BURNSVILLE, Minn. -- Augustana's Austin Miller and Tyl Woelber have been named NSIC Preseason Athletes of the Year. Miller was tabbed Preseason NSIC Track Athlete of the Year while Woelber repeats as the NSIC Preseason Field Athlete of the Year. The Augustana track & field teams have both been tabbed to finish second in the NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll announced on Thursday.

On the men's side, Augustana returns 17 point scorers from last year's NSIC Indoor Championships. Among the returners are All-Americans Woelber, Lawrence Lokonobei and  Miller. 

Woelber also repeated as the high-point performer of the meet with 29 points at the 2021 indoor meet. Miller broke the NSIC record in the mile, running 4:08.88. He also won the 800m later in the meet in a time of 1:51.91. In total, five Vikings who won individual events at the conference meet return this year. 

The NSIC has also tabbed Mearah Miedema and Megan Means as Preseason Athletes to Watch for Augustana. 

Miedema had an automatic qualifying mark in the high jump of 5-9.25 at the Jim Emmerich Invite. She also won the high jump at the NSIC Indoor Championships. 

Means earned USTFCCCA All-Central Region honors in the 3,000m and 5,000m. She also won the 5,000m and got second place in the 3,000m at the NSIC Indoor Championships.

The Viking women have added 14 newcomers to the 2021-22 roster paired with 31 returners from last year's roster. Augustana placed second at the NSIC Indoor Championships scoring 155 points. Six of the returners won at least one event at the NSIC Indoor Championships last year. 

In the postseason, the Vikings had their highest finish at the national meet, placing 12th overall. The distance medley relay of Patty Jo English, Nicolette Schmidt, Sydney Mudgett and Cami Streff earned First Team All-America, along with Elizabeth Schaefer (Pentathlon), Mearah Miedema (High Jump), Patty Jo English (Mile), and Nicolette Schmidt (Mile). Meagan Schenk rounded out the Vikings All-America honors making the second team.

The Vikings open up the season on Friday heading to Brookings, South Dakota, for the SDSU Holiday Invite. 

Henry Klitzke will be the lone Viking competing at the GVSU Holiday Open, also happening on Friday. Live results for Klitzke's event can be found here. 

--GoAugie.com--