Concordia wraps up regular outdoor season at Twilight Meet
The Concordia University, Nebraska, outdoor track team wrapped up its 2012 regulars season by hosting the Twilight Meet on Friday, May 11.
Concordia collected two new automatic qualifiers for the NAIA National Championships and individual victories in three events: the Men's 4x400 Meter Relay, the Men's 400 Meter Hurdles and the Women's 10,000 Meter Run.
Concordia's earned an individual win came in the women's 10,000 Meter Run as junior Sarah Kortze (Rockford, Ill.) with a time of 37:19.95. Kortz's performance earned her a trip to the NAIA National Championships, eclipsing the minimum time of 37:30.00. Kortz also set a new school record, surpassing the mark set by Amy Luft in 1998 of 37:30.
Joining Kortze at the national competition will be junior Katie Rich (Tilden, Neb.). Rich's 48 ft. 2 inches shot put toss surpassed the qualifying standard of 44 ft. 3.49 inches. Rich placed second overall in the shot put on Friday.
Rich's toss is the second longest shot put of the 2012 NAIA season, less than an inch behind Jennifer Maag of Hastings. Maag's 48 ft. 2.5 inch hurl is the nation's best and won the event. Concordia freshman Brittany Erdmann (Chanhassen, Minn.) placed third overall in the event at 47 ft. 6.5 inches. That toss is the fourth longest in 2012, sitting behind teammate senior Lauren Eickemeyer (Houston, Texas). Eickemeyer's season best of 48 ft, 0.5 inches, came at the GPAC Champsionships last weekend.
The team of sophomores Jonathon Becker (Hartington, Neb.), Benjamin Hinckfoot (Colorado Springs, Colo.), Alex Heiden (Lincoln, Neb.), and John Cartier (Las Vegas, Nev.) took the 4x400 Meter Relay in a time of 3:16.45.
Moments later, Hinckfoot earned a win in the 400 Meter Hurdles with a time of 55.10.
Concordia will conclude the 2012 season at the NAIA National Championships from May 24-26 in Marion, Ind. Indiana Wesleyan will host the event.
