Distance King's Double Helps Cobbers Post Best Outdoor Finish Since 2001

WINONA, Minn. (5/14/22)---Senior All-American Munir Isahak won both the 1500 meters and 5000 meters at the MIAC Outdoor Championship Meet to stake his claim as the all-time "Distance King" in the history of Concordia.

Isahak's two wins were a part of a 5-win meet for the Cobbers as they finished fourth in the final team standings. Concordia finished with 92.25 points which is the most by a CC team at an outdoor conference meet since the 2001 season when they also finished fourth. The fourth-place team finish is also the highest at an MIAC Outdoor Meet since the 2001 campaign.

Not only did Isahak win two events on Saturday, he also put his name in the record books in another event. Isahak started his 2-win day by cruising to a time of 3:51.29 in the finals of the 1500 meters. That time broke the old school record of 3:52.02 set by Nick Myran in 2005.

Isahak now owns the Concordia outdoor school records in the 1500 meters, 3000 meters and 10,000 meters. The only distance record he doesn't own is the 5000 meters – and he probably would have owned that after Saturday if it hadn't been for the heat in Winona. Having to compete less than two hours after winning the 1500 meters, Isahak broke away from the pack in the final 300 meters and won the 5K with a time of 14:55.95.   

Fellow All-Americans Cal Wright and Cooper Folkestad, and freshman Anthony Marsh, joined Isahak at the top of the podium. Wright broke his own school record on his way to winning the 400 meters. He posted a time of 47.68 in the finals which bettered his school-record mark from a week ago by .12 of a second. Wright was also second in the 200 meters with a school-record time of time of 21.62. He broke the old school record of 21.99 set by Ben Vickstrom in 2014 in the  prelims and then dropped that mark in the finals.

Folkestad recorded his second straight conference shot put title. He won the indoor crown in February, and then backed it up with a distance of 51-09.75 which won the outdoor meet by over a foot. His conference-winning mark came on his second attempt on Friday.

Marsh had a breakthrough performance in his very first conference outdoor meet. He came through with a personal-best distance of 22-11 on his very last attempt on Friday to overtake the leader and claim the victory.

Marsh also recorded team points in the high jump where he posted a height of 6-0.50 and finished in eighth place.   

The biggest surprise of the meet for the Cobbers came in the 800 meters. Concordia was without the services of All-American Jesse Middendorf, who suffered a season-ending injury during the NCAA Indoor National Meet, and everyone thought they wouldn't have any chance to get on the podium. Junior Solomon Johnson proceeded to prove everyone wrong.

Johnson had the meet of his life on the biggest stage. The only CC entrant in the event, he entered the meet seeded 11th. Johnson qualified for the finals with a time of 1:57.68 which was the ninth fastest among the competitors, and only .19 of a second faster than his previous season best. On Saturday, Johnson channeled his inner Middendorf and shocked the field by clocking a 1:56.26. He was only .20 of a second away from a runner-up finish.  His finals time also catapults him into the Top 20 in school history.

The final Top 5 finish for the Cobbers at the conference meet was turned in by senior Jake Kerzman. Kerzman saved his best for last in the discus where he unleashed a throw of 145-08 on his final attempt and placed fourth.            

UP NEXT: Concordia will try and improve on their season marks when they participate at the Wis.-La Crosse NCAA Qualifier on Thursday, May 19.     

MUNIR ISAHAK 5K WIN