CRETE / LINCOLN, Neb. – Accomplished senior Adrianna Rodencal is proving she can compete across all divisions of collegiate track. As part of the weekend’s Graduate Classic (Jan. 16-17) hosted by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Rodencal rebroke her own school record and won the 60-meter hurdles while leaving five NCAA Division I athletes in the dust. Meanwhile, four athletes represented Concordia University, Nebraska Track & Field with event championships at the Scott Nisely Memorial Classic staged by Doane on Saturday (Jan. 17).
Head Coach Matt Beisel’s men’s and women’s squads were spread out between the Devaney Center in Lincoln and Fuhrer Field House in Crete as they competed for the first time since hosting the Bulldog Early Bird in December. Assistant Coach Mark Samuels accompanied a large group of sprinters, hurdlers and relay runners to Lincoln.
“I tell our athletes that a lot of what we do (coming off break) is going to be sort of so-so,” Beisel said. “A few people will have personal bests and some people will have days they really didn’t want. That’s normal for this first meet coming off of break. We have to jump back on the saddle and knock the rust off. This is the best way to do it. The next meet and the meet after that are when things are really going to start to click. I still felt like we had some really good performances.”
A four-time NAIA All-American, Rodencal entered the weekend leading the NAIA in the 60 hurdles. The Lincoln Lutheran alum slashed .02 off her previous program standard as she crossed the finish line in 8.41 during Friday’s action. Her closest competitor, Kate Campos of Nebraska, ran 8.45. In capping the Graduate Classic on Saturday, Rodencal and her 4x400-meter relay teammates fell short of the time they were hoping to achieve.
Already a national qualifier in the triple jump, sophomore Adysen McCarter also tested herself against staunch competition at the Devaney Center. The Overton, Neb., native placed second in the triple jump with a mark of 38’ 8 ¾.” McCarter has locked up her spot at the national meet.
Concordia also entered several runners into the Graduate Classic field. Among the highlights, Liam Fagan ran 50.78 in the 400 meters, Landri Loos clocked in at 3:11.02 in the 1,000 meters, Hayden Kluthe posted a time of 8.41 in the 60 hurdles (while reaching the finals), Ashley Robertson completed the mile in 5:36.80, Keith Siek ran a 4:26.01 mile and Vaughn Hendrickson turned in a time of 8:53.87 (PR) in the 3,000 meters. The men’s 4x4 of Avery Eaves, Kluthe, Perry Chadwick and Fagan ran 3:21.55 (roughly three seconds off the B standard). In running in the 3,000 with Hendrickson, Ransom Watts achieved a PR of his own (8:57.61). The team’s top sprinters in the 200 meters at UNL were Coral Collins (27.26) on the women’s side and Avery Eaves (22.47) on the men’s side.
Hendrickson and Loos then made their way to Crete on Saturday and emerged with event titles at the Nisely Classic. Hendrickson won the 1,000-meter race in 2:39.25 and Loos claimed first by running 2:26.69 in the 800 meters. Other event champions for the Bulldogs were Jax Jacobson in the pole vault (14’ 7 ¼”) and Aaron Spivey in the triple jump (44’ 11 ¾”). Spivey came through the winning mark on his first jump before being sidelined with an injury. Evan Hill also skied above 14 feet as part of a solid day for the men’s pole vault crew. On the women’s side of the vault, Kayla Svoboda eclipsed 11 feet (11’ 1 ¾”).
In the throws, Concordia’s top performers just missed NAIA ‘B’ standards. The group’s highest finishers were Nathan Baldwin in the men’s shot put (fourth; 49’ 9 ¾”) and men’s weight throw (fourth; 55’ 9 ¼”), Harper Boche in the women’s shot put (third; 41’ 6 ½”) and Brittni Kinne in the women’s weight throw (fourth; 51’ 8 ¼”). In addition, Marissa Heins produced personal bests in the shot put and weight throw. Josiah Edwards boasts a B standard that came at the Early Bird meet.
A contributor to the volleyball program’s run to the national semifinals, freshman Makenna Starkey displayed her well-rounded talents by clearing 5’ 5 ¼” in the high jump, good for a B standard and a runner up claim at the Nisely Classic. Addie Reimer lurked close behind in the high jump (5’ 3 ¼”). Elsewhere in the jumps, Xavier Marburger (21’ 10”) and Hank Moore (21’ 4”) placed third and fourth, respectively, with personal bests in the long jump at the Nisely Classic and Hayley Miles placed sixth in the long jump (17’ 1 ½”) at the Graduate Classic. Josi Noble led the women’s triple jumpers, landing at 35’ 10.”
In his remarks, Beisel also referred to Loos as one of the stars of the day and commended the distance runners who ran events on both Friday and Saturday. Beisel made mention of Jessup Pederson who ran a 2:36.20 in the 1,000 meters on Friday and then hit a personal best of 2:00.16 in the 800 meters on Saturday. Five Bulldogs were within .75 seconds of each other in the 800 meters. Said Beisel, “We got some marks and got some experience. Next week will be better. I was glad to be there and see them get going again. I’m excited for the season.” Additionally, Beisel gave props to Spivey, who continued to cheer his teammates on after enduring injury.
National qualifying standards achieved this weekend (Jan. 16-17)
· A – Adrianna Rodencal: 60-meter hurdles (8.41)
· B – Adysen McCarter: triple jump (38’ 8 ¾”)
· B – Makenna Starkey: high jump (5’ 5 ¼”)
Nisely Classic event champions
· Vaughn Hendrickson: 1,000 meters (2:39.25)
· Jax Jacobson: pole vault (14’ 7 ¼”)
· Landri Loos: 800 meters (2:26.69)
· Aaron Spivey: triple jump (44’ 11 ¾”)
The Bulldogs will be at home for their next two meets. The Concordia Polar Dog Invite will take place on Friday, Jan. 23 inside the Fieldhouse. The tentative meet schedule can be found HERE.