ST. PAUL, Minn.- The Concordia-St. Paul track and field teams are scheduled to travel to Brookings, S.D., to compete in the SDSU D2 Invitational. The Golden Bears last meet at the St. Thomas open was canceled due to COVID-19 protocols. 

On the SDSU D2 Invitational, Head Coach Sam Johnson commented, "This is the biggest event of the year thus far. We will get our first look at several NSIC opponents along with some regional NAIA schools." 

The men will compete in a total of 13 events including the 60m dash, the 200m dash, the 600m run, the 800m run, the one mile, the 5000m run, the 60m hurdles, the 4x400m relay, the high jump, the pole vault, the long jump, the shot put, and the weight throw. 

The women will compete in a total of 12 events including the 60m dash, 200m dash, the 400m dash, the 600m run, the one mile, the 3000m run, the 60m hurdles, the 4x400m relay, the high jump, the pole vault, the shot put, and the weight throw. 

"With the absence of a meet last week, there are still a number of our student-athletes that will be making their season debuts which is exciting," said Coach Johnson. "There will surely be some nerves among the athletes making their debuts on such a stage, but the emphasis will be on learning how to manage the emotions and expectations, while trying to execute and have fun." 

On the men's side, six athletes will make collegiate debuts in seven events and the women will have four athletes debut in five events. 

Freshmen Tom Cao, DJ Smith, and Jackson Klocow will all debut in the 60m dash for the Golden Bears while Cao will also debut in the 200m dash. 

Redshirt freshman Calder Erick, a transfer from the University of Houston and a Forest Lake, Minn. native, will debut in the long jump for CSP. He will also compete in the pole vault (personal record of 3.75m and the Chuck Petersen Open in December 2021) and the 60m hurdles (personal record of 8.74 at the Minnesota Open in January 2022). 

Senior Thomas Schauerman, a product of Edina, Minn., will debut in the 600m run and will also compete in the 800m run (personal record of 1:56.28 at the Fresno State Invitational in April 2021) and the 4x400m relay alongside Andrew Johnson, Jakob Tordsen, and Josh Sims. 

Freshmen Tess Houglum, Emma Giger, and Anna Sajdak will all debut in the one mile run for the Golden Bears, competing alongside senior Delaney Butler. It will be the only event for all three freshmen while Butler will also compete in the 3000m run (personal record of 12:17.47 at the Maverick Spring Invite in April 2021). 

Junior Cece Lewis looks forward to her debut in the 60m dash and the 200m dash for the first time as a collegiate athlete. Lewis is also a potential athlete to run in the 4x400m relay. 

Coach Johnson concluded his thoughts on the upcoming meet by noting, "Early season competing always provides learning opportunities for under- and upperclassmen alike and gives us coaches more insight into what needs to be addressed in training." 

Following the SDSU D2 Invitational, the Golden Bears will look forward to competing in the Mark Schuck Open & Multi on Friday, Jan. 28 and Saturday, Jan. 29 hosted by Minnesota State in Mankato. 

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