SEWARD, Neb. – The third home meet of the 2020-21 indoor season will unfold Friday as the Concordia University Track & Field program hosts the Concordia University Classic. The meet is slated to get underway with field events at 2 p.m. CT followed by the start of running events at 4 p.m. Head Coach Matt Beisel’s squad will enter the weekend with NAIA national rankings of No. 2 on the women’s side and No. 4 on the men’s side, according to the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). The nationally ranked Bulldogs will be joined at the meet by conference rivals Doane and Hastings.
MEET INFO
Concordia University Classic
Friday, Feb. 5
Fieldhouse | Seward, Neb.
Meet Schedule
Live Results: Black Squirrel
--Meet Program (includes heat sheets)
Live Stream Info
*All streaming links will be free to access.
--Running Events: https://www.youtube.com/c/BulldogTrackandField
--Sprints Starting Line: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCnWh95Lz6dW3OUosomZyoA
--Women’s Long Jump / Triple Jump (north runway): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChWMXJ0G97vIWXuBqGS3Iww
--Women’s & Men’s Throwing Events: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqn-dBHnX9YmlOunOX9cweA
--Vertical Jumps & Men’s Long Jump / Triple Jump (infield jumping events): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIerIQe-tQv53fnpGwp_wTQ
Currently, Concordia athletes have combined for 36 marks that rank inside the top 10 of the NAIA national performance lists. The Bulldogs hold down a trio of No. 1 national marks thanks to the efforts of the women’s distance medley relay, Josie Puelz (pole vault) and Cody Williams (heptathlon). Reigning GPAC Indoor Athlete of the Year Rachel Battershell sports national seed marks of second in the 400 meters and third in the 600 meters. Named GPAC Men’s Outdoor Athlete of the Year in 2019, Williams also checks in at No. 4 in the high jump after both he and Wyatt Loga cleared a school record-equaling 6’ 9” last week.
At the Fred Beile Classic hosted by Doane on Jan. 29-30, Concordia emerged with nine event titles in addition to the school record mentioned above. In her winning performance, Puelz became the second female vaulter in school history to clear 13 feet (13’ 1 ¾”). In large part due to her role in the distance medley relay, sophomore Kylahn Heritage garnered GPAC Track Athlete of the Week accolades. Heritage also placed first in the 3,000 meters.
In the USTFCCCA’s event squad rankings, the Bulldogs rank No. 1 in the NAIA in the following women’s event groupings: 600 meters, pole vault, shot put and weight throw. On the men’s side, Concordia has the top men’s pole vault grouping in the nation. The Bulldogs have been impressively deep in the women’s pole vault (three of the top nine) and in the women’s weight throw (three of the top 10). Morgan De Jong and Sarah Ragland rank third and fourth, respectively, in the weight throw.
Every single team that will be on hand on Friday carries a top 10 NAIA ranking. Doane is ranked second on the men’s side and eighth on the women’s side while Hastings is ranked third on the women’s side and ninth on the women’s side. Opposing competitors with NAIA No. 1 rankings include Doane’s Jacob Heitkamp (high jump) and Hastings’ Paul Plowcha (60 hurdles) and Lauren Tamayo (pentathlon).
Prior to competing at the GPAC Championships (Feb. 19-20), the Bulldogs will also host the Concordia Invite on Feb. 13.