2008 - Cross Country schedule
SEPTEMBER | ||
Sept. 13 | Blue White Alumni Meet | Seward, Neb. |
Sept. 20 | Woody Greeno | Lincoln, Neb. |
Sept. 27 | Griak Invitational | St. Paul, Minn. |
OCTOBER | ||
Oct. 11 | Briar Cliff Invite | McCook Lake, S.D. |
Oct. 18 | Hastings College Invite | Hastings, Neb. |
Oct. 25 | South Dakota Invite | Vermillion, S.D. |
NOVEMBER | ||
Nov. 8 | GPAC Championships | Hastings, Neb. |
Nov. 22 | NAIA National Championships | Kenosha, Wisc. |
2008 - Cross Country roster
Men:
Name | Yr. | Hometown | Previous School |
Zach Baedke | Jr. | Fremont, Neb. | Fremont HS |
Travis Besel | Fr. | Denver, Colo. | Denver Lutheran HS |
Tyson Billings | So. | Valentine, Neb. | Valentine HS |
Keegan Bloomfield | Jr. | Blair, Neb. | Blair HS |
Chris Dehning | Sr. | Lincoln, Neb. | Memorial HS (McAllen TX) |
Caleb Egger | So. | Galva, Iowa | Galva-Holstein HS |
Bryan Felker | Sr. | O'Neill, Neb. | O'Neill HS |
David Goeglein | Jr. | Kansas City, Kan. | K.C. Lutheran HS |
Zane Grabau | Jr. | Waterville Minn. | W-E-M HS |
Ricky Gross | So. | Riverside, Calif. | John North HS |
Jon Grotefendt | Jr. | Edwardsville, Ill. | Metro East Luth HS |
Daniel Klinge | Fr. | Dubuque, Iowa | Homeschool |
Aaron Kortze | So. | Rockford, Ill. | Rockford Luth HS |
Matt Kuske | Fr. | Green Bay, Wisc. | Green Bay Luth HS |
Zach Meineke | Jr. | Denver, Colo. | Denver Lutheran HS |
Joshua Meyer | Jr. | Seward, Neb. | Seward HS |
Colin Morrissey | Fr. | Omaha, Neb. | Millard South HS |
Aaron Prahlow | Fr. | St. Louis, Mo. | Lutheran North HS |
Michael Saalfeld | Jr. | David City, Neb. | Aquinas HS |
Kevin Schinck | Fr. | Craig, Neb. | Oakland-Craig HS |
Steven Schultz | So. | Fremont, Neb. | Fremont HS |
Scott Schwalenberg | Jr. | Columbus, Neb. | Columbus HS |
Chris Tegtmeier | Jr. | Jansen, Neb. | Fairbury HS |
Luka Thor | Jr. | Lincoln, Neb. | Lincoln NE HS |
Matt Trampe | Fr. | Kearney, Neb. | Kearney HS |
Jordan Tucker | Sr. | Omaha, Neb. | Millard West HS |
Alden Wignall | Fr. | Glenwood, Iowa | Glenwood HS |
Women:
Name | Yr. | Hometown | Previous School |
MaryLou Andrews | Jr. | Aurora, Neb. | Aurora HS |
Emilie Bourret | So. | Potter, Neb. | Potter-Dix HS |
Kayla Engel | Sr. | Columbus, Neb. | Scotus HS |
Taylor Felix | Jr. | Seward, Neb. | Seward HS |
Hannah Ferry | Jr. | Milwaukee, Wisc. | Milwaukee Lutheran HS |
Rachelle Gross | Fr. | Riverside, Calif. | John North HS |
Brittany Hatchell | Fr. | Las Vegas, Neb. | Faith Lutheran HS |
Ann Hershberger | Jr. | Superior, Neb. | Superior HS |
Toni Hulinsky | Fr. | Bayard, Neb. | Bayard HS |
Katie Lutmer | So. | Omaha, Neb. | Westside HS |
Alicia Marteney | So. | Pawnee City, Neb. | Pawnee City HS |
Martha Meineke | Fr. | Denver, Colo. | Denver Lutheran HS |
Anna Meyer | Fr. | Seward, Neb. | Seward HS |
Rebecca Mol | Jr. | Flint, Mich. | Kearsley HS |
Bethany Sutton | Fr. | Lincoln, Neb. | Lincoln Christian HS |
Katie Swanson | Sr. | Columbus, Neb. | Scotus HS |
Jacque Wiseman | Sr. | La Grande, Ore. | La Grande HS |
Rachel Woodburn | Sr. | York, Neb. | York HS |
2008 - Cross Country coaching staff
Head coach: Kregg Einspahr
Assistant coach: Suzanne Weeder-Einspahr
Bulldogs have strong showing at Roy Griak
27 SEP 2008
The Concordia University cross country team had an outstanding weekend competing in the Roy Griak Invitational in Minneapolis, Minn.
The Bulldog men finished fifth overall and just 35 points behind the winner of the men, Drury College. The Bulldogs finished just behind Minnesota State Mankato, a team reanked 6th in NCAA Division II, and finished better Black Hills State, ranked No. 2 in the NAIA.
Luka Thor was the top finisher for the Bulldogs, coming in fifth place overall with a time of 25:34 while Zach Meineke finished 10th overall with a time of 25:53. All the Bulldogs' top four runners finished in the top 50 as David Goeglein came in 24th and Jordan Tucker came in 46th.
"Jordan had a much better race to finish as our number four runner," said head coach Dr. Kregg Einspahr. "This was an outstanding competition with many ranked NAIA and NCAA Div. II teams in the field. The weather and course conditions couldn't have been better."
The Concordia women finished the race in seventh place overall as the Bulldogs finished just behind NAIA nationally ranked No. 8 Black Hills State and just in front of No. 12 Indiana Wesleyan.
The top individual finisher for the Bulldogs was Alicia Marteney with a time of 23:49, good enough for 24th place overall. Taylor Felix finished just behind Marteney in 29th place with a time of 24:02 while Katie Swanson earned a 35th place finish.
"We have shown that we have excellent depth," continued Einspahr. "We have had different runners finish in different positions in these first two meets. It's nice to know that we have different runners capable of stepping into different roles on any given day."
The Bulldogs will take the next weekend off to prepare for the Briar Cliff Invite on Saturday, Oct. 11, in Sioux City, Iowa.
Thor earns GPAC honor
Luka Thor was recognized as the Hauff Mid-America Sports/Great Plains Athletic Conference Men's Cross Country Runner of the Week.
Thor, a junior from Lincoln, Neb., was the top GPAC finisher at the Woody Greeno Invite on Saturday in Lincoln. His time of 25:27.9 at Pioneers Park was good enough for seventh place overall individually in the 25-team field. Thor's efforts also helped the Bulldog men's team to place third in the meet's college division.
"Luka had an excellent race and a promising start to his season," said Dr. Kregg Einspahr, head coach for the Bulldogs.
The men's cross country team will be in action this weekend in St. Paul, Minn., at the Roy Griak Invitational, a meet hosted by the University of Minnesota.
Grotefendt leads Bulldogs at Briar Cliff
11 OCT 2008
The Concordia University cross country teams showed their depth Saturday afternoon at the Briar Cliff invite in Sioux City, Iowa.
The men, who rested seven of their top eight runners, still defeated all teams in the field as Jon Grotefendt was the top Bulldog finisher in 9th place with a time of 26:52.72. Grotefendt, the only "usual suspect" running for the Bulldogs, used the meet to gain confidence on an easier course.
"Coach (Einspahr) wanted me have a good race on an easier course since I struggled a little bit at the bigger meets (Griak and Greeno)," said Grotefendt.
The Bulldogs other notable finishers in the meet were Scott Schwalenberg in 14th, Matt Trampe in 17th, Aaron Kortze in 21st, and Michael Saalfeld in the 23rd spot.
As a team the Bulldogs scored 68 points, defeating Dordt with 72 points and Morningside with 104 points.
The women also rested many of their top runners, finishing third as a team. The top finisher for the women was Katie Lutmer who finished 5th with a time of 19:03.77. Anna Meyer also had a top ten finish in 8th place.
The next meet for both the men and women will be Saturday, Oct. 18, as the Bulldogs head to Hastings, Neb., to take part in the Hastings College Invitational.
Bulldogs dominate at Bronco Invitational
18 OCT 2008
The Concordia University, Nebraska cross country teams had a winning weekend as both teams took first at the Bronco Invitational hosted Saturday afternoon by Hastings College. The meet served as a mid-season preview of the GPAC Championships that will also be held in Hastings, Neb., on Nov. 8.
The Bulldog men were victorious by 29 points over 2nd place Doane College. The tandem of Luka Thor and Zach Meineke finished 1st and 2nd with times of 26:18.5 and 26:30.4. The next three Bulldog runners - Tyson Billings, Bryan Felker and David Goeglein - finished 6th, 7th, and 14th respectively.
The Concordia women also were victorious over rival Doane. The Bulldogs scored 39 points to the Tigers' 57. The Concordia runners finished as a pack in 5th, 6th, 8th, 9th, and 11th places to take the team title. Ann Hershberger was the Bulldogs' top finisher with a time of 19:12.20 and Jacque Wiseman finishing just behind Hershberger with a time of 19:15.4. Katie Swanson, Taylor Felix and Katie Lutmer were the next top finishers for Concordia.
The Bulldogs will next travel to Vermillion, S.D., to take part in the South Dakota Invite hosted by the University of South Dakota on Saturday, Oct. 25.
Men capture team title in S.D., women finish fourth
25 OCT 2008
The Concordia University, Nebraska men's cross country team continued its dominance on the 2008 season, winning the team title at the 15th annual Graphic Edge Cross Country Invitational in Vermillion, S.D., Saturday afternoon.
The Bulldog men took the team title by scoring just 34 points, besting second-place Black Hills State who amassed 62 points on the afternoon.
Concordia was led by the dynamic duo of Luka Thor and Zach Meineke who finished second and third place respectively. Thor, who finished with a time of 25:29.81, was nosed out at the line by BHSU's Cody Bordewyk who crossed the finish line with a time of 25:29.12 while Meineke finished at 25:43.53.
The Bulldogs dominance has been helped by strong performances from the 3-4-5 runners: Bryan Felker, Tyson Billings and Jordan Tucker. Felker finished just behind the lead pack in sixth place with a time of 26:24.91 while Billings finished 10th with a time of 26:33.37. Tucker, who crossed the line at 26:51.48, helped the Bulldogs secure the runaway victory with a 17th place finish.
The Concordia women had a strong day. They finished fourth in the team standings with 114 points, 62 points behind the first place University of South Dakota. The top Bulldog runners finished as a pack with Annie Hershberger leading the way in 18th place while Alicia Marteney and Taylor Felix finished just behind her in 20th and 21st place, respectively.
The Bulldogs will take the next weekend off to rest up for the Great Plains Athletic Conference championships that take place in Hastings, Neb., on Nov. 8.
Bulldogs earn national championship berth, Meineke medals
8 NOV 2008
Concordia University, Nebraska's Zach Meineke was the individual medalist Saturday at the 2008 Great Plains Athletic Conference Men's Cross Country Championships in Hastings, Neb. Teammate Luka Thor followed shortly afterward to earn second.
As a team, however, the Bulldogs were edged out by one point for the championship by Nebraska Wesleyan University. Nebraska Wesleyan scored 38 points, Concordia had 39, and Doane was third with 105 points. The chilly 8K race was run at the Elks Country Club in 32-degree weather and a 20 mile per hour wind.
Concordia and Doane, as the top two NAIA finishers, qualified for the NAIA national championship race in Kenosha, Wis., Saturday, Nov. 22. Nebraska Wesleyan competes as NCAA Division III for its postseason. This will be the Concordia men's seventh consecutive trip to run at nationals.
The top 15 runners in the GPAC race are considered all-conference. Beside Meineke and Thor, Bulldog runners Tyson Billings and Bryan Felker made the all-conference list.
On the women's side, Concordia runners Alicia Marteney finished 13th and Anne Hershberger placed 15th to lead the Bulldogs to a second place team finish. Dordt College's Jen Kempers was the individual medalist and Nebraska Wesleyan was the team champion.
Nebraska Wesleyan's victory came decisively with 65 points. The race for second place was much closer, however, with Concordia finishing just two points better than Doane, 89 to 91.
The women's teams of Concordia and Doane will see each other again at Kenosha in the NAIA national championship race. This will be the Bulldog women's 15th consecutive trip to nationals.
Men sixth at NAIA Championship, Meineke All-American
22 NOV 2008
The Concordia University, Nebraska men's cross country team finished in sixth place at the NAIA Men's Cross Country National Championship held Saturday, Nov. 22, at Dr. Wayne E. Dannehl Cross Country Course in Kenosha, Wis.
The sixth-place finish by the Bulldog men ties the highest finish ever by a Concordia team at nationals.
Taking the title for the second straight season was Malone (Ohio). Malone placed three runners in the top-10 and posted a score of 61 points while Azusa Pacific took second with 118 points.
Other schools that finished ahead of the Bulldogs included Aquinas (Mich.) in third place (194 points) and Southern Oregon in fourth (197 points). Indiana Tech's fifth-place finish (245 points) edged the Bulldogs by just four points, as Concordia totaled 249.
Individually the Bulldogs were led by junior Zach Meineke who took 17th place overall with a time of 24:57.8. Meineke, who was coming off a GPAC championship in his last race, earned All-America status for his efforts in Kenosha.
Luka Thor was the next Concordia runner to cross the finish line, taking 43rd place overall (25:33.0). Rounding out the top-five runners for the Bulldogs were Tyson Billings (57th - 25:39.9), Bryan Felker (93rd - 25:58.5) and David Goeglein (126th - 26:19.1).
The women's team for Concordia finished 17th, keeping a streak of top-20 team finishes intact.
The Concordia women were paced by Katie Swanson who was 71st overall with a time of 18:47. Alicia Marteney was the second runner to cross the tape for the Bulldogs, covering the course in 19:09 for 113th place.
Bulldog pair earn GPAC honor
Concordia's Alicia Marteney is this week's GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports Women's Cross Country Runner-of-the-Week. Marteney, a sophomore from Pawnee City, Nebraska, placed 24th in the University of Minnesota Roy Griak Invite on Saturday. Her time on the 6K course (NCAA women's length) was 24:48 . The Concordia women placed 7th in the meet and defeated #12 Indiana Wesleyan. There were 257 runners in the race at the Twin Cities.
Concordia's Zach Meineke is this week's GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports Men's Cross Country Runner-of-the-Week. Meineke, a junior from Denver, Colorado, ran a personal best time of 25:52 on the 8K course at the Roy Griak Invite. The Bulldog men placed 5th in the meet and defeated #2 Black Hills State. There was 256 runners in the race.
Thor earns another GPAC honor
Concordia's Luka Thor is this week's GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports Men's Cross Country Runner-of-the-Week. Thor, a junior from Lincoln, Nebraska, was the medalist in the Hastings Invite with a time of 26:18.5 on the 8K course at the Elks Country Club. Hastings will host the 2008 GPAC Cross Country Championships on the same course on Saturday, November 8. Hauff Mid-America Sports is the presenting sponsor of the 2008-2009 GPAC Players-of-the-Week and Players and Coaches-of-the-Year awards program.