National leader Puelz earns GPAC weekly award

By Jacob Knabel on Jan. 27, 2021 in Track & Field

GPAC Release

SEWARD, Neb. – After improving her NAIA national best mark in the pole vault last week, sophomore Josie Puelz has been chosen as the GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports Women’s Field Athlete of the Week, as announced by the conference on Wednesday (Jan. 27). Her recognition comes a week after Concordia University Track & Field teammates Morgan De Jong and Kylahn Heritage were honored by the GPAC. This marks the first career weekly award for Puelz.

A Lincoln Lutheran High School alum, Puelz made an immediate impact upon her arrival at Concordia. Last season she won the GPAC pole vault title and earned All-America honors with a third-place claim at the NAIA National Championships. While winning the pole vault competition at last week’s Polar Dog Invite (Jan. 22), Puelz cleared 12’ 7 ½,” a figure that leads the NAIA by nine inches. Puelz currently ranks No. 2 on the program’s all-time indoor pole vault list with her personal best of 12’ 10 ¼” achieved as a freshman. Josie is the daughter of John Puelz, who scored 1,955 career points as a basketball standout at Concordia.

Puelz and her Bulldog teammates will return to action this weekend at the Fred Beile Classic (Jan. 29-30) hosted by Doane.

2020-21 GPAC Athletes of the Week
Jan. 27 – Josie Puelz (field)
Jan. 20 – *Morgan De Jong (field), Kylahn Heritage (track)
*NAIA National Athlete of the Week