Olson Starts Season By Breaking 30-Year-Old Record

MOORHEAD, Minn. (1/26/13)—Senior Erik Olson christened the 2013 indoor track and field season in style by breaking the 30-year-old school record in the pole vault. Olson became the first Concordia athlete to clear the 15-foot mark and helped CC post eight top 5 finishes at the Cobber Open.

"It was amazing," said Concordia head coach Garrick Larson. "I've been through a lot of things this past year but Erik's vault was one of the most incredible."

Olson, whose previous best was a 14-5.25 at last year's MIAC Meet, broke the 30-year-old record pole vault record of 14-11 set by Buz Dahl in 1983. Olson finished with the height of 15-0 and placed second in the event. He was one of three Cobbers who finished in the top five of the pole vault. Charlie Alvarez cleared 13-6.25 and was fourth while Levi Bachmeier fifth with the same height.

Most of the top finishes for the Cobbers at the meet came in field events. Besides the three top 5 marks in the pole vault, Concordia had three top 5 finishes in the high jump. Sophomore Simon Erlandson posted one of his two top 3 finishes as he placed second with a mark of 6-02. That height ties his career collegiate best. Freshman Gabe Wright and sophomore Mark Goss had the same height but placed in a tie for fourth because of the number of misses at lower heights.

Erlandson also came away with the top track finish of the day for the Cobbers.  He ran a 7.29 in the 60-meter dash and came in fourth place. His time would have been the second fastest of any Cobber athlete in all of last season.

Brad McConn narrowly missed a top 5 finish in the mile. McConn ran a 4:38.22 and finished in sixth place in the event.

The only event win for Concordia on the weekend came from senior Brad Johnson in the two-day heptathlon. Johnson finished with a total score of 4,316 and won by almost 500 points. His total was also 61 points better than his season-best score from the 2012 season at the MIAC Meet.

Concordia will continue with their opening two-meet home stand when they host the annual Cobber Duals on Saturday, Feb. 2 beginning at noon.