Cobbers Finish Off 2025 By Starting 2026 Season
Concordia opened the 2026 season by competing in the only meet in 2025. The Cobbers went across the Red River and participated in the annual NDSU Alumni Classic.
FARGO, N.D. (12/12/25)---Concordia opened the indoor season with a solid two-day showing at the NDSU Alumni Classic, competing against a deep field that included North Dakota, North Dakota State, MSU Moorhead and regional Division I and II programs.
Concordia picked up points across sprints, middle distance, relays and the throwing events, with several Cobbers producing collegiate bests and scoring finishes.
In the pentathlon, junior Abby Lovelace led the Concordia contingent with a 10th-place finish, scoring 3,164 points. Freshmen Taylor Christenson (14th – 2,868 pts) and Kaili Malvey (15th – 2,838 pts) gained valuable experience in their first collegiate multi-event competition.
On the track, sophomore Emma Warner delivered a points finish in the 600 meters, placing fifth with a time of 1:49.68. Warner later anchored the Concordia 4x400 relay to another scoring effort.
The Cobbers found additional success in the hurdles, as freshman Annalise Gerlach qualified for the finals in the 60-meter hurdles and placed eighth overall with a time of 10.53.
In the short sprints, Concordia advanced multiple athletes through prelims in both the 60 meters and 200 meters, highlighted by senior Emily Rengo, who posted a 26.64 to finish 10th in the 200.
The Cobbers' strongest overall event came in the 4x400 relay, where the lineup of Josie Brown, Lauren Pearson, Emma Norton and Emma Warner finished fifth with a combined time of 4:05.32, earning four team points against Division I-heavy competition.
Concordia's throwers also produced multiple scoring performances. In the shot put, first-year athlete Gracie Gallagher placed sixth with a mark of 12.14 meters, while Genevieve Dabout added a point in eighth (11.94m). Gallagher and Dabout followed up in the weight throw, finishing 10th (14.10m) and ninth (14.73m), respectively.
Additional field event highlights included junior Brynley Coleman clearing 2.80 meters in the pole vault, and freshman Emma Norton tying for 11th in the high jump at 1.46 meters.
Concordia will now have a break for the Christmas holiday and return to action in 2026 when they host the 89th Cobber Alumni Open.
Coach Marv's Story of the Week
During this season, as I enter my 31st year, beginning my fourth decade as the Cobber Women's head coach (and 40th year overall of coaching), I will at times use this space to tell some Cobber T&F history and the importance of the legacy of those before you. Hopefully, this provides context, inspiration, and sense of being a part of something special.
We have only competed at the December NDSU Meet since 2018. Starting in 1999 (1997 for Garrick) and through the 2017 season Garrick and I were also the Cobber XC coaches. Also, before COVID our T&F season was counted by weeks. We were allowed only 24 weeks. Presently we count our season by days. We are now allowed more days 144 (up from the 120 max when we counted weeks). This meant before COVID we only had 2-3 weeks before Christmas to practice with coaches. All other practices starting around Labor Day were "Captains" practices and could not be required. A lack of practices with our coaches combined with Garrick and I coaching XC before beginning T&F just delayed the "official" start of our season until January.
Now, without XC (we miss it- but thank you Maddie! You're an awesome XC coach!) combined with an earlier start date in the fall (144 days) we can focus on T&F right from the start.
The NDSU Meet became the finale for our fall training season. NDSU is an excellent opportunity to see where we are at for those who are ready, and diligent in their fall work. It's a chance for our new people to get their feet wet. No matter the results we can leave there excited and motivated to work hard over the Christmas Break. NDSU is a wonderful preview for the season. This year with our large squad and impressive dedication to Fall T&F we had our largest numbers ever competing at NDSU- that in itself is exciting!
COBBER NOTABLES:
NDSU Dakota Alumni Classic
North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND
December 11-12, 2025
Cobber All-Time Performer List:
60 – Lydia Fynboh – 8.04 – All-Time #7
60 – Saphira Rynaski – 8.7 – All-Time #27
200 – Brynley Coleman – 27.21 – All-Time #16
400 – Josie Brown – 60.77 – All-Time #13
60 Hurdles – Abby Lovelace – 9.78 – All-Time #16
60 Hurdles – Taylor Christenson – 9.86 – All-Time #19
60 Hurdles – Kaili Malvey – 9.91 – All-Time #21
4x400 Relay – Josie Brown, Lauren Pearson, Emma Norton, Emma Warner – 4:05.32 – All-Time #13
High Jump – Kaili Malvey – 5-3.25 (1.61m) - All-Time #10
Shot Put – Gracie Gallagher – 39-10 (12.14m) – All-Time #19
Shot Put – Gena Dabout – 39-2.25 (11.94m) – All-Time #24
Weight Throw – Gena Dabout – 48-4 (14.73m) – All-Time #17
Weight Throw – Gracie Gallagher – 46-3.25 (14.10m) – All-Time #21
Pentathlon – Abby Lovelace – 3164 points – All-Time #6
Pentathlon – Taylor Christenson – 2838 points – All-Time #18
Pentathlon – Kaili Malvey – 2838 points – All-Time #20
PERSONAL RECORDS:
60- Lydia Fynboh
60 Hurdles- Taylor Christenson (pent), Annalise Gerlach (finals)
Long Jump- Taylor Christenson (pent)
High Jump- Taylor Christenson (pent)
Shot Put- Chloe Mueffelmann, Gracie Hartl, Taylor Christenson (pent)
Weight Throw- Gracie Hartl
Pentathlon- Taylor Christenson