SEWARD, Neb. – The 2023-24 academic year has concluded at Concordia, but the track and field season continues for the Bulldogs, who will be in action this Friday and Saturday. The Concordia Twilight (May 10) and the UNK Loper Twilight (May 11) will serve as last chance meets for athletes still hoping to attain national qualifying marks. The Bulldogs are fresh off the 2024 GPAC Outdoor Championships, which resulted in place finishes of first on the wommen’s side and third on the men’s side. Head Coach Matt Beisel’s women’s program extended its streak of consecutive GPAC championships to 11, dating back to the 2019 indoor season.
2024 Concordia Twilight Meet
Friday (May 10) | Bulldog Stadium/Throws Fields
--Meet Schedule (PDF) | Live Results
--Meet Video: Concordia Track & Field YouTube
2024 UNK Loper Twilight Meet
Saturday (May 11) | Kearney HS
--Meet Schedule (PDF) | Live Results | Webcast
Out of 44 total events scored at the 2024 GPAC Outdoor Championships (combining men and women), Concordia came away with 10 conference championships. The titles were won by the women’s 4x400-meter relay, Matthew Boyer (javelin), Kylahn Freiberg (1,500 meters), Abby Gerber (shot put), Jordan Koepke (400m hurdles), Josi Noble (heptathlon), Adrianna Rodencal (100 hurdles), Darien Semedo (shot put), Chris Wren (hammer throw) and Zach Zohner (pole vault). The women’s 4x4 was made up of Jenna Esch, Kayla Kirchner, Trinity Tuls and Koepke. In other major highlights, the Bulldogs added four new automatic national qualifying marks in the throws, thanks to Gerber (hammer throw), Emma Lloyd (discus), Kamryn Pokorney (shot put) and Austen Rozelle (discus). The overall program number of automatic national qualifying marks this outdoor season now sits at 17 (full list below).
Automatic National Qualifiers (17)
· Women’s 4x400m Relay (3:48.16)
· Women’s 4x800m Relay (9:12.95)
· Matthew Boyer – Javelin (219’ 1”)
· Jenna Esch – 400 Meters (55.80)
· Carson Fehlhafer – Shot Put (53’ 3 ¾”)
· Abby Gerber – Shot Put (47’ 8”); Hammer Throw (169’ 7”)
· Jordan Koepke – 400m Hurdles (1:01.25)
· Emma Lloyd – Discus (144’ 7”)
· Kamryn Pokorney – Shot Put (44’ 8”)
· Adrianna Rodencal – 100m Hurdles (13.84)
· Austen Rozelle – Discus (165’ 5”)
· Darien Semedo – Shot Put (54’ 10 ¼”); Hammer Throw (185’ 2”)
· Zoey Walker – High Jump (5’ 6”)
· Chris Wren – Hammer Throw (204’)
· Zach Zohner – Pole Vault (17’)
--NOTE: The current NAIA heptathlon national list shows Josi Noble at No. 8 (4,655) and Amy Richert at No. 11 (4,600). In addition, Mayson Ostermeyer is currently tied for 15th nationally in the men’s pole vault.
The USTFCCCA released a new set of NAIA national rankings on May 1. Concordia landed at No. 5 on the women’s side and at No. 19 on the men’s side. In USTFCCCA’s national event squad rankings, the Bulldogs appeared at No. 1 in the men’s pole vault and at No. 2 in the men’s hammer throw, women’s 400 hurdles, women’s heptathlon, women’s high jump and women’s shot put.
The all-time Concordia Track & Field performance lists are updated periodically and are available to the public HERE. Current Bulldogs who own individual school outdoor records are Matthew Boyer (javelin), Lauren Dawson (5,000-meter racewalk), Kylahn Freiberg (3,000 meters), Rylee Haecker (1,500 meters) Jordan Koepke (400 hurdles), Josie Puelz (pole vault), Adrianna Rodencal (100 hurdles) and Zoey Walker (high jump). In addition, the following Concordia athletes have been part of school record relays: Jenna Esch (4x2), Kayla Kirchner (4x1; 4x2), Jordan Koepke (4x2; 4x4), Kellie Rhodes (4x1) and Rodencal (4x1; 4x2).
Following the two twilight meets, Concordia will shift focus to the 2024 NAIA Outdoor Track & Field National Championships in Marion, Ind., May 22-24. Official national qualifiers will be announced next week by the NAIA.