Concordia University cross-country and track coach Matt Beisel has gotten to know Arlington senior standout Keelianne Green pretty well through the years.
The Eagle attended Bulldog camps in Seward, but also learned about the coach through her recruitment. On Monday, she officially signed with the school and Beisel's athletic programs.
“I think good people come out of there,” Green said, citing former Arlington teacher Amber Sims and coach Michaela Curran.
Concordia, as it turns out, has always had the senior Eagle's eye — even before she set school records and won two state cross-country championships.
“It's always been my top choice since eighth grade and the relationship I've formed with coach Matt really cemented that into my brain,” the AHS 12th-grader said.
Campus visits and introductions to future teammate emboldened her decision.
“I was scared to go to college and everything, but I'm not scared anymore,” Green said. “I know that's where I belong and where I'm going to be most happy.”
Beisel, who joined Green for Monday's signing ceremony in Arlington, couldn't be happier. As a leader at a Christian university, he said he values her strong faith, but also the depth and quality of her character.
“It's been amazing to get to know her,” Beisel said. “She's one of a kind. Fantastic human being.”
The senior Eagle is quite the athlete, too.
Green completed a two-year cross-country unbeaten streak last month, capturing her second Class C state championship in Kearney. She's also a school track and field record-holder in the long jump, triple jump, 800-meter run and the 1,600-meter relay.
Beisel, however, believes she can improve even more.
“Her training age as a distance runner is really young and that means huge untapped potential,” he said.
In college-level track, both the coach and athlete believe a focus in middle-distance races is best. Green's jumping ability is evidence of that, Beisel said.
“Obviously she'll be a huge impact player on our (3,200-meter) and distance medley relays, but she's a person who could, I think, be top-three at nationals in one or more of those events,” he noted. “She's good.”
