SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- Augustana cross country and track & field head coach Tracy Hellman announced that sixteen student-athletes have signed their National Letters of Intent and will continue their athletic and academic careers at Augustana in 2021-22.

"We are very excited about the student-athletes that have signed to be part of our Augustana cross country and track & field Family," Hellman said. "The coaching staff worked extremely hard and identified the right fit, as these 17 athletes are the most ever we have released on signing day. 

"Not only are these individuals outstanding athletes in their respectable events, academically they are very accomplished. As we continue to build our program for future years, this year's class is a great addition to our current Viking cross country and track & field student-athletes."

Ella Bakken | Distance | Eden Prairie, Minnesota | Eden Prairie High School

In her senior cross country season, Bakken placed seventh at section 6AA cross country meet helping her Eden Prairie to a fifth-place finish. She placed ninth in the section 6AA 3200m her sophomore track season. 

Bakken plans to major in biology and minor in Spanish while at Augustana. 

Jayda Becker | Distance | Shakopee, Minnesota | Shakopee High School

In her senior cross country season, Becker placed 20th at the cross country 2AA section meet. She was also an AA cross country state qualifier her junior year.

Becker plans to major in nursing while at Augustana. 

Cole Berends | Sprints/Jumps | Saint Charles, Minnesota | Saint Charles High School

In his sophomore season, Berends ran personal bests 11.89 in the 100m, and 24.18 in the 200m. He helped Saint Charles win the True Team State Meet during his sophomore season.

Berends plans to major in nursing while at Augustana.

Luke Berends | Sprints/Jumps | Saint Charles, Minnesota | Saint Charles High School

In his freshman season, Berends was a part of Saint Charles 4x200m relay team that broke the school record. Holds 11.57 personal best in the 100m and 23.9 in the 200m. Helped Saint Charles win the True Team State Meet his sophomore year.

Berends plans to major in nursing while at Augustana. 

Isaac Fink | Distance | Duluth, Minnesota | Denfeld High School

In his senior year, Fink was a state qualifier in cross country. During his junior cross country season, he was conference runner-up and placed 74th at the state meet. 

Fink plans to major in Biology while at Augustana.

Noah Gandley | Distance | Colorado Springs, Colorado | Rampart High School

Gandley placed second at the cross country conference meet and fifth at the regional meet his senior year. 

Gandley plans to major in exercise science while at Augustana. 

Ben Haberman | Distance | Golden Valley, Minnesota | Hopkins High School

Haberman is a two-time all-conference honoree and Minnesota AA state qualifier in cross country. He holds a 3,200m personal best of 9:56. 

Haberman plans to major in exercise science and minor in coaching while at Augustana.

Emma Hughes | Distance | Glenwood, Iowa | Glenwood Community High School

Hughes was an individual state cross country qualifier her junior and senior seasons. She was part of the 4x800m relay that placed 10th in the state meet her sophomore year. 

Hughes plans to major in education and minor in coaching while at Augustana. 

Myah Kremer | Mid-Distance | Alexandria, Minnesota | Alexandra Area High School

In her sophomore year, Kremer anchored her 4x800m relay team helping it place third at the AA Minnesota State Meet. Alexandria Area High School placed second at the state meet as a team.

Kremer plans to major in nursing while at Augustana. 

Andrew Martens | Hurdles | Sioux Falls, South Dakota | Lincoln High School

During his sophomore year, Martens won the South Dakota AA 110 hurdles and placed second in the 300m hurdles which helped Lincoln High School win the outdoor state championship. He holds a personal best of 14.8 in the 110m hurdles and 40.01 in the 300m hurdles.

Martens plans to major in marketing while at Augustana.

Evan Myran | Distance | Hawley, Minnesota | Moorhead High School

Myran ran a personal best 16:03 his junior cross country season. Holds personal best 2:01 in the 800m, 4:33 in the 1600m and 9:49 for 3200m. 

Myran plans to major in engineering while at Augustana.

Maia Peterson | Sprints | Stewartville, Minnesota | Stewartville High School

In her junior season, Peterson was part of the 4x400 and 4x200 meter relay at the Minnesota State Meet that had runner-up finishes. Her sophomore year she was part of two relays that qualified for the Minnesota State Meet, with the 4x400 meter relay placing third and the 4x200 meter relay placing sixth. 

Peterson is undecided on a major.

Kylee Sallee | Sprints/Jumps | Hudson, Iowa | Hudson High School

In her sophomore year, Sallee was a four-event 1A Iowa state qualifier. She placed sixth at the Iowa State Meet in the 200m dash. She also qualified for the Drake Relays in the long jump and high jump. Sallee was also the NICL East Conference Champion in the long jump, high jump, and 200m. 

Sallee plans to major in business administration while at Augustana. 

Lizzy Schmidt | Sprints | Belle Plaine, Minnesota | Belle Plaine High School 

Schmidt was part of the Belle Plaine team that was conference and section champions in her sophomore year. She was on the 4x400m relay that placed third at the Minnesota A State Track Meet.

Schmidt plans to major in nursing while at Augustana.

Daniel Street | Distance | Aberdeen, South Dakota | Aberdeen Central High School

Placed third at the cross country conference meet and fourth at the state meet his senior year. 

Street plans to major in biology and minor in mathematics while at Augustana.

Aubrey Surage | Distance | Monument, Colorado | Lewis Palmer High School 

In her junior season, Surage placed 27th at the CSHAA Cross Country State Meet with a time of 19:36. 

Surage plans to major in biology while at Augustana. 

--GoAugie.com--