(Allendale, MI) - Grand Valley State University hosted the "Big Meet" this weekend where the Cardinals did BIG things on the track. With technically two separate meets over Friday and Saturday, Concordia sent a small contingent of men and women to compete in just 3 events on Friday afternoon.  Four men and six women ran the 600m races, and one woman contested the 5000m. By 3:30pm three more school records were broken and a national qualifier was born.

The day started with several sections of the 5000m, where Stephanie Johnston battled 16 and 2/3rds laps around GVSU's 300m track, as well as a myriad of talented D1, D2, and NAIA competition. Through half the race she was on pace to crush the school record by more than 30 seconds. As 18:31.58 ticked off the clock, Johnston had taken 15 seconds off the school record, and surpassed the "B" standard for the NAIA Indoor National Meet. With 3 right-of-membership entries (or Wild Cards) per men's and per women's team, this mean's she is the first woman in School history to make it to the Indoor National Meet.

The fireworks were not done as the women stepped onto the track for the 600m. Each of the 6 women ran against each other in the same heat. Teammate rivalry and competitiveness fueled these athletes as they raced around the track. 1:51.38 was the time to beat for another School record to fall. Brie Schofield led the way as she crossed the line in 1:45.14. Her teammates were not far behind as Sidney Bosley crossed in 1:46.94, Melaina Bent ran close to her in 1:49.97, and Elizabeth Mathews crossed in 1:50.48. All women ran personal bests and all were under the previous school record. Courtney Dykema and Kelsey Riley ran workman like efforts with Riley running her 600m on pace to run a PR in the 800m

The men clearly did not want the women to have all the fun. Max Monton, off of a great meet the week prior, was primed to attack the 600m. The school record was in his sights as he prepared through the week. Jumping out to an early lead, the junior sprinter set himself up to have a shot at the record. Digging deep with 200m left he was able to battle off the competition, and edge way into a heat winner. His time of 1:22.76 was well under the previous school record or 1:24.22 set in 2012. While his time was fast enough for a National Qualifying "B" standard of 1:22.80, the converted time, due to a larger than 200m track was about .5 seconds off of where he needed to be. With a 600m to come at conference, Monton is poised to be Concordia's next National Qualifier. Three more Men raced after Monton's record setting bout where each saw a personal records in the event, and all were on pace for best times in the 800m.

With the remainder of the team joining these athletes at the hotel in Grand Rapids, the team looks forward to Saturday's competition for more highlights and energy, as the team prepares for the Conference meet next week. 
 

GO CARDS!