SEWARD, Neb. – Concordia University, Nebraska has become a hub for the racewalk. In recent weeks, the Walz Fieldhouse has welcomed defending NAIA racewalk national champions for both men and women. On Saturday (Feb. 14), Jonny ‘The Jet’ Jurchen soared to No. 1 on this season’s NAIA national list while leading a trio of Bulldog national qualifying racewalkers at the Concordia Indoor Invitational. The fourth and final home meet of the 2025-26 indoor season featured athletes from seven institutions.
There were plenty of other highlights for Head Coach Matt Beisel’s nationally ranked squads. Among them, Makenna Starkey equaled the school women’s high jump record, Evan Hill and Jax Jacobson put themselves in national qualifying position in the pole vault and Bulldog athletes combined to win 12 Concordia Invite championships. Of course, Adrianna Rodencal ran and hurdled fast as usual.
“I think we had a large percentage of the team that accomplished some really good stuff pertaining to national qualifying and marks that will get them in a good heat or flight at conference,” Beisel said. “We also had some nice personal bests. A lot of good things happened in a lot of different event areas from what I watched and observed … Overall, there was a lot of enthusiasm and a lot of excitement. I’m just really grateful to God for this last chance to compete in our home facility before conference.”
Jurchen’s NAIA leading 3,000-meter racewalk time registered at 12:19.55 on Saturday. The Seward native finished roughly 11 seconds ahead of his personal best achieved at the Bulldog Early Bird and was less than four seconds shy of the school record by Chris Tegtmeier. Also in the racewalk, Sam Habegger (13:15.27) and Luke Hammang (13:34.94) came through with personal bests that place them in the current top 10 of the NAIA. It was quite a way to begin the day on the track.
Said Jurchen in reaction, “Definitely better than I expected. I started out the season kind of at that 13 (-minute) range. I dipped a little bit lower the first meet and hit a little bit of a block. I was walking some slower times, but I was really happy with the way that the meet went. I definitely paced a lot better than I have in other meets.”
A freshman who contributed to the volleyball team’s run to the national semifinals, Starkey has locked herself into the national qualifying field after she cleared 5’ 7” in the high jump on Saturday. That mark equaled the school record of 5’ 7” achieved by Allie Brooks in 2017. Starkey has elevated into the top five of the NAIA national list.
Said Starkey, “It was definitely exciting. I was starting to get the lower bars more consistently, so I think I was definitely due … The transition (from volleyball) went really smoothly. The coaches are so flexible, so that makes life really easy. It’s really nice to be able to compete in both.”
There was nothing pressing about this particular meet for Rodencal, but a competitor like her doesn’t miss out on a chance to compete. In the prelims of Saturday’s 60 hurdles, the Lincoln Lutheran alum ran 8.36 for a new Fieldhouse record. She won that event (8.65 in the finals) and also produced a new personal best by clocking in with an NAIA auto standard of 56.99 in the 400 meters (second place). Rodencal and the coaches will now make a gameplan for next weekend’s conference championships.
A week after blazing to a 60-hurdles time of 8.26 (fourth fastest in NAIA history), Rodencal reflected on her remarkable achievement at the Devaney Center. Said Rodencal, “It was a bit of a dream. It took the whole weekend and a few days into the week for it to be like, ‘That’s real.’ I’m super happy about it. It was super fun to run against the Minnesota State girls. They’re insane. To come out on top is really nice. It felt really good. I’m grateful to be able to run under that pressure.”
It’s taken some time this season, but the pole vault crew is rounding into form. Both Jax Jacobson and Evan Hill inspired loud cheers to ring out inside the Fieldhouse as they rose above 15’ 9 ¼,” which represents an NAIA B national qualifying standard (currently tied for No. 9 in the NAIA). Jacobson won the competition while Hill wound up in third based on the series of makes/misses. On the women’s side of the vault, Lillee Richard led Concordia and placed third.
From a national perspective, another key development came in the men’s 4x800-meter relay. The Bulldog crew of Cooper Schelkopf, Trenton Kumm, Keith Siek and Lucas Corwin finished in 7:51.29 for an NAIA top 10 time this season (converted to 7:44.65 based on track size). On the women’s side of the 4x8, Concordia achieved a top 20 national time even without any competition to push it. The Bulldogs ran 9:47.57 as Landri Loos, Ashley Robertson, Lilly Kenning and Rachel Harris sped around the track. In the men’s DMR, Concordia posted a time of 10:36.53. The DMR was made up of Trey Robertson, Liam Fagan, Justin Sherman and Vaughn Hendrickson.
Not previously mentioned Concordia Invite champions were Avery Eaves in the 60 meters (6.87) and 200 meters (22.28), Josiah Edwards in the weight throw (58’ 6”), Adysen McCarter in the triple jump (38’ 7 ¾”), Trey Robertson in the 3,000 meters (8:59.96) and Schelkopf in the 600 meters (1:23.57). McCarter was also a third-place finisher in the long jump with a personal best of 18’ 1 ¾.” Meanwhile, Aidan Limback and Annika Staab were runners up in their respective 3,000-meter races. Trevor Kuncl and Ashley Roberston gave solid efforts in the 1,000 meters.
As just a freshman, Eaves has established himself as a star in the sprints. His 6.87 in the 60 dash represented a PR and moved him closer to the official school record of 6.83. Eaves already ranks in the top three in school history in the 60 and 200 meters. Worth noting, teammate Xavier Marburger pushed Eaves by blazing to a PR of 6.93 in the finals of the 60 dash. Marburger was also the team’s top men’s triple jumper at 41’ 10 ¾.”
Edwards repeated a B standard in the weight throw and remains in national qualifying position. The Bulldogs showed their depth in the women’s weight throw at the Concordia Invite as Harper Boche (53’ 9 ¾”) and Marissa Heins (53’ 3 ½”) both uncorked tosses greater than 53 feet. In the shot put, Concordia’s top marks were produced by Cooper Stokebrand (49’ 7”) on the men’s side and Brittni Kinne (41’ 5 ¾”) on the women’s side.
National qualifying standards achieved at Concordia Invite
· A – Jack Habegger: 3,000-meter racewalk (13:15.27)
· A – Luke Hammang: 3,000-meter racewalk (13:34.94)
· A – Jonny Jurchen: 3,000-meter racewalk (12:19.55)
· A – Adrianna Rodencal: 60-meter hurdles (8.36-prelims)
· A – Adrianna Rodencal: 400 meters (56.99)
· A – Makenna Starkey: high jump (5’ 7”)
· B – Men’s 4x800-meter relay (7:51.29)
· B – Josiah Edwards: weight throw (58’ 6”)
· B – Evan Hill: pole vault (15’ 9 ¼”)
· B – Jax Jacobson: pole vault (15’ 9 ¼”)
· B – Adysen McCarter: triple jump (38’ 7 ¾”)
Concordia Invite Champions
· Men’s 4x800-meter relay (7:51.29)
· Women’s 4x800-meter relay (9:47.57)
· Avery Eaves: 60 meters (6.87); 200 meters (22.28)
· Josiah Edwards: weight throw (58’ 6”)
· Jax Jacobson: pole vault (15’ 9 ¼”)
· Jonny Jurchen: 3,000-meter racewalk (12:19.55)
· Adysen McCarter: triple jump (38’ 7 ¾”)
· Trey Robertson: 3,000 meters (8:59.96)
· Adrianna Rodencal: 60-meter hurdles (8.36-prelims; 8.65-finals)
· Cooper Schelkopf: 600 meters (1:23.57)
· Makenna Starkey: high jump (5’ 7”)
The 2026 GPAC Indoor Track & Field Championships are up next. All conference teams will convene at Dordt for the two-day championship meet set for Feb. 20-21. The event schedule can be found HERE. Concordia came away from last season’s GPAC indoor meet with place finishes of third on the women’s side and fourth on the men’s side.