Experience Is Served At Tune-Up Before MIAC Meet

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (2/17/24)---Experience was served in the final competition before the MIAC Championship Meet. Concordia had a host of seniors and juniors put up marks on the school's all-time list as the Cobbers finished in third place in the final team standings at the UND Tune-Up.

Seniors Tanner Olson and Dawson Schaffer led the way for Concordia as both athletes posted Concordia Top 20 times in track events.

Olson claimed the only event win in track as he outdueled freshman teammate Brady Goss in the mile. Olson covered the mile in 4:26.14, which was 3.86 seconds ahead of Goss and is a personal best. Olson's finishing time placed him 19th on the school's all-time list.

Schaffer came through with CC Top times in both the prelims and the finals of the 60-meter dash. He opened the meet with a 7.11 in the prelims and lowered that time to 7.04 in the finals. Schaffer's final's time is the third fastest in Cobber history and tied for eighth best in the MIAC this year.

Juniors Trevor Tiongson and Gavin Groshelle also had successful Saturdays in Grand Forks. Tiongson crossed the finish line in a time of 49.37 in the 400 meters and finished fourth out of 16 competitors. His time is the fifth fastest in school history and No.4 in the MIAC this year.  

Groshelle posted his second Cobber Top 20 time in as many weekends. Last week he climbed into the Top 20 in the 1000 meters and on Saturday he stepped up in the 800 meters. Groshelle clocked a 1:56.43, which is No.16 on the all-time list. His time will also earn Groshelle a spot in the conference meet next weekend.

In other track news, Logan Clark did not run the exact same time in the 60-meter hurdles. Clark entered the weekend having run off a string of 8.64 marks in the past two meets. Clark recorded a time of 8.70 in the prelims at UND and qualified for the finals. He then finished fourth in the event with a time of 8.67.

Cooper Folkestad added to the list of senior accomplishments on Saturday. He posted the only field win of the meet by claiming the title in the shot put. Folkestad put up a distance of 53-04.25 on his fourth attempt and won the event by 4 feet.

Folkestad is currently ranked second in the MIAC heading into the conference meet. His season-best mark of 54-10.25 came on Feb. 10 at the SJU Invite.

Senior Wade Rhonemus completed his prep work for the MIAC heptathlon by competing in the 60-meter hurdles and long jump. He clocked an 8.93 in the prelims and then posted an 8.94 in the finals to finish sixth. He was also sixth in the long jump with a distance of 20-05.25.

UP NEXT: Concordia will head to Northfield to compete in the MIAC Championship Meet next weekend. The heptathlon is slated for Feb. 22-23, while the overall championship meet will take place on Feb. 23-24. Both events will be held at St. Olaf.