Outdoor Season Starts for Concordia Track Squads
by Garrett Suchanek
The throwers from both the men’s and women’s teams picked up where they left off in the indoor season and led Concordia’s men’s and women’s teams in their first outdoor track and field meet of the season on Saturday. The throwers picked up 22 automatic national qualifying marks in the meet.
On the women’s side, senior Stephanie Coley and sophomore Samantha Liermann took first and second place in the shot put, while Coley and senior Tricia Svoboda took first and third place in the discus throw. Senior Liz King claimed first place honors in the javelin throw with a throw of 43.40 meters.
On the men’s side, juniors Zach Lurz and Trey Barnes and senior Jose Rojas took first, second and third place in the shot put. Lurz, Barnes, Rojas and senior Joshua Slechta swept first through fourth place in the discus throw. Also, in the hammer throw Slechta won while Rojas, Lurz and junior Philip Kreutzer followed in order to round out the top four spots.
In running events, senior Kim Wood claimed first-place honors in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:14.69. Junior Lucas Wiechman won two hurdles races, the 110 meter and 400 meter, while jumping a national qualifying mark in the pole vault. The men’s 4×400 meter relay team also earned a first place finish with a time of 3:19.13.
Concordia will host its next meet on Saturday, April 9.
Automatic National Qualifiers
- Junior Trey Barnes (shot put, discus)
- Senior Kattie Cleveland (hammer)
- Senior Stephanie Coley (shot put, discus, hammer)
- Freshman McKenzie Gravo (pole vault)
- Senior Liz King (hammer, javelin)
- Junior Philip Kreutzer (hammer)
- Sophomore Samantha Liermann (shot put)
- Junior Zach Lurz (shot put, discus, hammer)
- Junior Sydney Meyer (hammer)
- Junior Kali Robb (shot put, hammer)
- Senior Jose Rojas (shot put, discus, hammer)
- Senior Joshua Slechta (discus, hammer)
- Senior Tricia Svoboda (discus)
- Junior Lucas Wiechman (pole vault)
