This weekend Concordia Track & Field competed at the WHAC Indoor Track & Field Championships hosted by Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Mich. In a competitive field of nationally ranked teams, the Cardinals took home a 6th place finish for both the men and women's teams.
Men's Recap
Bringing in 10 points for the men's team, Senior thrower Eric Bugg took home a 5th place finish with a 14.88m toss in the weight throw, and 3rd place in the shot put a heave of 14.13m, a new personal best for him. Bugg earned all-conference honorable mention for his third place finish. Fellow throwers Zachary Belinsky, Richard Branch, Noah Pastrana and Joshua Wood also competed in both throwing events. Branch and Wood both had personal bests in the weight throw, with respective tosses of 11.10m and 6.96m.
The mens' 4x800m team consisting of Adam DiMaggio, Avery Sanchez, Noah Starkey and Theodore Eising pulled in a 4th place finish for a time of 9:11.15. Eising also raced in the 800m, taking 7th with a time of 2:14.43, and Sanchez went on to take 8th place in the men's 1,000m (2:55.07), personal records for both.
DiMaggio also completed in the men's 3,000m, running 11:08.51 and Starkey ran 1:33.82 in the 600m. Sophomore Ethan Szabados competed in the high jump, jumping 1.71m for a 10th place finish, finishing behind a 3-way tie for 7th place.
Also scoring points was Senior Alan Jones who took 7th in the 60m dash (7.23) and raced in the 200m (23.57). Fellow sprinter Ameir Wilbourn joined Jones in the 200m (24.84) and 60m dash (7.43), and competed in the long jump (5.06m).
The men's 4x400m team brought home the last of the team's points with a 6th place finish, running 3:48.87, a season best for that group.
At the conclusion of the meet, the WHAC announced the all-academic and champions of character recipients. Eric Bugg earned more hardwood for the day as he was named WHAC all-academic for achieving a cumulative 3.25 GPA during his Cardinal career. Bugg was also Concordia's recipient of the Champions of Character award.
Women's Recap
The women's 4x800m team consisting of Megan Espinoza, Lydia Schroeder, Gabby Porter, and Amanda Wood ran 10:37.29, earning them a 3rd place finish. The relay team earned honorable all-conference for their 3rd place finish.
Wood also added to the team's points, taking 5th in the 600m (1:48.96) with Porter not far behind (1:51.30). Schroeder went on to take 7th in the 1,000m, running 3:29.19. Espinoza also ran in the 1,000m with a time of 3:53.46 and in the mile (6:27.86).
Junior thrower Payton (Wauseon, Ohio) finished the season with personal bests in both of her events, throwing 9.26m in the weight throw and 8.22m in the shot put. Multi-event athlete Hayle Flowers competed in the long jump and women's shot put. Sophomore Sierra Stechebar jumped 1.48m in the high jump.
The 4x400m relay of Mae Dulin, Porter, Wood and Seneca Miller ran 4:31.72 for a 6th place finish. Dulin and Miller also ran in the 400m with times of 1:06.98 and 1:02.45, respectively. Dulin also competed in the 200m, with a time of 28.49.
At the conclusion of the meet, the WHAC announced the all-academic and champions of character recipients. A plethora of Cardinals earned all-academic honors as they were of junior status and maintained a cumulative GPA requirement of a 3.25. Emily Belinsky, Abbey Bentz, Lauren Drinane, Mae'isha Dulin, Payton Lovins, Gabrielle Porter, Lydia Schroeder, and Elizabeth Trent earned all-academic. Lydia Schroeder was named Concordia's Champions of Character recipient.
This meet concludes Concordia's indoor track and field season. The Cardinals begin outdoor track & field competition Wednesday, March 24, 2021 at the Thunder-Bolt Relays hosted by Concordia University Ann Arbor at the Thunder Sports Complex.
