Brooks Leaps onto National Leaderboard, Bulldogs Continue to Nationals
by Madison Pitsch
The Bulldogs continue to be a force to be reckoned with on the track, as the team notched 61 personal bests and 19 season bests during the weekend’s Sevinge Husker Invite in Lincoln and Beile Classic in Crete.
It is no surprise sophomore Allie Brooks continues to sweep the pole vault competition. She ranks as the national leader in the NAIA for pole vault. She broke her own school record in pole vault with a vault of 12’ 10 ¾”, following that up by breaking a 1986 high jump record of a jump of 5’7”. This jump puts Brooks tied for third in the nation.
Senior Lucas Wiechman had a standout performance for the Bulldogs. Wiechman’s performance in the heptathlon, with a score of 5073, launched him to first place on the national level. Senior Thomas Matik’s heptathlon score of 4102 put him within qualifying mark of the national indoor meet. Freshman Jessica Deterding and junior Anna Beune also met the minimum national qualifying mark in the pentathlon with scores of 2900 and 2879, respectively.
Sophomore Thomas Taylor and freshman Rebekah Hinrichs dominated the mile with times of 4:36.89 and 5:38.01, respectively. Hinrichs beat out her competition by 10 seconds.
The Concordia women throwers swept the weight throw, taking places first through fifth. Senior Sydney Meyer took first with a throw of 54’ 05 ¼”. Senior Kali Robb took second with a throw of 54’ 03 ¼”. Junior Samantha Liermann placed third with a launch of 50’ 07 ½”. Senior Katricia Svoboda and freshman Adrianna Shaw took fourth and fifth, respectively.
Two Bulldogs took on their NAIA Division 1 competition during the weekend. Senior Cody Boellstorff placed third in the weight throw with a throw of 65’ 10 ¼”. Senior CJ Muller set a personal record in the 600-meter run with a time of 1:19.62, three seconds off from first place.
Notable second place performances from Shaw (shot put), freshman Michael Leapley (800 meters), junior Patrick Wortmann (1000 meters), junior Shelbi Hackbart (3.000 meters), junior Emily Sievert (5,000 meters) and the women’s 4×400 meter team helped propel the Bulldogs throughout the weekend.
“I want to acknowledge that we have a great God who gives great blessing. Our team continues to be blessed,” coach Matthew Beisel said.
Catch the Bulldogs at home on Friday for the Concordia Indoor Invitational, beginning at 2 p.m.
