Big Track Leads To Big Marks

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (1/27/18)---Concordia used the big track at the University of North Dakota to their benefit as they came away with several Top 25 marks in school history and also had a boatload of career best marks at the UND Open in Grand Forks.  

The Cobbers posted eight marks in the Top 25 on the school's all-time list and had 18 personal best records set during the meet.

A pair of sprinters led the way for Concordia as both Willie Julkes and Matt Bye jumped into the Top 15 on the Cobbers' all-time list in events. Julkes, who won the 60-meter hurdles at last year conference indoor meet, bolted to a time of 7.37 in the 60-meters. That mark is the 13th fastest in school history and a personal best time for Julkes.

Julkes also went on to place third in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.89.

Bye tied for the top finish for a Concordia athlete at the meet. He ran an 8.77 in the finals of the 60-meter hurdles which was good for second place. It was also the fifth best in school history and a career best mark. Bye's time in the finals is currently the fifth fastest in the MIAC this season.

Freshman thrower Jacob Steiner continues to show signs of success in his first collegiate season.  Steiner had the only other Top 15 school mark at the meet. He posted a distance of 44-03.50 in the weight throw which is the 12th best in school history.

Concordia also had a pair of distance runners come away with positive marks in the second meet of the season. Senior Erik Larson obliterated his previous career best in the 5000 meters and jumped into the Top 20 on the school's all-time list in the event. Larson kicked his way to a 16:16.64 which factors into the 19th best in Cobber history.

Freshman Noah Kneeskern was right behind Larson in the 5k as he crossed the line in a time of 16:30.44 which is No.22 on the school's all-time list.

The mile tandem of Erik Wicklund and Munir Isahak also had Top 25 marks. Wicklund ran a 4:37.47 in the event which was good for second place and tied him with Bye for the top finish by a CC athlete at the meet. Wicklund's finishing time was No.20 on the school's all-time chart.

Isahak was less than a second behind as he crossed the line in 4:38.38 which pushed him into third place at the meet and is the 22nd fastest time in school history.

WHAT'S NEXT: Concordia will stay in the area and continue to compete against Division I and II competition when they participate in the NDSU Bison Open on Saturday, Feb. 3.

Indoor Personal Records @ UND Open, January 27, 2018
Actual time and o=oversize track; times converted to 200M flat track
60 - Willie Julkes, 7.37
60 - Tom Whiting, 7.57
60 - Nick Steinhofer, =7.87
200 - Tom Whiting, 24.75 (24.31o)
800 - Nick Solheim, 2:01.28 (1:59.57o)
Mile - Olsen Pancoast, 5:03.88 (5:00.04o)
5k - Erik Larson, 16:16.64 (16:06.30o), destroys PR by over 1 minute, old PR=17:19.06
60HH - Jake Probst, 9.48p
60HH- Matt Bye, =8.77f
PV - Zach Paustian, 3.70 (12-1.5)
LJ - Jake LePard, 5.59 (18-4.25)
TJ - Jake Probst, 12.35 (40-6.25)
SP - Ben Schelske, 11.45 (37-6.5)
SP - Carson Tunheim, 10.68 (35-0.5)
WT - Jake Steiner, 13.50 (44-3.5)
WT - Dylan Surface, 12.11 (39-8.75)
WT - Ben Schelske, 11.38 (37-4)
WT - Kevin Wolfe, 10.00 (32-9.75)

Cobber All-Time Top 25
60 - Willie Julkes, 7.37, #13
Mile - Erik Wicklund, 4:37.47 (4:33.96o), #20
Mile - Munir Isahak, 4:38.38 (4:34.86o), #22
5k - Erik Larson, 16:16.64 (16:06.30o), #19
5k - Noah Kneeskern, 16:30.44 (16:19.95o), #22
60HH - Matt Bye, =8.77f, =#5
WT - Jake Steiner, 13.50 (44-3.5), #12
WT - Dylan Surface, 12.11 (39-8.75), #23