Cross country looks to develop already strong team
The sidewalks in front of Weller Hall are quiet but soon the 2026 Bulldog Cross Country team will be pounding the pavement in preparation for a competitive season.
Photo: Elizabeth Salo
This story is featured in the August print edition of the Sower newspaper.
By Kai Olbrich
Sports Editor
Coach Matt Beisel. Photo: Concordia Athletics.
The Concordia cross country team is returning a strong selection of athletes for the 2026 season and will be looking to improve on the third-place men’s and fifth-place women’s finish at the Great Plains Athletic Conference meet last year.
Coach Matt Beisel is excited for what is coming up on the course but is even more eager to see how his team connects with the new recruits.
“I love each of those kids so much, and what they bring to the table, from who they are,” Beisel said. “I cannot wait to feel the goosebumps as I see these kids connect and build relationships with the existing team, because it’s going to be awesome.”
Beisel emphasized how he wants each of his athletes to see their value in their identity in Christ in their cross-country performance.
The Bulldogs return two All-Americans in junior Vaughn Hendrickson on the men’s side and junior Keeli Green for the women.
Their first meet is the Augustana University Twilight on Sept. 4 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, at 8:45 p.m. The Bulldogs will compete for the GPAC championship on Nov. 7 in Sioux Center, Iowa, on the campus of Dordt University.
