(December 6, 2008 - Findlay, Ohio) -- The Malcolm Athletic Center in Findlay, Ohio is the site where the return of indoor track and field officially began this season for the Concordia Cardinals. After years of being on the shelf, the Cardinals took on many of the top teams in the midwest as they took their first step in establishing a competitive program. The Cardinals were the lone NAIA member in a field with Division I and Division II programs.

Martell Buchanan (Fr. - Detroit, Mich.) had a strong outing in the Men's 800 Meter Run when the freshmen finished seventh overall in the field when he crossed at 2:07.1, with Michael Haiderer (Sr. - Saginaw, Mich.) finishing in 13th overall in the event with a time of 2:14.9. Shawn Caruso of host Findlay won the event with a time of 2:00.49.

The Men's 1 Mile Run had a trio of Cards finish in order from fifth to seventh overall. Tyler Case lead the pack with a time of 5:01.49, with Ryan Burmeister finishing a little more than six seconds later while Philip Brown crossed at 5:14.49 to finish seventh. Tim Jagielski won the event for Hillsdale College when the freshmen crossed at 4:19.42.

The same trio in the 1 Mile came back later and ran in the 3000 Meter and each improved their overall finish as Case earned a second-place finish with a time of 10:34.79, while Brown moved ahead of Burmeister by the narrowest of margins to pick up third and fourth place finishes. Brown crossed at 10:38.11, while Burmeister was a mere 0:00.05 behind. Ahunuar Huerta of Kentuck State earned the first place finish.

For the women, the field was even more full of talent then the men. Emily Nierman ran in the 200 Meter Dash, surrounded by NCAA Division I runners from Miami (OH), Dayton, Kentucky State and even South Florida. But Nierman held her own finishing in 23rd overall with a time of 31:02.

Cree Thompson raced next in the 300 Meter Dash and finished 19th overall with a time of 52.41, Two runners from Dayton lived up to their team's nickname - Flyers - as the duo finished 1-2 as Stacy Chew crossed at 42:05, while Rachel Weber was 0:22 later.

Amanda Hohnstadt finished in fifth overall when she crossed at 11:31.82 in the women's 3000 Meter Run. Ann Alyanak, who ran unattached, was the event winner with a time of 10:04.76.

Overall, the team is pleased to get that first event out of the way as the continue to work on their individual events in preparation for their next meet: the Eastern Michigan Open on Jan. 10.