of the Year for NAIA men’s track & field/cross country. He was joined with Academic All-America awards by teammates Calvin Rohde (second team) and Zach Zohner (first team).

The 2022-23 NAIA Academic All-America® Men’s Track & Field/Cross Country Teams, selected by CSC, recognize the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances in athletic competition and in the classroom. The College Sports Communicators Academic All-America® program separately recognizes honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA.

Bennetts joins Josiah McAllister as the second men’s athlete in Concordia Track history to be named the Academic All-American of the Year. Bennetts and Rachel Battershell gave the Bulldogs a sweep of the 2022-23 NAIA track & field/cross country Academic All-America Team Member of the Year awards.

Concordia CSC NAIA Track & Field Academic All-Americans of the Year

·        Rachel Battershell (2023)

·        Zach Bennetts (2023)

·        Samantha Liermann (2018 and 2019)

·        Josiah McAllister (2019)

·        Josie Puelz (2022)

A two-time NAIA pole vault All-American, Bennetts graduated from Concordia after studying Biology, Chemistry and Exercise Science. He captured three GPAC pole vault tiles in his career and was a four-time NAIA national qualifier. Additional honors for Bennetts, Rohde and Zohner are included below.

2022-23 Academic All-Americans, as selected by College Sports Communicators

Zach Bennetts | Denton, Neb. (Academic All-American of the Year/First Team)

2x NAIA pole vault All-American … 3x Great Plains Athletic Conference pole vault champion … 4x NAIA national qualifier … six career All-GPAC awards … 2022 CoSIDA Academic All-America/All-District … cleared 16’ 1” at the 2023 NAIA indoor national meet and placed seventh … 3x NAIA Scholar-Athlete.

Calvin Rohde | Reed City, Mich. (Second Team)

T&F: 4x NAIA national qualifier … won two GPAC Athlete of the Week awards in 2023 … nine career all-conference awards … owns personal bests of 3:54.98 in the 1,500 meters, 8:44.80 in the 3,000 meters, 4:12.33 in the mile and 14:42.28 in the 5,000 meters (No. 2 in school history) … 2x NAIA Scholar-Athlete.

XC: 2021 NAIA national qualifier … 2x all-conference award winner … helped Concordia place second in the GPAC in 2022 … 2x NAIA Scholar-Athlete.

Zach Zohner | Battle Creek, Neb. (First Team)

2023 NAIA indoor pole vault national runner up … 2x pole vault All-American … 2023 Great Plains Athletic Conference outdoor pole vault champion … five career all-conference awards … ranks No. 5 on school’s all-time indoor pole vault list with personal best of 16’ 6 ¾” … 2x NAIA Scholar-Athlete.

The Coach Knight years: making lemonade without lemons

Jun. 30, 2023

When John Knight arrived in Seward in 1978, he was tasked with making lemonade. The only problem? He didn’t have any lemons. In those days, the athletic facilities at Concordia were merely a shell of what Bulldog athletes enjoy in the present day.

With only a cinder track (not suitable for hosting meets) and no dedicated indoor facilities, Coach Knight went to work building up the Concordia Cross Country and Track & Field programs. It took plenty of creativity for the Valparaiso University graduate and former coach at Linfield College (Oregon).

As Knight recalled, “We wound up getting the local high school to allow us to use their track for workouts. We did a lot of running on streets in Seward. Gosh, it was terrible, but our kids survived and did a good job. They built a reputation for our program and all of the sudden we had people coming that were incredible athletes.”

Indeed, Knight helped change the culture and his dogged persistence eventually pushed Concordia to upgrade and modernize its facilities. From 1978 through 1989, Knight coached some of the very best athletes in the history of the school: eight-time national champion Carol Bailey, six-time national champion Kregg Einspahr, five-time national champion Gene Brooks and three-time national champion Patrick Gellens, to name a few. Bailey won NAIA titles in the 100 and 200 meters at the 1989 outdoor national championships and led the Bulldogs to a second-place team finish.

Quite simply, Knight brought credibility to Concordia. Not only did he convince top-flight athletes to attend an institution with limited facilities, he served roles such as President of the NAIA Track & Field Coaches Association and U.S. Olympic Development Committee member. Knight was also selected to serve as a coach and manager for four USA national teams. His many connections and professional relationships served Einspahr well as he burst onto the national scene and became one of the top steeplechasers in the entire country.

The recruitment of Einspahr stands out as a watershed moment for Knight and the program. Despite his parents and two older brothers having picked Concordia, Kregg felt the pull of a school closer to home out in the pacific northwest. He wanted to go somewhere that supported its track and cross country programs. A native of Portland, Ore., Kregg had actually enrolled in classes at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington. At the very last minute, Kregg had a change of heart after Knight had taken the Concordia head coaching job late in the summer of ’78. Coincidentally, Knight was in the process of moving his family from Oregon to Nebraska. John and his wife Susanna had recently watched Kregg play in Oregon’s shrine all-star football game.

“Somehow John got ahold of me in Baker, Oregon,” Einspahr said. “I remember talking to him at a phone booth outside the campus center at Eastern Oregon State University. I really liked what he had to say. He had big ideas and I bought into that. He was very motivational. We worked together really well down the road.”

A well-rounded athlete, Einspahr initially played football at Concordia (under head coach Larry Oetting) before suffering a hit that put him in the hospital for two weeks with a bleeding kidney. At that point, Einspahr made the decision to focus on his running. It was a good choice for someone who would go on to compete at three separate Olympic Trials and would travel the country, testing himself in some of the most significant meets held in the United States. As Knight says, “He’s probably the finest athlete we’ve ever had at Concordia. He drilled everybody in our conference … I had a little bit to do with (him coming to Concordia).”

As John’s wife Susanna stated, “Because of Kregg’s success, John was able to recruit other kids to come.” Suddenly, Concordia was on the map and Knight began crisscrossing the globe as an Olympic coach and a mover and shaker within the world of track and field. Knight’s travels introduced him to Patrick Gellens in the mid-1980s. Knight had been given permission by Concordia administration to accompany the U.S. National Team to France.

As John explained, “I went to France with the U.S. team and I met a kid over there who came up to me at lunch. His name was Patrick Gellens. He asked, ‘Is it possible to go to school in your country?’ And I said, ‘Do you have any money?’ He said, ‘Well, I don’t but my dad George does.’ As it turned out, Patrick came to Concordia and did very well as an athlete and as a student. He was a national champion in the pole vault and the decathlon. He was quite an athlete.”

Not only a three-time NAIA national champion, Gellens won Drake Relays and World University Games decathlon competitions and continues to own the Concordia school record in the decathlon with a point total of 7,699 (achieved at the 1985 Drake Relays). Gellens went on to become a French National Team coach following his days as a Bulldog.

The success came as Knight oversaw what Einspahr likes to refer to as “adaptive track and field.” There were ways for runners to train by hitting trails around town, but things weren’t so easy for other athletes, especially during the cold Nebraska winters. In the mid-1980s, Knight wanted to get pole vaulting off the ground at Concordia. He managed to secure a donation of $5,000 from Seward Motor Freight, which was operated by Wayne Tanderup. That money went towards pole vault poles and paved the way for Patrick Gellens and Gene Brooks in the coming years.

Coming from the panhandle of Texas, Brooks may have had eyes for nearby Abilene Christian University (where he attended vaulting camps), but he took a chance on Knight and Concordia. While pushed by teammate Don Kitzmann, Brooks developed into a school record 18-foot vaulter and NAIA national champion. Without the commitment of Knight to the event – and the arrival of Brooks – the pole vault wouldn’t be what it is today at Concordia.

About that same time, Carol Bailey landed at Concordia thanks to a connection back in her home country of Jamaica. Knight picked Bailey up from the airport in Lincoln, Nebraska, the very first time Bailey had ever stepped foot in Nebraska. As Bailey said of that experience, “It wasn’t hard for Coach Knight to pick me out. I went from St. Louis to Lincoln to Seward. I remember getting to Seward and thinking, ‘When are we going to get to town?’”

Bailey accomplished an astounding feat in winning four 100-meter outdoor national titles in a row at Concordia. In addition to winning eight total individual national titles, Bailey claimed 22 All-America awards. Her efforts would lead to induction into the NAIA Hall of Fame. Said Knight, “She showed up and started winning all kinds of national championships. She made me famous as well. She made me look like one heck of a coach.”

Standard for the time, Knight wore many hats. As part of his tenure at Concordia, Knight also served as Athletics Director and Dean of Students. He joked that it was what allowed his family, including children Jennifer and Lawson, to eat. While Knight emerged as an important figure in Concordia’s athletics history, his wife Susanna opened and operated the Second Closet, a clothing store in downtown Seward. Though John and his wife have since retired back in Oregon, they still find opportunities to return to Seward and relive some of their best memories.

“All kinds of people are thrilled to have had the opportunity to be at that institution – academically and everything about it is awesome,” John said. “We were very happy to be there and have our children going to school across the street. Our children love Seward.”

Knight left Concordia in 1989. Soon after, much-needed upgrades came in the form of a stadium and outdoor track. The impact of Knight lived on as Einspahr became head coach of the cross country and track programs in 1992. Like Knight, Einspahr would also campaign for facility enhancements, particularly an indoor track (which came to fruition in 2010). Einspahr remains grateful for how Knight helped open doors for him. Einspahr went from accepting a $300 football scholarship at Concordia to making waves on the national landscape.

Said Einspahr, “John did a very good job with limited resources in terms of scholarships and facilities. There wasn’t a winning culture at that time. He did a great job in bringing some great athletes here and making things work with our facilities. I think we might have had one home meet in the four years I was here. John was also a tremendous facilitator in opening doors for me as a small college athlete. He got me into a big meet in Wichita after my sophomore year that allowed me to qualify for the Olympic trials.”

Like a magician, Knight pulled rabbits out of his hat. Knight was a trailblazer for Concordia athletics, pushing and prodding to make it the big time. Even when he faced opposition or long odds, he never wavered. As Susie Knight said, “What was really incredible is he was able to build a track program with no track.”

“Things happened and things got done,” John Knight said. “People started to support athletics and build facilities for athletics. I’m very proud of my time there and the opportunity I had and the people I got to meet and coach. There are people who own school records that will last for a lifetime and I’m very proud to have been their coach.”

Puelz earns high honors from USTFCCCA; Bulldogs rewarded with All-Academic Team status

Jul. 13, 2023

SEWARD, Neb. – Five-time pole vault national champion Josie Puelz has raked in yet another award recognizing her combined athletic and academic excellence. The Lincoln Lutheran High School alum has been chosen as the 2023 NAIA Indoor Women’s Field Scholar Athlete of the Year by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). This marks the third consecutive year that Puelz has garnered Scholar Athlete of the Year accolades from the coaches’ organization. Puelz was one of 40 student-athletes from the Concordia University Track & Field program to be recognized by the USTFCCCA as All-Academic Athletes.

For their work in the classroom, Head Coach Matt Beisel’s men’s and women’s squads were also honored with All-Academic Team accolades. Teams are required to achieve a collective 3.0 grade-point average or better and individuals must achieve at least a 3.25 GPA while also recording an automatic or provisional national qualifying mark in either indoor or outdoor. In terms of team GPA among all NAIA track programs in 2022-23, Concordia ranked seventh on the women’s side and 14th on the men’s side. The women’s program ranked as the national leader for most All-Academic Athletes while the men tied for fourth most.

Named 2022 NAIA Women’s Track & Field Academic All-America Team Member of the Year by College Sports Communicators, Puelz picked up her fifth career national title this past indoor season. She is a seven-time NAIA All-American and a six-time GPAC champion in the pole vault. Puelz continues to own school records for both the indoor (13’ 4 ½”) and outdoor (13’ 7 ¼”) pole vault and has helped the Bulldogs continue their supremacy within the GPAC. Teammates Rachel Battershell and Zach Bennetts made for a clean sweep of 2023 NAIA Track & Field Academic All-America Team Members of the Year.

The 2023 track season saw the Concordia women claim GPAC indoor and outdoor championships while the men turned in conference finishes of third for both indoor and outdoor. The women’s program placed sixth nationally at the 2023 indoor national meet.

2023 Concordia All-Academic Athletes

·        Elena Batenhorst

·        Rachel Battershell

·        Keegan Beisel

·        Zach Bennetts

·        Chase Berry

·        Erin Boggs

·        Amira Cummings

·        Lauren Dawson

·        Jenna Esch

·        Carson Fehlhafer

·        Kylahn Freiberg

·        Abigail Gerber

·        Rylee Haecker

·        Ethan Ideus

·        Rhaya Kaschinske

·        Kayla Kirchner

·        Jordan Koepke

·        Wyatt Loga

·        Erin Mapson

·        Colton Meyer

·        Ben Moll

·        Hannah Newton

·        Josi Noble

·        Erin Painter

·        Kamryn Pokorney

·        Josie Puelz

·        Joel Rathe

·        Kellie Rhodes

·        Amy Richert

·        Madeleine Robinson

·        Adrianna Rodencal

·        Calvin Rohde

·        Isabelle Salters

·        Darien Semedo

·        Camden Sesna

·        Amanda Steinke

·        Gretchen Stottlemyre

·        Kayla Svoboda

·        Trinity Tuls

·        Zach Zohner