(Ypsilanti, MI) Concordia men's track and field hosted their first ever indoor track & field meet Friday at Lincoln High School in Ypsilanti, MI. Lincoln's amenities feature a 300-meter track built in 2021. Paying homage to Lincoln's blue and white school colors, the meet was named Red, White, and Blue Track Classic. The Cardinals posted a number of personal bests and an NCCAA qualifying mark at the meet.
Senior Richard Branch (Detroit, MI) led the throws squad to a series of a personal bests including a heave of 12.96m in the weight throw, earning him a spot at the indoor National Christian College Athletic Association championships. Branch also had a monster throw in the shot put, tossing 13.93m, securing a tie for 3rd in Concordia's All-Time throws. Junior Zachary Belinsky (Beulah, MI) also saw a personal best, throwing 12.52m in the shot put. He competed in the weight throw as well, tossing 12.12m. Freshman Jordan Ponce (Milan, MO) opened up his collegiate career with a throw of 10.48m in the shot put. Sophomore Joshua Wood (Champagne, IL) and Freshman duo ToRohn Yancey (Detroit, MI) and Scott Smith (Saginaw, MI) all saw personal bests. Wood threw 8.73m in the weight throw for a personal best. Yancey and Smith threw 11.48m and 11.15m, respectively, in the shot put.
Smith went on to run the 200m in a time of 25.29. Alongside Smith in the 200m were a number of Cardinals, including Jeremiah Salas, Jordan Foy, Maurice Kado, Logan Hay, Andrew Wiemer, and Kash Warren. Warren (Lorain, OH) led the sprinters, crossing the line at 23.33 with Salas (Decatur, MI) right behind him, running 23.74. Hay (Houston, TX) ran a personal best of 24.28, as did Kado (Hanover, NH) who ran 25.62. Kado also ran a personal best in the 60m dash where he crossed the line in 7.68. Wiemer (Bratenhal, ID) opened his college career with a time of 26.31.
Also opening in a new event was freshman Mason Wyllis (Holt, MI) who opened his collegiate career in the 60m, running 8.09. Running the 60m dash with Wyllis was Foy (Columbia, SC) and Warren who ran 7.41 and 7.25 respectively. Warren, Weimer, Hay and Luke Bentz (Fort Wayne, IN) ran the 4x400 relay, running 3:42.40.
In addition to the 4x400, Bentz also ran the 600m in a time of 1:31.17. Fellow distance teammates saw personal bests in the 3,000m race. Theodore Eising (Royal Oak, MI) and Avery Sanchez (Allen Park, MI) ran 9:59.41 and 10:08.22, respectively. Sanchez also ran 2:57.93 in the 1,000m.
Wrapping up events, junior Ethan Szabados (Brownstown, MI) cleared 1.70m in the high jump.
The Cardinals resume competition Friday, February 11, for a two day meet at the National Christian College Athletic Association championships in Cedarville, OH. Keep up the Cardinals by following the team on social media - CUAAXCTF.
