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26 Bulldogs officially announced as national qualifiers

NAIA Release

Twenty-six Concordia track and field athletes, including 15 men and 11 women, have officially been named qualifiers for the 2013 NAIA Indoor Track and Field National Championships (view list at bottom). The NAIA announced the complete field on Friday for the event, which is set to take place Feb. 28 – March 2 in Geneva, Ohio.

The Bulldogs’ list of qualifiers is headed by four GPAC champions on the men’s side and two on the women’s side. Senior Colin Morrissey, who qualified for nationals in three events, will focus on the 3,000 meters and could also aid the distance medley relay team in Geneva. Meanwhile, junior two-time All-American Jamie Crouse looks to add to her already stellar resume in the weight throw. Her season best toss of 59’ 3 ½” in the weight throw ranks third in the NAIA.

“I think we’ve got several competitors who can place in All-American territory,” head coach Kregg Einspahr said. “On the men’s side, I think Carson Farr in the pole vault and Colin Morrissey in the 3,000 meters both have an excellent chance to place in the top eight.

“On the women’s side, our strongest entrant would be Jamie Crouse in the weight throw. She sits very well on paper. She’s been throwing consistently well all season.”

Einspahr also expects strong performances from the likes of senior Jena Schwalenberg in the one mile, freshman Kim Wood in the 600 meters and from both men’s and women’s relay teams, the men’s 4x400 meter relay team in particular. The Bulldog 4x400 quartet of Taiheem Pleasant, Benjamin Hinckfoot, Jonathon Becker and Cartier took first place at the GPAC Championships.

The Bulldog women are notably loaded in the pole vault and throws competitions. Led by freshman Cynthia Mick, who has the 10th best pole vault mark in the NAIA this season, Concordia will travel three women’s vaulters to the national championships. Crouse is backed in the throws by freshman Stephanie Coley and sophomore Brittany Erdman, both of whom will have a shot to reach All-America status.

Of the 26 Concordia participants, just five are seniors, 10 are juniors, eight are sophomores and three are freshmen. Twelve of this year’s Bulldog entrants also competed in the 2012 NAIA Indoor Track and Field National Championships where Crouse and both men’s 4x400 and 4x800 meter relay teams captured All-America honors, among returning performers.

“We’ll see what happens. We’ll hopefully have some people step up,” Einspahr said. “There are many that are certainly capable. You just never know what to expect when you get to the national championships.”

For the first time ever, the entire national championships will be video-streamed live and free by the NAIA. For more information, click here.

 

2013 Concordia Indoor Track and Field National Qualifiers

*Current national rankings in parentheses

MEN

• Jonathon Becker, junior
  -60 meter hurdles (14th, 8.25)
  -4x400 meter relay (7th, 3:20.53

• Charlie Bloomfield, sophomore
  -4x800 meter relay (5th, 7:54.53)
  -Distance medley relay (18th, 10:23.93)

• John Cartier, junior
  -400 meter dash (5th, 49.15)
  -4x400 meter relay (7th, 3:20.53)

• Nathan Ernstmeyer, senior
  -Weight throw (20th, 55’ 1 ½”)

• Trey Farmer, sophomore
  -Shot put (17th, 50’ 11”)

• Carson Farr, junior
  -Pole vault (14th, 15’ 5 ½”)

• Alex Heiden, junior
  -4x400 meter relay (7th, 3:20.53)
  -Distance medley relay (18th, 10:23.93)

• Benjamin Hinckfoot, junior
  -4x400 meter relay (7th, 3:20.53)
  -4x800 meter relay (5th, 7:54.73)

• Jared Hoffman, senior
  -4x800 meter relay (5th, 7:54.73)
  -Distance medley relay (18th, 10:23.93)

• Andrew Malan, junior
  -4x400 meter relay (7th, 3:20.53)
  -4x800 meter relay (5th, 7:54.73)
  -Distance medley relay (18th, 10:23.93)

• Colin Morrissey, senior
  -3,000 meter run (7th, 8:31.84)
  -Distance medley relay (18th, 10:23.93)

• Taiheem Pleasant, sophomore
  -4x400 meter relay (7th, 3:20.53)

• Adam Prahlow, junior
  -4x800 meter relay (5th, 7:54.73)

• Jose Rojas, sophomore
  -Shot put (14th, 52’ 3 ¼”)

• Benjamin Sievert, sophomore
  -4x800 meter relay (5th, 7:54.73)
  -Distance medley relay (18th, 10:23.93)

WOMEN

• Ashlee Brown, senior
  -Pole vault (17th, 11’ 3”)

• Stephanie Coley, freshman
  -Shot put (9th, 45’ 5 ¾”)
  -Weight throw (11th, 54’ 6”)

• Jamie Crouse, junior
  -Shot put (18th, 42’ 10 ¼”)
  -Weight throw (3rd, 59’ 3 ½”)

• Brittany Erdmann, sophomore
  -Shot put (10th, 45’ 4 ½”)

• Megan Letts, junior
  -4x800 meter relay (3rd, 9:32.21)

• Cynthia Mick, freshman
  -Pole vault (10th, 11’ 7”)

• Erika Schroeder, sophomore
  -4x800 meter relay (3rd, 9:32.21)

• Jena Schwalenberg, senior
  -1 mile run (9th, 5:09.62)
  -4x800 meter relay (3rd, 9:32.21)

• Jenean Williams, junior
  -4x800 meter relay (3rd, 9:32.21)

• Kim Wood, freshman
  -600 meter run (5th, 1:35.64)
  -4x800 meter relay (3rd, 9:32.21)

• Shelby Yelden, sophomore
  -Pole vault (17th, 11’ 3”)

22 February 2013