Folkestad Fun In Florida
Cooper Folkestad went to Florida and came away with the top distance in Division III in both the shot put and discus.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (4/4/26)---Some people visit Florida to go to Disney World or Miami or Key West or any of the beautiful beaches. Cooper Folkestad visited Florida to go to the top of the NCAA Division III charts in not one, but two events.
The senior multiple All-American joined other members of the Cobber squad to participate in the Embry-Riddle Classic and came away with the top distances in the nation in the shot put and discus.
Folkestad opened the 2-day meet by posting a mark of 60-01.00 in the shot put. That distance won an event that had 23 entrants with athletes from DI and DII schools.
His winning distance is the tops in DIII this season by over a foot and will guarantee Folkestad a spot in the NCAA Outdoor Championship Meet.
Folkestad backed up his win in the shotput with an even more impressive feat. He stepped into the circle in the discus and unleashed a toss of 181-03.00. That distance broke his own Cobber school record by almost 10 feet.
His new school record mark won the event by 10 feet and is the top mark in the country. Folkestad will now qualify for nationals in two events for the second straight year.
Teammate Brayden Sjoblom also competed in the shot put and discus and put up season-beat marks. He placed 15th in the shot put at 42-02.25 and was No.24 in the discus with a mark of 115-06.
Sophomore Tyler Evans had the other Top 3 finish for Concordia at the meet. He cleared 14-11.00 in the pole vault and finished second due to misses at lower heights. Evans' height ties his season best which currently sits atop the MIAC chart.
Eli Hayes came through with a Top 10 finish in the javelin. He recorded a distance of 165-02 and placed ninth in a field of 30 athletes.
Concordia will return to the balmy climate of Minnesota and is scheduled to compete at the NDSU Spring Invite on Saturday, Apr. 11 starting at 1 p.m.