RESULTS: Beile Classic | Husker Invite
CRETE/LINCOLN, Neb. – It was a day (Feb. 7) filled with activity for the Concordia University track and field programs, which sport national rankings of second on the women’s side and fourth on the men’s side. Many elite Bulldog athletes found their way to the Devaney Center, site of the Frank Sevigne Husker Invite. Meanwhile, the majority of Concordia competitors were on hand at the Fred Beile Classic hosted by Doane.
Some highlights for head coach Matt Beisel’s squads included new personal bests for both sophomore Rachel Battershell and senior Allie Brooks at the Husker Invite. While rubbing elbows with NCAA Division I opponents, Concordia track and field continues to prove itself capable of competing at any level of collegiate athletics.
Brooks quickly showed that last week was no fluke. She again cleared 13 feet in the pole vault in breaking her own school record by getting over 13’ ¾.” Four other competitors cleared that same height. Brooks ultimately placed second after a jump off. Freshman Josie Puelz also made her way to the big stage and vaulted a personal best of 12’ 6 ¾” and placed seventh. Books and Puelz entered the weekend ranked first and third, respectively, on the NAIA pole vault leaderboard.
The current NAIA national leader in the 400 meters, Battershell shaved .17 seconds off her PR by clocking a time of 56.23 seconds on the banked track in Lincoln. The native of Wheatland, Wyo., placed 12th out of 47 runners who completed the race. The only individuals to outrun her compete for either NCAA Division I schools or junior colleges. Teammates in sophomores Sarah Lewis (1:00.31) and Jacee Pfeifer (1:00.43) also ran the 400. Lewis (9.11) and Battershell (9.25) also ran the 60 meter hurdles. The time for Lewis represented a personal best.
The Bulldogs entered four athletes into the weight throw, including NAIA national leader Jacob Cornelio, as well as Morgan De Jong, Sarah Ragland and Addie Shaw. Each of those long tossers had already qualified for nationals, but De Jong managed to raise her level with a major personal best of 57’ 9.” Shaw (61’ 5”) placed second and Cornelio (65’ 4 ¾”) placed fourth while both came close to season bests. According to the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA), Concordia boasts the top women’s weight throw group in the NAIA.
The night finished up for the Bulldogs with sophomore Xavier Ross (49.92) and freshman Camden Miller (51.67) pacing the Devaney track. Ross came up short of his personal best of 49.03 that currently ranks No. 4 on the national list.
Meanwhile in Crete, McKenzie Gravo added her name to the list of automatic qualifiers in the pole vault by clearing 11’ 6 ½” (second place). Gravo joins fellow qualifiers Brooks and Puelz for a pole vault group also rated No. 1 in the NAIA. Additionally, Tristen Metzger turned in a fresh ‘B’ standard in the pole vault.
Also in the field events at the Beile Classic, Liam Hennessy hit a ‘B’ mark of 51’ 3” in the shot put and placed second while also again surpassing the ‘A’ standard in the weight throw. In the women’s triple jump, Taylor Moes and Cora Olson placed one-two. Olson also landed second in the long jump while Wyatt Loga was the high jump runner up.
While a bit off the national radar, several performers on the track clocked solid times. Wyatt Lehr (9:22.09) and Camden Sesna (9:27.70 placed fourth and fifth, respectively, in the 3,000 meters. On the women’s side, Lydia Cook clocked in at 11:29.24 in the 3,000 and Sydney Clark finished in 20:25.36 in the 5,000.
The majority of Bulldog athletes will have Saturday off from competition. However, 15 standouts will represent Concordia as the Husker Invite continues at 12 p.m. on Saturday. Below is a list of Bulldog competitors who will compete in Lincoln.
Saturday competitors at Husker Invite
12 p.m. Men’s Triple Jump – Taylor Beck
12 p.m. Women’s Mile Run – Alyssa Fye, Rebekah Hinrichs, Kylahn Heritage
2 p.m. Men’s Pole Vault – Chase Berry, Gavin DeHaai
2:15 p.m. Women’s Shot Put – Addie Shaw
4:15 p.m. Women’s 4x400m Relay – Jacee Pfeifer, Sarah Lewis, Kennedy Mogul, Rachel Battershell
4:35 p.m. Men’s 4x400m Relay – Xavier Ross, Camden Miller, Colton Meyer, Henry Reimer