Click here to view a video of the National Cross Country Meet races
The Concordia University cross country squads took part in the 2009 NAIA Cross Country Championships on Saturday in Vancouver, Wash. The Bulldog men finished second overall, while the women were 20th.
Malone University finished as the National Champion on the men’s side for the third year in a row with a team score of 44. Malone placed four runners in the top 20 overall. Concordia was second with 166 points. Dana Schmidt and Zach Meineke earned All-American honors to lead the way for the Bulldog men. Schmidt finished in seventh overall with a time of 25:25, and Meineke was right behind in eighth place at 25:26.
David Goeglein finished in 33rd overall with a time of 26:00, and Luka Thor was 50th at 26:15. Tyson Billings was 68th at 26:26, Jon Grotefendt was 72nd at 26:28 and Colin Morrissey was 75th with a time of 26:31.
“Our guys ran very well today,” said Kregg Einspahr, head coach of the Bulldogs. “Dana and Zach had tremendous races to finish as All-Americans. Luka Thor running fourth was big for us today. Malone University has a great squad. I’m just very proud of our guys. This National Runner-up finish is the seventh NAIA National Runner-up finish for our cross country and track programs. They really performed well.”
The Concordia women finished with a team score of 459 to finish 20th overall. It’s the 16th straight year that the Concordia women have finished in the top 20 at Nationals. Jena Schwalenberg finished in 36th with a time of 19:20 for the Bulldogs. Ann Hershberger was 91st at 20:05, and Dana Kluthe was 100th at 20:11. Other finishers for the Bulldogs included Rebecca Mol in 115th at 20:25, Alicia Marteney in 117th at 20:26, Emilie Bourret in 138th at 20:39 and Hannah Ferry in 181st at 21:28.
Photographs from the 2009 NAIA Cross Country National Championships, including the Friday evening festivities at Nike World Headquarters, are on-line and available for purchase. The photo galleries feature the Nike Dinner of Champions/National Awards Ceremony at Tiger Woods Center, the men’s and women’s races, and the post-meet awards ceremony. There is a 20% discount on all orders placed within two weeks of the event. The link is www.digidesignphoto.com. Just click on “Find Your Event,” then click “Sports,” then click “Cross Country.”
If you would like to purchase a souvenir program from the 2009 NAIA Cross Country National Championships held at the Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, please send a check for $7.50 to:
Cascade Collegiate Conference
13668 SE Sierra Drive
Clackamas, OR 97015 Concordia University cross country/track National Runner-up finishes
1989 - Women's Indoor Track
2000 - Men's Indoor Track
2000 - Women's Cross Country
2001 - Women's Cross Country
2002 - Women's Cross Country
2004 - Women's Cross Country
2009 - Men's Cross Country