RESULTS
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - Augustana track and field came just short of a championship as both the Viking teams finished No. 2 in the second and final day of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Track and Field Indoor Championships at Bemidji State in Bemidji, Minn. With the women earning 146.50 points and the men collecting 132.50, the Vikings had the best combined team finish in the NSIC.
“The coaching staff is very pleased with the results of both men and women at the indoor conference meet", head coach
Tracy Hellman said. "Although it is bittersweet to place runner-up in both, it is exciting to know that we had the best combination team results of all the NSIC schools. I feel that this is a strong indication that both programs are heading in the right direction.”
Runa Falch was voted Women's Track Athlete of the Year and Paul Yak received New Comer of the Year. The awards were voted on by the conference head coaches.
Falch scored more points than any other athlete in the NSIC and set a conference and school record in the 5,000-meter run, clocking in at 16:41.77. The time is eighth in the nation.
In the men's 5,000-meter run, Paul Yak took No.2 with a time of 14:51.49. Augie finished four runners top-10 in the race, with Matt Braithwaite in third place (14:52.26), Tom Karbo in fifth place (15:17.07) and Travis Beniak sixth place (15:17.21).
Beniak came in No.1 in the men's 1-mile, setting a new NSIC record of 4:13.41. Karbo came in second, running a solid time of 4:15.36.
Augustana finished four runners top-10 in the women's 1-mile, with Kristin Brondbo winning the race (4:54.25) and Falch (4:55.66) following in second. With fourth and eighth place finishes were Molly Kokesh (4:59.17) and Annie Pfeifle (5:14.54), respectively. Brondbo's time set a new school record and places her seventh in the nation in the respective event.
Diego Oquendo sprinted to success in the men's 60-meter hurdles, coming in No.1 with a time of 8.16. Oquendo also took third in the 60-meter dash (6.92) and in the 200-meter dash (22.99).
Aduo Omot had a win in the 1,000-meter run with a time of 2:32.94. Following Omot were Beniak in third (2:33.59) and Jordan Slusser in fourth (2:35.53).
Molly Kokesh ran strong for the women's distance with a No.2 finish in the 1000-meter run (2:57.73). Following close behind was Kelly Kougl in seventh (3:09.71) and LeAnn Severson in eighth (3:32.88).
Aaron Jung had a provisional throw of 53 feet, 7 inches in the shot put for a third place finish.
Finishing fourth, Noel Bentele heaved 56 feet, 5.25 inches in the weight throw for the Augustana women. Her throw beat the previous school record and also provisionally qualifies her for nationals.
On the women's side, U-Mary won the championship with a score of 166.5. Minnesota State won for the men with 161.5 points.
The meet concludes the Vikings' indoor season. Qualifying Augustana athletes will take part in the NCAA Championships held in Albuquerque, N.M., March 11 and 12.
