DES MOINES, Iowa – Thirteen Bulldogs represented the top-ranked Concordia University Women’s Track & Field team at the annual Drake Relays on Friday (April 23). Among the highlights, the remarkable Rachel Battershell galloped to yet another individual national qualifying time while Liz Stottlemyre won the javelin competition and Addie Shaw turned in a season best in discus. Bulldog athletes were placed in the college division of their respective events, which included NAIA, NCAA Division II and III and junior college competitors.
Already a qualifier in the 100 and 400 meter hurdles, Battershell still had the open 400 meters to check off the list. The two-time 400 meter national champion outkicked all NAIA competitors with her time of 55.05 that placed her second behind Northwest Missouri State University’s Hiba Mahgoub (54.97). That time for Battershell represents an outdoor personal best that ranks No. 2 in school history. Battershell is the school record holder in the indoor 400 (54.77). Based on the national leaderboard entering the day, the Wheatland, Wyo., native is now No. 1 in the NAIA in the 400.
Stottlemyre has won every javelin competition she’s competed in as a Bulldog. She continued the trend on Friday with a toss of 142’ 8” at the Drake Relays. She beat out a field of 13 athletes in the event. Stottlemyre continues to lead the NAIA in the javelin (PR of 155’ 2”). Meanwhile, Shaw popped off a season best discus mark of 152’ (personal best in the event is 159’ 4”) and placed second out of 13 competitors in Des Moines.
In the pole vault, Josie Puelz (12’ 1 ½”) and Erin Mapson (11’ 7 ¾”) placed second and third, respectively. Both Bulldogs are ranked in the top five nationally and are coming off All-America indoor performances (Puelz won the national title).
Concordia had hopes of qualifying a number of relays for nationals this weekend at Drake. However, the women’s 4x100 and 4x800 meter relays came up short. In the 4x1, Emily Loy, Amira Cummings, Hannah Mulligan and Cora Olson collaborated on a time of 48.48 (11th place). The automatic standard in the 4x1 is 47.99. In the 4x8, the Bulldogs clocked in at 9:39.09 (seventh place) – roughly 15 seconds off the automatic standard. The 4x8 group included Rylee Haecker, Keri Bauer, Grace Reiman and Alyssa Fye.
Another 12 Concordia athletes will be in action at Drake on Saturday as Battershell joins her 4x400 meter relay teammates. The men will also enter the fray with NAIA national leader Jacob Cornelio (hammer) and the 4x400 meter relay jumping into competition.
Drake Relays live links: Video | Results
Saturday Schedule
Men’s Hammer Throw: Jacob Cornelio (8:00am, Saturday)
Women’s Hammer Throw: Adrianna Shaw, Sarah Ragland (9:45am, Saturday)
Women’s High Jump: Amy Richert (10:00am, Saturday)
Women’s 4x400m Relay: Keri Bauer, Sarah Lewis, Sydni Schernikau, Rachel Battershell (10:42am, Saturday)
Men’s 4x400m Relay: Cade Kleckner, Jacob Jennings, Henry Reimer, Colton Meyer (10:59am, Saturday)