Track and field announces 2020 indoor nationals team

By Jacob Knabel on Feb. 28, 2020 in Track & Field

NAIA National Qualifiers: Men | Women

SEWARD, Neb. – The field of 2020 NAIA Indoor Track and Field National Championships Qualifiers was unveiled on Friday (Feb. 28) by the NAIA. In conjunction with that release, the Concordia University track and field program has announced a nationals team of 32 individuals (including 19 women and 13 men). The event will run March 5-7 at the Sanford Jackrabbit Athletic Complex in Brookings, S.D. The Bulldogs took 30 athletes to the 2019 indoor national meet.

In NAIA national ratings released on Wednesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA), head coach Matt Beisel’s squads checked in at No. 3 on the women’s side and No. 6 on the men’s side. Concordia is coming off of 2019 NAIA indoor national finishes of ninth for both men and women. Fresh off the 2020 GPAC championship meet, the Bulldog women captured a third-straight GPAC title while the men placed third in the conference.

Nine events at next week’s national championship meet will include one or more Concordia female athletes. Senior Addie Shaw possesses the most nationals experience having made six prior appearances on the national stage. Shaw is a two-time national champion and a six-time NAIA All-American. In addition, senior pole vaulters McKenzie Gravo and Allie Brooks are making their seventh and sixth nationals appearances, respectively. They have combined for three career All-America awards. In addition, the women’s 4x400 meter relay, led by GPAC Athlete of the Year Rachel Battershell, is looking for a third-straight All-America award.

On the men’s side, Jacob Cornelio is headed to nationals for the sixth time. He is a four-time NAIA All-American and the returning national runner up in the weight throw (current national leader in the event). The men will bring four pole vaulters to Brookings with the group featuring Chase Berry, Gavin DeHaai (2019 outdoor All-American), Tucker Platt and Sam Sisco. Making a third-straight trip to nationals, sophomore Xavier Ross will take aim at a first career All-America honor while competing in the 400 meters and as part of the 4x4.

The list of Bulldogs making their first-ever national championship appearance includes Taylor Beck, Berry, Colton Meyer and Camden Miller on the men’s side and Mika Brees, Jamey Broman, Kylahn Heritage, Emily Loy, Cora Olson, Josie Puelz and Katie Severt on the women’s side. Heritage did appear at cross country nationals back in the fall.

Approximately 490 men’s qualifiers and 520 women’s qualifiers are set to compete in the 2020 NAIA Indoor Track & Field National Championships. Concordia has the second most qualifiers in the field on the women’s side. For additional details on the national meet, visit the NAIA website HERE.

Concordia NAIA top five national marks

·        No. 1 – Rachel Battershell (400 meters)

·        No. 1 – Allie Brooks (pole vault)

·        No. 1 – Jacob Cornelio (weight throw)

·        No. 2 – Kennedy Mogul (pentathlon)

·        No. 2 – Josie Puelz (pole vault)

·        No. 2 – Addie Shaw (shot put)

·        No. 2 – Addie Shaw (weight throw)

·        No. 4 – Rachel Battershell (60 hurdles)

·        No. 4 – Gavin DeHaai (pole vault)

·        No. 5 – Xavier Ross (400 meters)

2020 Concordia indoor national qualifiers

(Current national seeding in parentheses)
*2019 NAIA indoor national qualifier

MEN

Taylor Beck, senior
-Triple Jump (20th, 46’ 3 ½”)

Chase Berry, freshman
-Pole Vault (9th, 15’ 7 ¼”)

*Jacob Cornelio, senior
-Weight Throw (1st, 65’ 9”)

*Gavin DeHaai, senior
-Pole Vault (4th, 16’ 4 ¾”)

*Liam Hennessy, senior
-Weight Throw (15th, 57’ 3 ¾”)
-Shot Put (17th, 51’ 3”)

Colton Meyer, freshman
-60 Hurdles (17th, 8.21)
-4x400 Meter Relay (8th, 3:20.47)

Camden Miller, freshman
-4x400 Meter Relay (8th, 3:20.47)

Jerod Peters, senior
-Shot Put (12th, 52’ 4”)

Tucker Platt, junior
-Pole Vault (15th, 15’ 3”)

*Henry Reimer, junior
-4x400 Meter Relay (8th, 3:20.47)

*Xavier Ross, sophomore
-400 Meters (5th, 49.03)
-4x400 Meter Relay (8th, 3:20.47)

Sam Sisco, junior
-Pole Vault (15th, 15’ 3”)

*Christian Van Cleave, junior
-4x400 Meter Relay Alternate (8th, 3:20.47)

WOMEN

*Rachel Battershell, sophomore
-400 Meters (1st, 56.40)
-60 Hurdles (4th, 8.81)
-4x400 Meter Relay (6th, 3:56.28)

Mika Brees, junior
-Distance Medley Relay (7th, 12:26.04)

Jamey Broman, sophomore
-Long Jump (26th, 18’ 3”)

*Allie Brooks, senior
-Pole Vault (1st, 13’ ¾”)

*Morgan De Jong, junior
-Weight Throw (7th, 57’ 9”)

Alyssa Fye, junior
-Distance Medley Relay (7th, 12:26.04)

*McKenzie Gravo, senior
-Pole Vault (12th, 11’ 6 ½”)

Kylahn Heritage, freshman
-Distance Medley Relay (7th, 12:26.04)

Rebekah Hinrichs, senior
-Distance Medley Relay (7th, 12:26.04)

*Sarah Lewis, sophomore
-4x400 Meter Relay (6th, 3:56.28)

Emily Loy, junior
-Pentathlon (13th, 3,118)

Kennedy Mogul, junior
-Pentathlon (2nd, 3,341)
-4x400 Meter Relay (6th, 3:56.28)

Cora Olson, sophomore
-Long Jump (23rd, 18’ 3 ¾”)
-4x400 Relay / DMR Alternate

*Jacee Pfeifer, sophomore
-4x400 Meter Relay (6th, 3:56.28)

Josie Puelz, freshman
-Pole Vault (2nd, 12’ 10 ¼”)

Sarah Ragland, junior
-Weight Throw (18th, 54’ 1 ¾”)

Miranda Rathjen, senior
-Distance Medley Relay (7th, 12:26.04)

Katie Severt, freshman
-Long Jump (34th, 18’ 1”)

*Addie Shaw, senior
-Shot Put (2nd, 48’ 9 ½”)
-Weight Throw (2nd, 63’)