The Concordia University track team had its first qualifiers for the 2009 NAIA outdoor nationals as a group of race walkers qualified this past weekend at the Central Methodist Open.
Chris Tegtmeier, Tom Stolee, Nathan Dreher, and Chris Dehning all qualified on the men's side. The quartet finished second, third, fourth and fifth respectively. Emily Hansen finished first on the women's side, and qualified for nationals with a time of 16:04.39 while Rachel Kettner finished fourth with a "B" standard qualification for nationals.
Earlier this year Chris Tegtmeier earned the honor of the being the 2008 men's recipient of the All Heppner Scholarship. The Al Heppner Memorial Fund was established in honor of Al Heppner, an outstanding athlete and journalist. An annual award is made from the Al Heppner Memorial Fund to young athletes who best meet the qualifications set by the Fund's protocol. Set up as an endowment fund, it provides a permanent vehicle for members of the race walking community to aid young race walkers.