Track and Field Team Preview

The track and field team practices in the Walz fieldhouse. Photo by Jordyn Sturms.

by Morgan Raska

Concordia’s indoor track and field team is under the new instruction of coach Matthew Beisel whose three main goals for the season are to finish as a top three team in conference, have a large part of the team compete at nationals and to have a top 10 finish at nationals for both the men’s and the women’s teams.

Last year, the women’s team finished first at indoor nationals, and the men’s team finished second.

Beisel is quite confident in his team this year.

“We have transfers, returners and freshmen who will quite likely be huge performers at conference and even at nationals,” Beisel said.

One of those returners, sophomore Allison Brooks, is a pole vaulter who qualified for nationals last year.

Brooks qualified her freshman year in both indoor and outdoor national tournaments and was GPAC outdoor all-conference champion in pole vault.

Brooks’s personal goals this year is to make it back to the national tournament. She wants to work as hard as she possibly can.

“God has graciously blessed me with a healthy body, and this year I intend to use it to it’s full potential,” Brooks said.

Brooks also has faith that her vaulting crew will “clear some big bars this year.”

Senior teammate Zach Lurz is an indoor and outdoor all-American and all-conference thrower. Coming off of an incredible last indoor season, Lurz was among many throwers who broke and set various GPAC throwing records.

“Last indoor season was one of the better Concordia has seen in awhile,” Lurz said. “We need to continue our dominance.”

Lurz is looking to reset his personal bests this season, setting a goal for 62 feet in shot put and to continue competing with teammates in the hammer throw.