Track programs receive top-five national rankings

By Jacob Knabel on Jan. 27, 2016 in Track & Field

USTFCCCA NAIA computer rankings

SEWARD, Neb. – Both Concordia University track and field programs earned top-five indoor national spots according to computer rankings released on Wednesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. The Bulldog women checked in at No. 4 with 221.93 points while the men came in at No. 5 with 177.10 points. The USTFCCCA ranks the GPAC as the NAIA’s top track and field conference on the men’s side and second best on the women’s side.

National Team Computer Rankings are determined using NAIA national event rankings by individual athletes. A full breakdown of the national rankings methodology can be found here.

Concordia athletes currently lead the nation in five events: women’s 1,000 meters (Kim Wood, 2:55.95), women’s one mile (Wood, 4:58.38), men’s shot put (Zach Lurz, 59’ 6 ¼”), women’s shot put (Stephanie Coley, 47’ 4 ½”) and the men’s weight throw (Cody Boellstorff, 64’ 1”). In the women’s shot put, Bulldogs take up the first (Coley), third (Kali Robb, 46’ 1 ¼”) and fourth spots (Samantha Liermann, 46’) on the national list. Concordia owns a total of 13 marks that rank in the top five nationally.

Last week the Bulldogs swept all four GPAC weekly track and field awards with Wood being named the NAIA national track athlete of the week. Earlier on Wednesday (Jan. 27), junior Zach Lurz collected GPAC field athlete of the week accolades.

Twenty-fourth year head coach Kregg Einspahr’s programs are coming off arguably the best season in school history. The men recorded national finishes of first (outdoor) and fifth (indoor) in 2015 while the women placed fifth (outdoor) and 11th (indoor) at last year’s national championships. The Bulldog men have won three of the last four GPAC titles.

No. 4/5 Concordia returns to action on Friday and Saturday when it hosts the annual Concordia Classic. The event schedule can be viewed HERE.