CoSIDA Cross Country/Track & Field Academic All-District Teams
SEWARD, Neb. – A program record total of six student-athletes represented Concordia University Track & Field with 2020-21 Academic All-District® Men's and Women's Track & Field/Cross Country Team accolades. Honorees were selected and announced by College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) on Thursday (July 15). Award winners from the Bulldogs landed on the District 3 team, which covers the states of Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
The 2021 honorees from Head Coach Matt Beisel’s program include:
· Rachel Battershell (Wheatland, Wyo.)
· Jacob Cornelio (Elk Grove, Calif.)
· Jacob Jennings (Shawnee, Kan.)
· Erin Mapson (Lincoln, Neb.)
· Josie Puelz (Lincoln, Neb.)
· Elizabeth Stottlemyre (Olympia, Wash.)
The 2020-21 Academic All-District® Cross Country/Track & Field Teams, selected by CoSIDA, recognize the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances in athletic competition and in the classroom. The CoSIDA Academic All-America® program separately recognizes honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA.
Battershell added to her growing list of impressive accolades in 2021 by winning the 2021 NAIA indoor 400 meter national title while claiming a total of four All-America awards over the most recent indoor and outdoor seasons. In addition, Battershell claimed 2021 individual GPAC championships in the 400 meters (indoor), 400 hurdles (outdoor) and 4x400 meter relay (outdoor). Battershell owns eight career All-America awards, including two 400 meter national titles. She’s also won eight GPAC event titles and has been a major player in the team winning five-straight conference championships. Battershell owns a near perfect grade point average while studying Biology, Chemistry and Exercise Science.
Cornelio ended his collegiate career on a high by winning the 2021 hammer throw national title with a school record mark of 219 feet. As a fifth-year member of the program, he also won the GPAC hammer throw crown and qualified for nationals in the discus. A two-time national champion, Cornelio totaled six career All-America awards and four individual GPAC titles and made seven appearances at national championship meets. He helped the Bulldogs place in the top 10 nationally three times. Cornelio graduated with a degree in Psychology and is pursuing an MBA.
A former basketball player at Concordia, Jennings has made a smooth transition to the track. He became an immediate key member of the 4x400 meter relay team and helped it to an All-America finish at the 2021 indoor national championships. Not only that, Jennings contributed to the 4x100 meter relay group that won the GPAC outdoor championship. During the indoor season, Jennings placed fourth in the conference in the 400 meters and earned all-conference honors. Jennings has studied Business Administration at Concordia.
Mapson returned to form in 2021 and earned All-America awards in the pole vault for both indoor and outdoor. She placed fourth in the NAIA in the pole vault at the indoor national meet by eclipsing 12’ 5.” Mapson has collected four career All-America awards and was the 2019 GPAC outdoor champion. In the classroom, Mapson sports a spotless 4.0 GPA as an Exercise Science major.
Recently named the State College Female Athlete of the Year by the Lincoln Journal Star, Puelz rose to stardom in 2021 by sweeping NAIA indoor and outdoor pole vault national titles. In the process of winning championships, Puelz broke the school indoor (13’ 4 ½”) and outdoor (13’ 7 ¼”) pole vault records. Puelz won the 2021 GPAC outdoor championship and was rewarded with the GPAC Field Performance of the Meet honor. Puelz is a two-time GPAC champion and a three-time All-American. She carries a perfect 4.0 GPA while studying Elementary Education.
In one season of competition as a Bulldog, Stottlemyre made a huge impact. She took first place in the javelin at every meet with the exception of one. The Concordia University, Portland transfer enjoyed her biggest thrill by winning the NAIA javelin national title with a school record mark of 167’ 2.” Stottlemyre also won the 2021 GPAC javelin championship while contributing to a team conference championship. Stottlemyre earned her degree in Biology from CUNE.
First-team Academic All-District® honorees advance to the CoSIDA Academic All-America® ballot. First-, second- and third-team Academic All-America® honorees will be announced in mid-August.