TF: Bulldogs host Concordia Invite

The Concordia University track team picked up 10 victories and 25 top five finishes in their first home meet of the 2008 outdoor season, the Concordia Invite, held Sunday at Bulldog Stadium in Seward, Neb.

The women's team was led by Katie Werner who picked up two victories for the Bulldogs, the first in the hammer throw with a toss of 150'9.5" defeating former Bulldog Christina Lark (now competing unattached) by just two inches. Werner was also victorious in the shot put with a winning throw of 40'9.5", besting second place by almost four inches. Charista Zehnder was victorious for Concordia in the long jump with a mark of 17'8.5".

In running events the Bulldogs won one of the most exciting events of the day in the 4 X 400 meter relay. M'Leigh Rempfer, running in the anchor sport for the Bulldogs, held a slight lead coming into the final turn and survived a bump for the Doane racer, regain her balance and hold off a late charge to give Concordia the victory with a time of 4:04.15.

Emily Wolters won the 400 meter hurdles as well as provisionally qualifying for the NAIA National Outdoor Championship meet with a time of 1:04.92. Other top five finished for the Bulldog women included: Charista Zehnder (4^th place, 100), Katie Swanson (2^nd place, 200), Amber Quinn (3^rd place, 400), MaryLou Andrews (3^rd place, 800), Katie Lutmer (2^nd place, 1500), Taylor Felix (2^nd place, 10,000), Jacque Wiseman (3^rd place, 10,000), Rebecca Mol (3^rd place, 3000 steeple chase), Erin Eitzman (5^th place, pole vault), and Carly Stokebrand (5^th place, discus and 4^th place, hammer throw, and 3^rd place, javelin).

The Concordia men were led by their All-Americans as all three won their respective events. Michael Saalfeld and Luka Thor won easily in the 800 and 10,000 meter run respectively. Saalfeld won by almost six seconds with a finishing time of 1:53.66 while Thor looked to be in late season form winning by 22 seconds and earning an automatic qualification for the national championships with a time of 31:43.93.

Concordia's other All-American in action on Sunday; Dusty Morehead won the pole vault, clearing a height of 14'7". Derrick Woods was victorious in the 400 meter hurdles as the Bulldogs finished 1-2-3 with Daniel Kober and Jimmy Boeder finishing second and third respectively. The final victory of the day went to Drew Rodine in the triple jump with a mark of 45'6.5".

Other top five finishes for Concordia were: Adam Birt (5^th place, 400), Zach Meineke (5^th place, 1500, 3^rd place, 5000), Zane Grabau (3^rd place, 10,000), Bryan Felker (4^th place, 10,000), Derrick Woods (2^nd place, 110 meter hurdles), Jon Grotefendt (5^th place, 3000 steeplechase), Josh Tonniges (3^rd place, pole vault), Jordan Hinrichs (2^nd place, shot put, 2^nd place, hammer throw), Matt Baller (4^th place, shot put), and Brock Simonson (2^nd place, discus).

Concordia will next be in action April 19, as they head to Crete, Neb. to take part in the Doane Relays.

Complete Results