BURNSVILLE, Minn. -- Augustana's Elizabeth Schaefer and Tyl Woelber have been named the NSIC Preseason Field Athletes of the Year while both the men's and women's programs have been tabbed second in the NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll announced on Monday. 

The Viking women's team returns 17 of the 19 point scorers from last year's NSIC Championships squad that tallied 143.66 points to place second. The men's team returns nine of the 13 point scorers from last year's championships who tallied 121.5 points while finishing second. 

Last year, Schaefer claimed victory in the pentathlon at the NSIC Championships with a score of 3,692 points, good for the sixth-best score in the country.This score qualified her for the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships. She also earned USTFCCCA All-Central Region honors in the pentathlon.

Woelber returns as the High Point Performer from last year's NSIC Championships where he totaled 34 points while winning the heptathlon, and placing second in the triple and long jumps. The 2020 NSIC Field Athlete of the Year also placed fourth in the high jump and sixth in the 60m hurdles. In addition, he qualified for the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships in the heptathlon and high jump. 

The NSIC as well tabbed Nicolette Schmidt and Austin Miller as Preseason Track Athletes to Watch. 

Schmidt earned USTFCCCA All-Central Region honors in the 3,000 and 5,000 meter runs. At the NSIC Indoor Championships last season, she claimed runner-up finishes in both events.

Austin Miller, a graduate student, returns as the NSIC record holder in the 800m with a time of 1:51.78. Miller also qualified for the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships in the 800m.

Augustana plans to announce its 2021 indoor schedule in the coming weeks. 

2020-21 NSIC Preseason Women's Indoor Track & Field Coaches' Poll

    1. University of Mary (10)            191

    2. Augustana (1)                         179

        Minnesota State (4)                179

    4. Winona State                          152

    5. Minnesota Duluth                    133

    6. Concordia-St. Paul                  129

    7. Sioux Falls                               104

    8. St. Cloud State                        102

    9. Northern State                           99

    10. Bemidji State                           78

    11. Wayne State                            71

    12. Southwest Minnesota State    47

    13. MSU Moorhead                      46

    14. Upper Iowa                             33

    15. Minot State                             32

 

2020-21 NSIC Preseason Men's Indoor Track & Field Coaches' Poll

    1. Minnesota State (10)              120

    2. Augustana (2)                         112

    3. University of Mary                    89

    4. MSU Moorhead                        88

    5. Northern State                          76

    6. Minnesota Duluth                      72

    7. Sioux Falls                                64

    8. Concordia-St. Paul                   61

    9. Wayne State                             44

    10. Southwest Minnesota State    28

    11. Minot State                              26

    12. Upper Iowa                             12

--GoAugie.com--