Courtesy of GoCobbers.com, Release: March 1, 2008

Meet Rewind:

Meet Results: St. Olaf Meet Results

Meet Recap:

NORTHFIELD, Minn. (3/01/08)-- If the Cobbers were a car they would be all tuned up with the oil changed and a fresh set of tires as they get ready to set out on the season's biggest journey. As it is, Concordia used the St. Olaf Invite on Saturday to fine tune their engines for the upcoming MIAC Championship Meet race.

As the CC race car winds its way through the season, several individuals have stepped into starring roles as the lead pistons on the team.

If the Cobbers had to feature a driver for the car, it would be senior Josh Smith. Smith turned in his second record-breaking performance of the season on Saturday. After breaking the school mark in the 300 meters earlier in the year, Smith zoomed to a 50.45 in the 400 meters and won the event by .07 of a second over Mike Leither of St. John's. Smith's time bettered the old program record of 50.67 set by Kyle Odermann in 1995. His time is also the third best in the MIAC this year.

Smith also shines on the record-seeking 4x400-meter relay team. Smith runs the anchor for the squad that has inched its way closer and closer to the school record of 3:24.86 set last year. On Friday, CC had an exchange error during the race as they dropped the baton. After three legs of the relay the Cobbers were among the leaders, St. Thomas (3:18.95), Washington Univ. (3:20.67), and Bethel (3:21.65) with Smith to anchor. That's when tragedy struck as the handoff between Freshman Michael Dunn and Smith was bobbled and dropped. After losing precious seconds and retrieving the baton, the team still ran 3:25.48 just 0.62 seconds off of the record.

Three other Concordia athletes posted all-time top ten marks. Junior Billy Oehlers tossed the shot put 49-08.50 to finish second. His mark is the sixth best in program history and is currently the fourth best in the MIAC.

Paul Westmark clocked a 8.09 in the 55-meter hurdle final to come in third place. That is the fastest time run by any CC athlete in the event since 2002 and eighth best in school history.

Perry Patterson had his best meet of the year. He ran a 6.75 in the 55-meter dash to finish in the top 12. That time places him 12th on the school's all-time list and is the fastest 55-meter time since 2002.

Concordia will now turn its attention to the MIAC Championship Meet on Feb. 6-8 at St. John's University. The Cobbers will be hoping to post their best conference finish since the 2001 meet when they came in third place.

Cobber Notables

ST. OLAF INVITE

- 50.45, 400m, Josh Smith, #1 All-Time/School Record, Previous Record-Smith 50.49

- 49'8.5" (15.15m), SP, Billy Oehlers, #6 All-Time List, Lifetime Best Indoor or Outdoor

- 6.75, 55m, Perry Patterson, #12 All-Time List

- 8.09, 55m Hurdles, Paul Westmark, #8 All-Time List - 23.83, 200m, Perry Patterson, #17 All-Time List

- 3:25.48, 4x400m, Paul Westmark, Dusten Olejnicak, Michael Dunn, Josh Smith, #3 All-Time List