HASTINGS, Neb. – The windy conditions have persisted during the springtime in Nebraska. On another blustery day, Concordia University, Nebraska Track & Field produced 12 event championships in competition at the Hastings Bronco Invite on Saturday (April 11). Notably, Emry Gutz and Jonny Jurchen improved their positions on the national performance lists. Jurchen continues to chase down the school outdoor record in the race walk. The opposition for the Bulldogs included the likes of Hastings, Midland, University of Nebraska-Kearney, Peru State College and York University.
Head Coach Matt Beisel’s nationally ranked squads (No. 7 for women; No. 22 for men) competed in their third largescale meet of the outdoor season. The Hastings Invite marked the first that took place on a Saturday.
“Although the temperatures were chilly and the wind was gusty, our Bulldog athletes came to take care of business,” Beisel said. “One of the biggest highlights overall was Emry Gutz hitting a big personal best in javelin, improving his current B mark significantly. Also for the men, Braxton Borer had a nice PR in the 110 hurdles while winning the event, Garett Durkop had an all-time best in the 400, Jonny Jurchen greatly improved his personal best in the race walk by over 40 seconds, and Byron Ostdiek threw a large PR in shot put to take first.
“For the women, Ashley Robertson produced one of the highlights with a 4:59.57 in the 1,500, her first time doing it, and placing second and moving her to sixth on the GPAC list. Addie Reimer had a personal best in long jump, and there were some other PRs as well.”
A junior from Salisbury, Mo., Gutz is the reigning GPAC champion in the javelin. His new personal best in the event now stands at 195’ 1” (outdistancing his mark of 193’ 9” from earlier this season). That toss placed him second at the Hastings Invite, less than two feet behind the first-place finisher. Concordia also had the runner up on the women’s side of the javelin in Emma Kucera (123’ 5”).
‘The Jet’ led the way among the Bulldogs’ Hastings Invite champions. A sophomore from Seward, Jurchen completed the 5,000-meter race walk in a personal best time of 21:44.43, roughly a minute off the school record held by national champion Chris Tegtmeier. Jurchen was followed in Saturday’s race by teammates Jack Habegger (23:39.88) and Luke Hammang (25:15.64). Collectively, they form the top-rated men’s race walk crew in the NAIA.
Other Hastings Invite event championships were won by Harper Boche (shot put; hammer), Braxton Borer (110-meter hurdles), Lucas Corwin (400 meters), Adysen McCarter (triple jump), Josi Noble (400-meter hurdles), Byron Ostdiek (shot put), Addie Reimer (long jump), Trey Robertson (1,500 meters), Adrianna Rodencal (100-meter hurdles) and Coooper Stokebrand (discus). The national champion Rodencal was just off her season best in the 100 hurdles, an event she currently leads throughout the NAIA. The throws crew accounted for four first-place claims. Ostdiek’s shot put PR landed at 48’ 5 ½.”
It was nearly a brother-sister sweep of the 1,500-meter races. Trey Robertson won on the men’s side in 4:10.66. His sister cracked five minutes (as noted by Beisel) and placed as the runner up. Other top five placers in the 1,500 included Justin Sherman (third) and Abram Chance (fifth) on the men’s side and Alison Stepanek (fifth) on the women’s side. Some Bulldogs were held out having also competed at the Concordia Invite early in the week.
Reimer’s personal best in the long jump came in at 16’ 8 ½.” She edged teammate Kennedee Canales (16’ 7 ¾”) for first place in the event. In other jumps, Myles Sadd placed second in the men’s high and long jumps and Xavier Marburger took third in the men’s triple jump. McCarter’s triple jump eclipsed the B standard (she owned an existing auto mark).
In the pole vault, Concordia’s top performers were Jax Jacobson, a fourth-place finisher (13’ 11 ¼”) on the men’s side, and Kayla Svoboda, a fifth-place finisher (10’ 7”) on the women’s side. Svoboda cleared 11’ 9” earlier in the week.
Another runner up, Kayla Kirchner ran the 400 meters in 1:01.85 and was closely followed by her sister Tayden (1:02.12). Kayla also placed sixth in the 100 meters. The Kirchners are typically part of multiple Bulldog relays. However, Concordia did not attempt any relays at the Hastings Invite.
Concluded Beisel, “Overall, the weather wasn’t pleasant, but we got some good things accomplished, and look forward to competing at Doane this coming week.”
National Qualifying standards achieved at Hastings Invite
· A – Jonny Jurchen: 5,000-meter race walk (21:44.43)
· A – Adrianna Rodencal: 100-meter hurdles (13.52)
· B – Emry Gutz: javelin (195’ 1”)
· B – Luke Hammang: 5,000-meter race walk (25:15.64)
· B – Jack Habegger: 5,000-meter race walk (23:39.88)
· B – Adysen McCarter: triple jump (38’ 9 ¾”)
Hastings Invite Champions
· Harper Boche: shot put (43’ ¼”); hammer (159’ 5”)
· Braxton Borer: 110-meter hurdles (15.12)
· Lucas Corwin: 400 meters (50.51)
· Jonny Jurchen: 5,000-meter race walk (21:44.43)
· Adysen McCarter: triple jump (38’ 9 ¾”)
· Josi Noble: 400-meter hurdles (1:05.90)
· Byron Ostdiek: shot put (48’ 5 ½”)
· Addie Reimer: long jump (16’ 8 ½”)
· Trey Robertson: 1,500 meters (4:10.66)
· Adrianna Rodencal: 100-meter hurdles (13.52)
· Cooper Stokebrand: discus (156’ 5”)
Next up, the Bulldogs will head to Doane for the first time this outdoor season. The Dutcher Memorial will play out April 16-18 on the Doane campus. The first day of action is dedicated to the multi events. The remaining slate prior to the GPAC Championships also includes the Nebraska Wesleyan Invite (April 23) and the Drake Relays (April 23-25).