Bulldogs divide and conquer on the road, at UNL Graduate Classic, Scott Nisely Memorial Classic

Senior Adrianna Rodencal wins first in the women’s 60-meter hurdles (photo from 2024-25 season).

Photo credit: Maddy Peters

By Kai Olbrich

Sports Editor

The Concordia University track and field team divided and conquered through Jan. 16-17 as they grabbed podium finishes at the UNL Graduate Classic hosted by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Scott Nisely Memorial Classic at Doane University.

Senior Adrianna Rodencal was the star of the show for Concordia at the UNL meet as she beat out a field of almost entirely NCAA Division I competition to win the women’s 60-meter hurdles final. Rodencal also broke her own school record in the event with a time of 8.41, despite it being the first competition since the winter break.

Junior Hayden Kluthe also performed well in the 60-meter hurdles and claimed fourth place in the men’s race. His time of 8.23 puts him in the top-10 all-time for the event.

Fresh off a school record of her own, sophomore Adysen McCarter jumped just shy of her previous mark in the women’s triple jump with a 38’ 8 ¾” leap, enough to earn her second place in the event.

At the Scott Nisely meet, four Bulldogs took first place in their respective events.

Senior Aaron Spivey grabbed first place in the men’s triple jump by jumping 44’ 11 ¾”. Spivey’s winning mark came on his first attempt, but also left him with an injury and unable to complete his remaining attempts. Despite the injury, he still retained the first-place spot.

14’ 7 ¼” was the height achieved by event winner junior Jax Jacobson in the men’s pole vault. He had a flair for the dramatic as he passed both heights that he attempted on his third try.

Sophomore Vaughn Hendrickson crushed the competition in the men’s 1k. His time of 2:39.25 was over 10 seconds faster than his nearest opponent.

The Bulldogs stacked the women’s 800, coming away with five of the top six finishers. The No. 1 spot went to junior Landri Loos, who finished in 2:26.69.

Freshman Makenna Starkey was the runner-up in the women’s high jump. Her mark of 5’ 5 ¼” was tied for first place, but Starkey had failed her first jump while Doane’s Katelynn Kratz cleared it on her first attempt. Despite event placement, Starlet still achieved the B standard for national qualification.

The Bulldogs are back at home for their next two meets. First up is the Concordia Polar Dog Invite on Jan. 23, then the Concordia Classic on Jan. 30-31.