KEARNEY, Neb. – One day after Concordia University Track & Field hosted the Concordia Twilight, select Bulldogs competed on Saturday (May 11) at the Loper Twilight hosted by the University of Nebraska-Kearney. Another automatic national qualifying mark was put on the board as junior Abi Wohlgemuth unleashed a personal best in the hammer throw. Meanwhile, the team’s women’s 4x100-meter relay put together a season best performance.
The season tally of automatic national qualifying marks for Head Coach Matt Beisel’s squads stands at 23 after six were added this weekend. In addition two Bulldog heptathletes are positioned to earn spots at the national meet.
Eleven throwers represented Concordia at the Loper Twilight. A summary of their results can be found below. The breakthrough for the Lincoln Lutheran alum Wohlgemuth emerged as the clear highlight. Wohlgemuth won the non-invitational hammer throw competition at the meet with her throw of 172’ 10” (previous PR was 167’ 2”). On the men’s side of the hammer, Conner Asche and Austen Rozelle continued to approach the ‘A’ standard while coming up just short. Already locked into the national field in the hammer and shot put, Darien Semedo again hit the ‘A’ mark in the shot put in a final tune up prior to nationals.
Throwers at the Loper Twilight:
· Connor Asche threw 173’ 9” in the hammer (6th place – invitational).
· Matthew Boyer threw 140’ 6” in the discus (7th place).
· Josiah Edwards threw 171’ 9” in the hammer (2nd place).
· Carson Fehlhafer threw 136’ 11” in the discus (9th place).
· Sven Gredelj threw 155’ 10” in the hammer (9th place).
· Marissa Heins threw 141’ in the hammer (9th place).
· Brittni Kinne threw 36’ 9 ¾” in the shot put (12th place).
· Austen Rozelle threw 176’ 6” in the hammer (5th place – invitational).
· Darien Semedo threw 53’ 7 ¼” in the shot put (7th place).
· Gretchen Stottlemyre threw 129’ 9” in the javelin (8th place).
· Abi Wohlgemuth threw 172’ 10” in the hammer (1st place).
The women’s 4x1 gave it another shot at hitting the ‘A’ standard and came away .01 seconds shy of it. However, the time of 47.41 represented a season best. The crew featured Cambria Saunders, Kayla Kirchner, Kellie Rhodes and Adrianna Rodencal. The Lincoln Lutheran alum Rodencal reset her own school 100-meter hurdles record on Friday by running 13.65. As part of a light day for Concordia track athletes, Jenna Esch turned in a 200-meter time of 25.26 in Kearney.
In additional field events that took place on Saturday, Addie Reimer cleared 5’ 3 ¾” in the high jump, Hayley Miles landed at 17’ 11” in the long jump, Sydney Reichert rose above 10’ 9 ¼” in the pole vault, Jax Jacobson vaulted 14’ 11 ½” and Jonah Paulsen posted a mark of 45’ 1” in the triple jump.
The focus now shifts to the 2024 NAIA Outdoor Track & Field National Championships (May 22-24), which will take place in Marion, Ind., for the second-straight year. Official national qualifiers will be announced by the NAIA next week. The multi-event qualifiers are scheduled to be unveiled on May 13 with all other qualifiers revealed on May 17.