NORTH SIOUX CITY, S.D. – The scenic Adams Homestead & Nature Preserve provided the backdrop for the third meet of the 2025 season for Concordia University, Nebraska Cross Country. When the dust settled on Saturday (Oct. 4) morning from blustery North Sioux City, S.D., the Bulldogs finished with team placements of fourth out of nine on the men’s side and sixth out of seven on the women’s side. GPAC squads such as Briar Cliff and Mount Marty (women) competed individuals only as part of a field that numbered nearly 150 men and more than 100 women.
Head Coach Matt Beisel’s teams were paced individually by familiar leaders in junior Trey Robertson and sophomore Keeli Green. The Briar Cliff Invite began with the men’s 8k and concluded with the women’s 6k race. Concordia was the defending men’s and women’s Briar Cliff Invite champion. However, this year’s meet included NCAA Division I teams in Creighton University and the University of South Dakota.
“We didn’t get everything we wanted, but we had a good meet,” Beisel said. “It was really windy. There was a stretch where everybody ran into a headwind for probably about a mile and a half or more. That affected times. I told our athletes, ‘I know we have what it takes.’ We have a good week of training ahead and a good competitive field coming up at Dordt. Whatever the outcome, thanks be to God. He gets all the glory for everything that we do. We trust His timing and His plans, and we’re going to keep doing our part.”
Men’s Summary
The Briar Cliff Invite marked the second 8k race of the season for the Bulldogs. They beat out the majority of GPAC/NAIA competition with their fourth-place overall claim. The top three finishers were South Dakota, Creighton and NAIA 25th-ranked Dordt. Concordia placed in front of Northwestern, Dakota State University (S.D.), Morningside, Mount Marty and Southeast Community College.
“Our priority was to beat Dordt, the one ranked NAIA team there, and we came up seven points short,” Beisel said. “That was with Vaughn Hendrickson not having his best day. We wanted to run better – and we can run better – but we were really close. I know our guys weren’t happy with how fast they ran. All things considered, we were within reach of Dordt. I feel really good about where we are today.”
Top Dawgs | 8K
9. Trey Robertson: 25:50.34
21. Aidan Limback: 26:27.60
25. Abe Chance: 26:33.22
37. Keith Siek: 27:05.51
38. Justin Sherman: 27:05.67
40. Trevor Kuncl: 27:09.25
41. Ransom Watts: 27:10.02
51. Charlie Evans: 27:30.15
67. Jessup Pederson: 28:01.56
72. Tom Shafer: 28:14.44
A Wallace, Neb., native, Robertson has emerged as the Bulldogs’ top runner at all three meets this season. After running the 8k in 25:42.04 on Sept. 20 at the Greeno/Dirksen Invite, Robertson clocked in at 25:50.34 on Saturday. He placed ninth overall out of 149 competitors. In following Robertson, junior Aidan Limback of West Des Moines, Iowa, continued a strong fall as he ran 26:27.60 and placed 21st at the Briar Cliff Invite. The rest of the team’s top five featured freshmen Abe Chance (26:33.22) and Keith Siek (27:05.51) and junior Justin Sherman (27:05.67).
Each of Concordia’s top eight finishers placed in the top 51 of the overall leaderboard. The six through 10 spots in the lineup were held down by senior Trevor Kuncl (27:09.25), junior Ransom Watts (27:10.02), freshman Charlie Evans (27:30.15), sophomore Jessup Pederson (28:01.56) and freshman Tom Shafer (28:14.44). In sum, there were 28 Bulldogs who completed the 8k course. Concordia entered the meet ranked third in the official GPAC ratings.
Women’s Summary
The Briar Cliff Invite represented the first 6k race of the season for the Concordia women, who ran 5k races at the Augustana Twilight and Greeno/Dirksen Invite. At the Briar Cliff Invite, the Bulldogs trailed South Dakota, Creighton, NAIA No. 9 Dordt, Morningside and Dakota State in the team standings. Concordia outkicked conference rival Northwestern. In contributing to a field of fierce competition, Morningside and Dakota State were situated just outside of the top 25 of the latest NAIA poll.
“There were three ranked (or receiving votes) teams,” Beisel said. “We knew Dordt was going to be really strong, but we wanted to see if we could take down Dakota State and Morningside. We came up with in a few points of both of them. Our women were able to put together a pretty strong race. We had 10 freshmen women who had not run a 6k before, and they ran really, really well. They learned what it was about and will have the ability to run faster next time.”
Top Dawgs | 6K
9. Keeli Green: 22:00.31
36. Annaka Schlachter: 23:56.43
37. Alison Stepanek: 23:57.22
43. Ashley Robertson: 24:24.45
49. Rachel Harris: 24:37.93
50. Macee Ripke: 24:39.71
53. Hannah Beintema: 24:46.59
60. Izzi Brumbaugh: 24:54.14
61. Lilly Dall: 24:58.89
64. Lydia Edmonds: 25:07.57
Following a year off from collegiate running, the Arlington, Neb., native Green is establishing herself as one of the GPAC’s best runners. Her first 6k time of the season settled at 22:00.31, putting her in ninth place in the Briar Cliff Invite field of 111 on the women’s side. Green finished behind only South Dakota and Creighton runners and placed just in front of Dordt’s Joy Koole and Jessica Opfer as the top GPAC/NAIA athlete in the meet. Behind Green, young Bulldogs continue to make positive strides. Sophomores Annaka Schlachter (23:56.43) and Alison Stepanek (23:57.22) ran tightly with each other and placed in the top 40 overall. The Concordia top five was rounded out by freshmen Ashley Robertson (24:24.45) and Rachel Harris (24:37.93).
Concordia University Ann Arbor transfer Macee Ripke placed just behind Harris and ran 24:39.71. A past GPAC All-Conference runner, senior Hannah Beintema achieved a breakthrough and was the team’s No. 7 runner (24:46.59). The seven through 10 finishers were freshmen Izzi Brumbaugh (24:54.14) and Lilly Dall (24:58.89) and sophomore Lydia Edmonds (25:07.57). A national qualifier and all-conference runner last season, senior Keegan Beisel returned to action and ran 26:27.84. In total, there were 18 Bulldogs that ran at the Briar Cliff Invite. Concordia received votes in the latest NAIA coaches’ poll.
Up next
The Bulldogs will be right back in action next Saturday (Oct. 11) for the Holiday Inn Express Classic hosted by Dordt. The meet is slated to get started at 9:30 a.m. CT from the Dordt campus in Sioux Center, Iowa.