USTFCCCA Rankings: Men | Women
SEWARD, Neb. – Concordia University Track & Field cracked the top 15 of the NAIA Outdoor National Rating Index released by the USTFCCCA on Wednesday (April 5). The Bulldog women landed at No. 9 while the men came in at No. 14. The ratings are based on marks reported to the NAIA national leaderboard, as produced by TFRRS. Head Coach Matt Beisel’s squads are back into full swing for outdoor season following 2023 NAIA indoor national place finishes of sixth on the women’s side and tied for 31st on the men’s side.
Meet No. 3 of the outdoor season is set for this Friday when Concordia will take part in the Central College Dutch Invitational. The first events are slated to get underway at 11 a.m. CT from Ron and Joyce Schipper Stadium in Pella, Iowa. More information on the meet can be found HERE.
The first full-scale meet of the ’23 outdoor campaign for the Bulldogs took place this past weekend at the Central Nebraska Challenge. The yields included five automatic national qualifying standards, three ‘B’ standards and five event championships (national marks listed below). For her national qualifying time of 1:02.71 in the 400 hurdles at the Central Nebraska Challenge, Jordan Koepke was named the GPAC Women’s Track Athlete of the Week. Koepke will combine with the likes of Rachel Battershell and Adrianna Rodencal on a strong hurdles crew.
‘A’ and ‘B’ standards through two meets
· Jenna Esch – B, 400 Meters (57.08)
· Jordan Koepke – A, 400 Hurdles (1:02.71)
· Ben Moll – B, Hammer Throw (178’)
· Hannah Newton – B, High Jump (5’ 5”)
· Josie Puelz – A, Pole Vault (12’ 1 ½”)
· Adrianna Rodencal – A, 100 Hurdles (14.40)
· Calvin Rohde – B, 1,500 Meters (3:54.98)
· Darien Semedo – A, Hammer Throw (184’ 4”)
· Zach Zohner – A, Pole Vault (16’ 5 ¼”)
Another major highlight of the Central Nebraska Challenge was the school record in the women’s 5,000-meter race walk clocked by Lauren Dawson, who ran 29:45.12. The previous standard had been 32:11.29 by Rachel Kettner in 2010. In addition, the pole vault crew figures to be one of the nation’s best. Josie Puelz and Zach Zohner have already qualified in the event with more likely to clinch their spots at nationals in upcoming meets.
Following the Easter weekend, the Bulldogs will look forward to hosting the Concordia Invitational (April 14-15). The tentative meet schedule can be found HERE.