NAIA release: M – W | GPAC release
SEWARD, Neb. – Three of Concordia’s national event leaders garnered weekly awards, as announced on Wednesday (April 12). Senior Lucas Wiechman raked in both the GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports Men’s Outdoor Track Athlete of the Week award and the NAIA National Men’s Outdoor Track Athlete of the Week accolade. On the women’s side, senior Kali Robb was tabbed NAIA National Women’s Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week. Meanwhile, senior Cody Boellstorff picked up the GPAC Men’s Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week honor.
In sum, head coach Matt Beisel’s squad have combined for 14 GPAC weekly awards and six national weekly honors throughout the 2017 indoor and outdoor seasons. This marks the first career national weekly accolade for Wiechman. Robb has collected women’s field national recognition for the second week in a row.
A native of Pilger, Neb., Wiechman has now collected four GPAC weekly awards as a senior. The accomplished star produced a national title in the heptathlon this past indoor season. His latest honor comes courtesy of his efforts at last week’s Concordia Outdoor Invitational, where he won event titles with personal bests in the 110 and 400 meter hurdles and in the pole vault. His mark of 16’ 7 ¼” ranks in a tie for No. 1 on the national leaderboard. He also ranks third in the 110 meter hurdles (14.43) and fourth in the 400 meter hurdles (54.17).
Robb owns not just one, but two marks that lead the nation. At last week’s meet, she equaled Jamie Crouse’s school record in the hammer throw (190’ 5”) and also produced a season best in the shot put (48’ ¾”). Both of those marks top the NAIA national lists. In addition, Robb is a national qualifier in the discus. This past indoor season, Robb won the GPAC shot put title and is a nine-time All-American in her career.
Boellstorff is primed to make another run at an individual national title. The Waverly, Neb., native broke former teammate Josh Slechta’s school record in the hammer throw with a toss of 211’ 9” at the Concordia Invite. That mark leads the nation by more than five feet, putting him ahead of teammate Zach Lurz (206’ 6”). Boellstorff won the 2015 hammer throw national title and also owns two national championships in the weight throw.
Boellstorff, Robb and Wiechman and the rest of the Bulldogs are scheduled to return to action on Friday when they will be at the Grand View University Quad in Des Moines, Iowa.
2017 Concordia track & field GPAC athletes of the week
April 12 – Cody Boellstorff (field); *Kali Robb (field); *Lucas Wiechman (track)
April 5 – *Zach Lurz (field); *Kali Robb (field)
March 29 – Cody Boellstorff (field); Allie Brooks (field)
Feb. 15 – Kali Robb (field); Lucas Wiechman (track)
Feb. 8 – *Allie Brooks (field); CJ Muller (field); Lucas Wiechman (track)
Jan. 25 – *Cody Boellstorff (field); Lucas Wiechman (track)
Jan. 18 – CJ Muller (track)
*NAIA National Athlete of the Week