SEWARD, Neb. – In its first meet in more than a month, Concordia University Track & Field will take part in Saturday’s Scott Nisely Memorial Classic hosted by Doane. Fuhrer Fieldhouse in Crete, Neb., will serve as the venue for the meet. The Tigers also put on the Ward Haylett Invite last week. Head Coach Matt Beisel’s program has not competed since hosting the Bulldog Early Bird Meet back on Dec. 4-5.
Fans will not be permitted at any indoor track meets this season, consistent with GPAC mandates. For live coverage of the Nisely Classic, please visit Doane's broadcast page here: http://www.doaneathletics.com/broadcast-events. Updates will also be provided via the @cunebulldogs Twitter account.
Back at the Early Bird Meet, Concordia athletes combined for nine automatic national qualifying marks, nine ‘B’ standard marks and five multi-event performances that met the minimum national qualifying standard. However, it should be noted that the 2021 NAIA Indoor Track & Field National Championship will be limiting the qualifying field due to COVID-19 protocols. Thus, only the top 16 athletes in each event will be invited to compete at the national meet.
The list of Bulldogs who claimed automatic qualifying marks at the Early Bird meet included Anna Baack (pole vault), Rachel Battershell (400 meters), Jamey Broman (long jump), Morgan De Jong (weight throw), Sarah Lewis (60 hurdles), Colton Meyer (60 hurdles), Josie Puelz (pole vault), Xavier Ross (400 meters) and Katie Severt (long jump). Each of these athletes must remain among the top 16 of the NAIA in their respective events in order to officially lock up a spot to nationals.
Beisel’s full-time staff now includes alum Benjamin Hinckfoot (seven-time NAIA All-American), who officially started on the job just after New Year’s. Hinckfoot takes over the assistant coaching role vacated by Wayne Earney. Hinckfoot will work most closely with jumps and multi-event athletes.
The Bulldogs will appear at home again on Friday, Jan. 22 when they host the Concordia Polar Dog Invite. The tentative meet schedule can be viewed HERE.