Men's Track and Field Racks Up Event Wins, NAIA Marks at Concordia Classic
SEWARD, Neb. — Doane Men's Track and Field turned in a productive Saturday at the Concordia Classic inside the Walz Fieldhouse, highlighting the day with multiple event victories and six NAIA "B" standards across the track and field slate.
The Tigers' top track finish came from senior Connor Bradley, who placed second in the 60 meters (7.00) before adding a third-place showing in the 200 (22.51). Doane also posted one of the day's best relay results with a third-place finish in the 4x400 (3:25.94) and capped the distance events with a winning time in the distance medley relay.
Sprint & hurdle highlights
Bradley advanced from the prelims and moved up in the final to claim runner-up honors in the 60 meters (7.00). In the 200 meters, he followed with a 22.51 to take third overall.
Doane put two into the finals of the 60 hurdles, led by Tommy Smith's third-place finish (8.34) and Addison Croghan close behind in fourth (8.39). Croghan also qualified through the prelims as Doane placed multiple athletes across the heats.
Strong relay and middle-distance performances
Doane's "A" 4x400 relay of Avyan Correa, Bradley, Orion Ulmer and Caleb Mulder finished third in 3:25.94. In the open 400, Mulder led the Tigers with a fifth-place time of 50.99, while Correa (51.51) and Ulmer (51.52) added top-eight finishes.
In the 600, Emmanuel Yego paced the Tigers with a sixth-place 1:24.72, with Lucas Gautier also in the top 10 (1:24.99). Doane continued to stack entries in the 800, led by Luke Bonifas in fourth (2:00.23) and Nate O'Brien in seventh (2:01.89).
Distance crew delivers a win
Doane's distance medley relay quartet of Porter Bickley, Eli Marez, Bonifas and Michael Grigsby clocked 10:18.17 to win the event and post an NAIA "B" standard.
On the individual side, Jayden Wall placed fourth in the mile (4:22.81), with Grigsby sixth (4:27.88) and Jordan Kwiatkowski adding a solid effort (4:42.87). Cody Smith led Doane in the 3,000 with a 9:22.67, while Kale Maguire (9:36.75) and Kasen York (9:50.42) also contributed.
Big points in the jumps and vaults
Doane owned the pole vault, led by Andrew Harms' winning clearance of 4.58m. Roe Patton was second (4.48m), Ashton Pulliam took fourth (4.33m), Croghan added fifth (4.18m) and Edison Knott cleared 4.03m.
In the horizontal jumps, Harms finished second in the long jump (6.92m), while Michael Willey (6.79m) and Asher Watson (6.79m) rounded out a strong group effort.
Doane swept the top three spots in the triple jump, led by Brian Cech's event win and NAIA "B" mark of 14.55m. Mason Bahm placed second (14.34m) and Callan McKinney third (14.26m), giving the Tigers a major mid-season statement in the pit.
Throws shine with wins and NAIA "B" marks
Doane put together a standout day in the ring, highlighted by Cale Bessler's runner-up seeded shot put mark of 16.38m (NAIA "B"), while Andrew Schmitz added fourth (15.99m, NAIA "B").
In the weight throw, Jaden Vollenweider won the seeded section with a 17.91m mark (NAIA "B"), and Schmitz followed with a strong third-place 17.80m (NAIA "B").
Doane's depth was evident in the unseeded groups as well, including Tad Dimmitt winning the unseeded shot put (15.08m) and multiple Tigers placing throughout both shot and weight sections.
Up next
Doane continues its indoor season next weekend as the Tigers return to action at the Fred Beile Classic in Crete.
(generated by ChatGPT)