BISMARCK, N.D. – Augustana junior Taylor Beagle set an NSIC record on the opening day of NSIC Championships while the Vikings are in fourth place with 126 points after four events in Bismarck, North Dakota.
 
Sioux Falls leads the meet with 191 points with St. Cloud State in second place totaling 149 points as Minnesota State is just in front of the Vikings with 131 points.
 
After completing the trial sessions Wednesday morning, the Vikings picked up momentum in the 1000-freestyle with junior Taylor Beagle dusting the field in a new NSIC and school-record time of 10:10.65. Senior Emma Miller joined Beagle on the podium with All-NSIC honors in third place and a time of 10:17.08. Both times are NCAA 'B' qualifying times.
 
Freshman Cailey Scott made it three Vikings in the top-five as she hit the finishing wall in 10:31.70.
 
Junior Micah Hudlet placed eighth in the 200-yard IM, touching the wall in a time of 2:10.76. Also competing in the 200 yard IM was freshman Ruth Huffman placing 13th in a time of 2:10.47.
 
Competing in the 50-yard freestyle was senior Destini Oehlertz, who placed seventh touching the wall in a time of 24.02. Also, scoring points for the Vikings was sophomore Kamryn Robarge.
 
Completing day one action was the 200-yard medley relay team of junior Merriam Hagadorn, Oehlertz, Hudlet, Robarge coming in seventh place with a time of 1:46.88. The 'B' team comprised of freshman Chrislin Nieuwoudt, senior Maggie Oberg, senior Linzie Kreizel, and sophomore Isabel Waite came away with a 10th place finish in a time of 1:49.10.
 
Quotable
"Overall, I'm very pleased with our first day of racing," Head Coach Lindsie Micko said. "We had a lot of season-best times and lifetime bests. Tomorrow should be a good lineup of events for us and we are looking forward to more great swims."
 
Thursday's trials will begin at 10 a.m. with the finals set for 5:30 p.m. Thursday will have the 200 freestyle relay, 400 individual medley, the 100 butterfly, the 200 freestyle, and the 400 medley relay.