The Concordia University track teams finished the 2008-09 indoor season with a successful weekend at the NAIA National Indoor Championships held at the Memorial Center in Johnson City, Tenn. The Concordia women finished 11th in the team rankings with 19 points while the men finished 12th with 20 points.
Michael Saalfeld came into the 800-meter race with the fastest time in the NAIA, but finished third in the finals with a time of 1:51.28 after winning his opening round heat the day before. The other notable finish for the Bulldog men in the running events came when Zach Meineke came in sixth in the 3,000-meter run. The Bulldogs' hope for Chris Tegtmeier to repeat in the men's race walk was dashed when Tegtmeier was disqualified for form on the last lap of the finals.
Concordia faired much better in the men's field events beginning with Josh Tonniges taking fourth and earning All-American honors in the pole vault with a height of 15'9". James Refenes nudged out team mate Jordan Hinrichs for All-American honors finishing sixth in the weight throw with a distance of 58'5.75". Hinrichs rebounded in the shot put with a new school record throw of 54'11.25" earning national runner up and All-American status.
On the women's side, Katie Swanson finished fourth in the 600-meter run with a time of 1:36.06, while Bethany Sutton came in sixth in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:14.82. The Concordia relay team came in fourth in the 4X800 with a time of 9:20.82. In the field events Charista Zehnder came in fifth in the long jump with a mark of 18'9". Swanson, Sutton, and Zehnder all earned All-American status.