Track and field is back to breaking records and personal bests as they closed out their indoor season and launched outdoor season on the same day, March 8. A select group of athletes traveled to Pittsburg, Kansas for the NCAA Indoor National Championships while the rest of the team competed in Fullerton at the Ben Brown Invitational.  

At the NCAA Championships, competing in the women’s distance medley relay for the first time  in Concordia history were Porshe Eismann, Bethany Schmidt, Maria Sartin and Jori Paradis. Passing off the baton for 4,000m, the Golden Eagles secured an 11th place finish at 11:38.89, just shy of their all-time school record.  

Eismann said, “Since I was the first leg of the DMR, I wanted to put my team into the best  position possible, and to do that I had to have confidence in myself and my ability that I do  belong there and deserve to compete against the best in the nation.” Eismann has been part of the track and field program for four years of her collegiate career and has made her mark on the team after breaking an 18-year-old record in the 800m.  

“After going to nationals twice, I know I’m capable of going again and becoming an All-American, and even winning a national title,” said Eismann. “But to do that, I have to continue with discipline in my training and recovery, having confidence within myself and trust in the Lord.”  

Dylan Fox represented the Golden Eagles on the men’s side competing in the Long Jump event. Fox returned to Concordia ranked the 16th best long jumper in the DII nation.  

Previously ranked 8th, Fox’s jumps were scratched by a matter of centimeters and were disallowed. “Scratching two of my biggest jumps and failing to make finals and top 8 was as much of a motivator as it was frustrating,” said Fox. “I intend to bring a national title back to  Concordia in the outdoor season.”  

Back in Fullerton at Ben Brown, Tayla Crenshaw celebrated smashing a school record in the hammer throw by almost a meter. Marking 50.09m, Crenshaw is the first woman in school history to ever throw over 50m.  

Crenshaw said, “The Concordia track and field team work ethic and everyone’s contribution to wanting to be the best team in the PacWest makes us stand out. We all want to be the best team  athletically, and we all push one another to do that.”  

The Golden Eagles will be back on home turf for the Team 4 Titus and Ely Meet on March 23.  This annual meet was created to honor the Bowman family. Danny Bowman became Concordia’s track and field head coach in 2014 and left a significant impact on the program. 

This meet raises awareness for Coach Bowman’s sons, Titus and Ely, who were diagnosed with a rare genetic disease called Batten. After losing his oldest, Titus, to the disease at 6-years-old, Bowman's younger son, Ely, continues to undergo treatment to slow the progression of the disease. This meet is to honor Titus and Ely and give the athletes the opportunity to celebrate their sport with joy and compete for those who can’t. 

Tags: Track and Field

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