SEWARD, Neb. – The indications of an impressive first few weeks of the 2019 indoor season are all around for the Concordia University track and field programs. On Wednesday (Jan. 30), three Bulldogs garnered GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports Track & Field Athlete of the Week awards. The honorees were Taylor Grove (women’s track), Josiah McAllister (men’s track) and Cody Williams (men’s field).
Head coach Matt Beisel’s program has monopolized the GPAC men’s track weekly award, winning the first three of 2019. Out of a possible 12 GPAC honors named so far this season, the Bulldogs have accounted for half of them.
Grove has not yet lost a race during the indoor season. One of the conference’s top distance runners, Grove placed first in the one mile (5:29.13) and 3,000 meter (10:52.74) runs at last week’s Concordia Classic. The native of Billings, Mont., currently sports GPAC rankings of first in both the 3,000 and 5,000 meters and third in the mile. She is the conference’s reigning champion in the outdoor 10,000 meters and is already qualified for the outdoor marathon at the national championships.
McAllister is a GPAC track athlete of the week for the second time in three weeks. He rose to No. 1 on the NAIA national list in the 1,000 meters by clocking in at 2:29.93 (10th fastest in school history). He is one of only two GPAC athletes qualified for nationals in the event. The Atkinson, Neb., native also ran the anchor leg of the Bulldog men’s 4x400 meter relay that last week finished in a national qualifying time of 3:20.04, good for first in the GPAC and fourth in the NAIA. McAllister is also currently listed at fifth in the mile on the GPAC list.
Williams is just beginning to reach his vast potential as a sophomore. A 2018 All-American in the heptathlon, the Imperial, Neb., native moved himself to No. 2 on the current NAIA list in the event by totaling 5,096 points in the event at the Concordia Classic. In the field competitions of the heptathlon, Williams took first at the Concordia Classic in the shot put, long jump, pole vault and high jump. In the pole vault, Williams cleared 15’ 9” and automatically qualified for nationals. He also ranks No. 1 in the GPAC in the 60 meter hurdles.
The Bulldogs will be back in action this weekend at the Sevigne Husker Invite (Feb. 1-2) and at the Fred Beile Invite (Feb. 2) hosted by Doane.
2019 GPAC athletes of the week
Jan. 30 – Taylor Grove (track); Josiah McAllister (track); Cody Williams (field)
Jan. 23 – Nathan Matters (track); *Addie Shaw (field)
Jan. 16 – Josiah McAllister (track)
*NAIA National Athlete of the Week