NEW ORLEANS -- In the final U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) national rankings before the DII Championships, the Augustana Cross Country teams remain strong in the top-10. The Viking women moved up to No. 5, and following a third-place finish at the regional, the Viking men check in at No. 8

On Monday, the USTFCCCA named Augustana head coach Tracy Hellman the NCAA DII Central Region women's coach of the year. The award marked the eighth time in his 19-year tenure he is earned the honor. 

Following a Central Region title, the Augustana women will be running at the NCAA DII Championships for the 13th time in the last 14 years. With a stout performance at regionals, Viking women's cross country earned six spots on the All-region team: Claire Boersma, Patty Jo English, Rachel Rairdon, Rebekah Rairdon, Cait Savey, Nicolette Schmidt. 

The men's program finished three runners in the top-15 overall and will be making its 11th-straight trip to the NCAA Championships. All-Region men's performers include: Austin Miller, Aaron Runge, Nathan Schroeder, and Jesus Urtusuastegui. Individually, Runge led the way for the Vikings placing third overall with a time of 30:13.30.

Augustana remains focused on the 2019 NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships, which will run on November 23 in Sacramento, California. Augustana is the only team in the central region to qualify both men and women to the Division II Cross Country Championships.

About the USTFCCA
The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) is a non-profit professional organization representing cross country and track & field coaches of all levels. The organization represents thousands of coaching members encompassing NCAA track & field programs (DI, DII, and DIII) and includes members representing the NAIA and NJCAA, as well as a number of state high school coaches associations.