CRETE, Neb. – Sunny skies and mild temperatures set the stage for another memorable day on the track for superstar Adrianna Rodencal. The national champ broke two of her own school records with two NAIA leading times in the hurdles as part of Sunday (April 19)’s action at the Dutcher Memorial hosted by Doane. Rodencal and her Concordia University, Nebraska Track & Field teammates combined for 12 event championships in a meet that included athletes from College of Saint Mary, Doane, Hastings, Peru State College and York University. Portions of the Dutcher Memorial also took place this past Wednesday and Thursday.
Head Coach Matt Beisel’s squads have competed in four full meets this outdoor season. The weather in the latest one is about as good as it gets during springtime in Nebraska.
“The weather was perfect,” Beisel said. “It was a really good atmosphere. It was just a really good vibe. The wind was a little tricky for the vaulters and the jumpers. It swirled around and changed directions a little bit, but we couldn’t have asked for better on the track. I think in almost every event area, we had big PR’s and big season bests. It was really exciting to see. It was nice to have Hayden Kluthe get back in gear … there was a lot of cheering and support from teammates. Overall, it was a really good day.”
The Lincoln Lutheran alum Rodencal is unwaveringly motivated to push herself to new heights. On Sunday afternoon, she shattered her former school records, clocking in at 13.04 in the prelims of the 100-meter hurdles and 58.02 in the 400-meter hurdles. Her previous standards were 13.37 (2025 Drake Relays) and 58.90 (2025 GPAC Championships), respectively. In program history, Rodencal is the only athlete to run under 14 seconds in the 100 hurdles and one of only two athletes to run under a minute in the 400 hurdles. Said Beisel, “She broke the school record in both hurdles with leading times in the nation. I am so excited for her.”
In the hammer throw, Nathan Baldwin (186’ 3”) and Harper Boche (170’ 11”) improved their positions nationally with marks that eclipsed the NAIA B standard and represented personal bests. Both were runners up in the hammer competitions at the Dutcher Memorial. In a winning effort, Emry Gutz placed first in the javelin (187’ 1”). Other throwers with top five placements at Doane were Boche in the discus (fourth) and shot put (fifth), Josiah Edwards in the hammer (fifth), Marissa Heins in the shot put (fourth), Brittni Kinne in the shot put (second) and hammer (fifth), Carissa Kolle in the discus (fifth), Emma Kucera in the javelin (fourth) and Stephen Meisel in the javelin (fifth).
In the women’s high jump, freshman Makenna Starkey added her name to the national leaderboard as she cleared 5’ 5 ¾” (B standard) and won the competition at Doane. Some other highlights from the jumps were delivered by Myles Sadd (third in the high jump and fifth in the long jump) and Isaiah Gaunt (sixth in the long jump). Sadd came close on an attempt at 6’ 8” in the high jump.
Not previously mentioned Dutcher Memorial champions were Concordia’s men’s 4x1 (42.98), women’s 4x1 (47.0) and women’s 4x8 relays (9:38.88), in addition to Lucas Corwin in the men’s 800 meters (1:54.06), Hayden Kluthe in the men’s 110-meter hurdles (14.74), Adysen McCarter in the women’s 400 meters (57.04), siblings Ashley Robertson (12:04.56) and Trey Robertson (9:47.31) in the 3,000-meter steeplechase and Kayla Svoboda in the women’s 100-meter hurdles (14.51). Earlier in the week, Vaughn Hendrickson placed second in the 5,000 meters in a time of 15:28.86.
The events that occurred on Wednesday and Thursday were detailed in the synopsis linked above. Notably, Hank Moore accumulated a personal best decathlon point total of 6,373 that places him near the top 10 on the national performance list. In the women’s heptathlon, Addie Reimer led the way with 4,186 points (third place), positioning her near the top 16 nationally.
Beisel made mention of Braxton Borer, who followed closely behind Kluthe in the 110 hurdles in a time of 14.81. Corwin and the 800-meter group shined with five runners coming in under 1:58. On the women’s side of the 800, Landri Loos finished in 2:19.27. In the 1,500 meters, Abram Chance ran 4:07.69.
Some Bulldogs in the pole vault crew were able to get two competitions in this week. Svoboda cleared 11’ 1” at the Red Raider Open on Wednesday. In the men’s pole vault on Sunday, Jax Jacobson paced Concordia by rising above 14’ 5 ¼.” Cassie Peatrowsky was the team’s top women’s vaulter on Sunday (10’ 3 ¼”).
In the sprints, Jett Farwell ran 10.95 in the 100 meters and placed third. Meanwhile, Xavier Marburger ran 22.45 in the 200 meters and placed fourth. McCarter was joined with sub-minute 400-meter times by teammates in Kayla Kirchner (58.23) and Tayden Kirchner (59.03). Garrett Durkop ran 50.39 on the men’s side. Also in the 400 hurdles, Josi Noble clocked in at 1:04.65.
Both 4x8 relays ran strong times on Wednesday – 9:38.88 on the women’s side and 7:46.29 on the men’s side. The women’s relay included Ashley Robertson, Landri Loos, Izzi Brumbaugh and Claire Beikmann. The men’s relay featured Cooper Schelkopf, Trenton Kumm, Lucas Corwin and Justin Sherman. On the 4x1, Rodencal served as the anchor for a group that won in 47.00 seconds. Rodencal was preceded by Adysen McCarter, Kayla Kirchner and Kiki Nyanok. There were nine total Bulldog relays that competed at Doane.
National Qualifying standards achieved at Dutcher Memorial
· A – Adrianna Rodencal: 100-meter hurdles (13.04); 400-meter hurdles (58.02)
· B – Women’s 4x100-meter relay (47.0)
· B – Nathan Baldwin: hammer (186’ 3”)
· B – Harper Boche: hammer (170’ 11”)
· B – Makenna Starkey: high jump (5’ 5 ¾”)
NOTE: Hank Moore (12th in decathlon), Addie Reimer (17th in heptathlon) and Kennedee Canales (19th in heptathlon) all rank in the top 20 nationally in the multi-events after their performances this past week.
Dutcher Memorial Champions
· Men’s 4x100-meter relay (42.98)
· Women’s 4x100-meter relay (47.0)
· Women’s 4x800-meter relay (9:38.88)
· Lucas Corwin: 800 meters (1:54.06)
· Emry Gutz: javelin (187’ 1”)
· Hayden Kluthe: 110-meter hurdles (14.74)
· Adysen McCarter: 400 meters (57.04)
· Ashley Robertson: 3,000-meter steeplechase (12:04.56)
· Trey Robertson: 3,000-meter steeplechase (9:47.31)
· Adrianna Rodencal: 400-meter hurdles (58.02)
· Makenna Starkey: high jump (5’ 5 ¾”)
· Kayla Svoboda: 100-meter hurdles (14.51)
In final outings prior to the 2026 GPAC Outdoor Championships (May 1-2), the Bulldogs will be represented at the Nebraska Wesleyan Prairie Wolf Invitational (April 23) and the Drake Relays (April 23-25). One final home meet for the outdoor season is also coming up on May 8 when the Concordia Twilight is scheduled to take place.