RESULTS: Nisely Classic | Graduate Classic
CRETE, Neb. – More than a month had passed since the Concordia University track and field teams had begun the 2019-20 indoor season with the Concordia Early Bird Classic in mid-December. It was back to action this weekend with the majority of Bulldogs focusing their concentration upon the Scott Nisely Classic hosted by Doane on Saturday (Jan. 18). Thirteen Concordia athletes also competed on Friday at the Graduate Classic put on by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Head coach Matt Beisel’s squads emerged from Saturday with four individual event titles. Seven Bulldogs also claimed runner-up finishes in their respective events. Sophomore Rachel Battershell broke her own school record in the 60 meter hurdles and qualified for nationals in the event.
“Our kids are really dedicated and a majority of them got a lot of good work in over break,” Beisel said. “There were a number of them who had the flu and about five of our kids went on an academic tour of Europe. Every single program at every college is going through the same deal. We don’t want anyone to be crushed if they didn’t have the best day of their life. Our athletes lived up to expectations for the most part. We had some really big highlights.”
Before heading to Crete, two-time discus national champion Addie Shaw competed in the weight throw and was recognized as the college champion (only out-distanced by an unattached athlete) via her toss of 60’ 1 ¾” at the Graduate Classic. Shaw also came back on Saturday and turned in a season best of 46’ 6 ¼” in the shot put and placed second. In his only performance of the weekend, senior Jacob Cornelio placed fifth in the weight throw at the Graduate Classic with a mark of 61’ 7 ¾.”
A native of Wheatland, Wyo., Battershell has become a star for the Bulldogs. A two-time All-American in 2019 as part of the 4x400 meter relay, Battershell is hitting her stride in the hurdles. She clocked in at 9.00 flat (prelims) and went on to win the race at the Nisely Classic. She also placed first in the 600 meters with a finish in 1:39.28 (.58 seconds shy of the ‘B’ standard).
“Rachel is on a mission,” Beisel said. “She is very goal-oriented and very smart, incredibly intelligent. She’s a great student and was an eight-time state champion in high school … Her training in the fall was phenomenal and she’s a great leader by example.”
Additional Nisely event titles were claimed in both the men’s and women’s 400 meter races with Xavier Ross (50.31) and Jacee Pfeifer (1:00.49) rising to the top. Each of the following Concordia athletes also earned a runner-up placement: Morgan De Jong (weight throw), Sarah Lewis (60 meter hurdles), Colton Meyer (60 meter hurdles – ‘B’ standard), Camden Miller (400 meters), Cora Olson (triple jump) and Jerod Peters (shot put). The Bulldogs had the only women’s 4x800 meter relay in the meet and their men’s 4x8 placed second out of four relays.
In the pole vault, Allie Brooks and McKenzie Gravo both competed at the Graduate and Nisely Classics. Brooks managed to clear the ‘A’ standard again on Saturday, but her season best remains the 11’ 10 ½” clearance at the Early Bird. Also at Nebraska, Concordia entered Ethan Pankow in the mile, Alyssa Fye and Rebekah Hinrichs in the mile, four men in the 800 meters and standout freshmen Kylahn Heritage and Amie Martin ran the 3k. Of those efforts on the track, Christian Van Cleave’s 800 meter time of 1:59.11 (personal best) was most noteworthy.
Elsewhere on Saturday, Sarah Ragland notched a fresh ‘B’ standard in the weight throw while Andy Amos also eclipsed the ‘B’ mark on the men’s side. In addition to her second-place finish in the triple jump, Olson claimed third in the long jump. In the men’s pole vault, Gavin DeHaai cleared an ‘A’ standard again and Chase Berry vaulted over the ‘B’ mark. The Bulldogs did not compete in either of the 4x400 meter relays.
Beisel also sees progress in his crew of distance runners. Of course there’s plenty of talent on the women’s side coming off a GPAC cross country title. Hinrichs is the current GPAC leader in the 1,000 meters with Saturday’s time of 3:12.86. Said Beisel, “They all followed the plan very well. We had really good times.”
The Bulldogs will be back inside the Fieldhouse next Saturday (Jan. 25) to host the Polar Dog Invite. Concordia University, Irvine (coached by alum Keegan Bloomfield) will be on hand to compete against the Bulldogs. The tentative meet schedule can be viewed HERE.