ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Concordia-St. Paul men's and women's track and field teams will continue the outdoor season at a pair of meets on this weekend, with a select group of 5k runners competing at the UW-Platteville Invitational in Platteville, Wis. on Friday while a majority of the team will compete at the Minnesota State Open in Mankato, Minn. on Saturday.

Friday's 5ks in Platteville are scheduled to begin at 6:10 p.m., alternating between men's and women's heats until the final men's heat at 10:45 p.m.

On Saturday in Mankato, field events are set to kick off at noon while track events will begin at 2 p.m.

NSIC LEADERBOARD
With one meet under their belts in the outdoor season, several Golden Bears rank in the top 10 in their respective events on the conference leaderboard.

For the Concordia women, junior Maya Lavendusky's shot put mark of 13.26 meters (43' 6") ranks second in the conference. Fellow junior Nyadio Chan sits seventh in the NSIC in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:19.93.

Sophomore Cadence Tanner is ninth in the conference with a distance of 5.46 meters (17' 11") in the long jump while freshman Bernie Barnhardt's hammer throw distance of 45.61 meters (149' 8") is the 10^th-best mark in the NSIC so far.

On the men's side, senior Matt Krummel holds the highest individual rank for CSP as he currently sits second in the 3000m steeplechase with a time of 9:42.37. 

Junior Dan Otto ranks third in the shot put with a mark of 15.59 meters (51' 1.75") while also ranking fifth in the discus with a distance of 48.09 meters (157' 9"). 

Senior Drake Daniels sits fourth in the 110-meter hurdles with a 14.88-second clocking.

Freshman Del Johnson is in the top 10 in a pair of sprinting events, sitting seventh in the 200-meter dash with a time of 21.32 seconds and ninth in the 400-meter dash with a time of 49.72 seconds. Freshman Cam Mata also ranks highly in the sprints, currently sitting eighth in the 100-meter dash with his time of 10.90 seconds. 

Freshman Jake Weigel is ninth in the long jump with a mark of 6.60 meters (21' 8") while senior Basheer Alam is 10th in the pole vault with a distance of 3.90 meters (12' 9.5"). 

LAST TIME OUT
The Golden Bears opened the outdoor season at a pair of meets on Saturday afternoon, competing at the Hamline Invite in St. Paul and the Ashton May Invite in La Crosse, Wis.

For the Golden Bear women, Cadence Tanner started the season strong with an individual victory in the long jump, clearing 5.46 meters (17' 11"). The sophomore also placed third in the 100-meter hurdles, clocking a time of 15.53 seconds.

Freshman Mackenzie Lovejoy secured a first-place finish in the 100-meter hurdles with a 15.51-second clocking.

Senior Destiny Mattingly had a strong day in the sprints, placing second in both the 100 and 200-meter dash. She set personal records in both events, clocking times of 12.46 seconds in the 100m and 25.50 seconds in the 200m.

Sophomore Mehlayna Straub also set personal records in a pair of events, clocking a time of 15.53 seconds in the 100-meter hurdles and clearing 5.40 meters (17' 8.75") in the long jump, claiming second place in both events.

In La Crosse, junior Maya Lavendusky was the top finisher in the shot put with a distance of 13.26 meters (43' 6").

The Concordia men were highlighted by a first-place finish in the 110-meter hurdles from senior Drake Daniels, clocking a time of 14.88 seconds in his season debut.

Making his outdoor debut, freshman Cam Mata placed second in the 100-meter dash with a time of 10.90 seconds. Fellow freshman Del Johnson also made a splash in his first outdoor action, placing second in the 200-meter dash with a time of 21.32 seconds and third in the 400-meter dash with a time of 49.72 seconds.

At the Ashton May Invite, junior Dan Otto placed sixth in the discus with a toss of 48.09m (157' 9") and seventh in the shot put with a throw of 15.59m (51' 1.75").

The Golden Bears will be back in action next week, with a select group of 5k runners competing at the UW-Platteville Invite on Friday and the rest of the team competing at the Minnesota State Open in Mankato, Minn. on Saturday.

LAST TIME IN MANKATO
The Golden Bears last sent a full squad to Minnesota State in the outdoor season on April 13, 2024 at last year's edition of the Minnesota State Open.

Drake Daniels provided a major highlight for the Concordia men, breaking his own record in the 110m hurdles that he had set just a week prior. Daniels comfortably cruised past his previous mark of 14.80 as he took fifth with a time of 14.61 seconds.

The quartet of Jackson Klocow, Nate Segura, Tarnue David and Priestly Jibunor joined Smith in the win column as their time of 42.12 seconds earned them the top spot in the 4x100m relay. Keyshawn Pettis chipped in a third-place result in the discus with a distance of 155' 4" as the men's squad compiled 20 top-10 and nine top-five finishes.

The women finished the day with 12 top-10 results, including five inside the top five.

Jaid Perry picked up the lone win as her time of 1:04.95 in the 400m hurdles paced the field.

Cadence Tanner chipped in a strong day of her own as she took second in the high jump with a height of 5' 5.75", hitting a provo in the process. She also took fourth in the 100m hurdles with a time of 15.32 second while joining Chidera Osuoha, Seraphina Stewart and Mehlayna Straub in the 4x100m relay to take third with a time of 49.81 seconds.

Nyadio Chan wrapped up the 800m in 2:21.66 to give her a second-place finish of her own.