BURNSVILLE, Minn. --The Augustana cross country programs received high praise from the NSIC as both the men's and women's programs are tabbed to finish first in the NSIC preseason coaches' poll the league announced Monday morning. The men's program received all 13 first-place votes and totaled 169 points, while the women received 10 first-place votes and accumulated 220 points. 

In the same release, Senior Alec Kray and junior Nicolette Schmidt were selected as NSIC Preseason Athletes of the Year. 

Kray has improved greatly as a runner in the absence of a cross country season in 2020. In 2021 the Sioux Falls, South Dakota, native made his mark in the Augustana history books. 

This past indoor track & field season, Kray broke the school record in the 5,000m when he ran a time of 14:10.51 lowering the record by eight seconds. He also won the conference 3,000m and was runner-up in the 5,000m bringing in vital points for the Vikings. 

In the outdoor track & field season, Kray broke the 5,000m record running a time of 13:56.24 to win the seeded Drake Relays 5,000m becoming the first Viking to break the 14:00 barrier.

"Alec enters his final cross country campaign in a great position to help our team accomplish our team goals," head coach Tracy Hellman said.

Despite only returning three members from the 2019 men's team that placed sixth at the NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships, the Vikings look to keep to the Augustana way.

In the time off the grass, Augustana had six members of the distance team run faster than 14:30 on the track this past outdoor season. 

The best returner from the 2019 team that finishes sixth in the nation is senior Austin Miller, who placed 65th at the national meet. Since then Miller has accumulated two All-America honors in the 800m and mile this past indoor track season along with claiming the school record in the 1,500m in the outdoor season running 3:45.58.  

Schmidt, hailing from Redfield, South Dakota, returns as Augustana's highest finisher at the 2019 NCAA DII Cross Country National Championships where she placed 46th as the Vikings placed sixth overall as a team

Since the 2019 season, Schmidt has accumulated two All-America accolades in the 2021 indoor track & field season by placing sixth in the mile along with anchoring the school record-breaking distance medley relay that placed fourth at the NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships. 

In the 2021 outdoor season, she ran a 16:30.16 putting her No. 4 on the top-ten all-time list at Augustana. Schmidt also scored points for the Vikings at the NSIC Outdoor Championships placing fourth in the 5,000m and fifth in the 10,000m.

"Nicolette has steadily improved each season," Hellman added. "she enters this fall in a great position to assist our team's pursuit of our goals."

The women's team, who placed sixth at the 2019 NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships, have a lot to be excited for. With all seven runners returning from that group, and the addition of two signing classes, the Vikings will look to their depth to lead them into the championship season. 

All seven of the Vikings finished within thirty seconds of one another at the national meet which better exemplifies the depth Augustana has. 

Patty Jo English, who placed 62nd at the national meet and sixth on the team, has also gained more national recognition competing in both the indoor and outdoor national meet in 2021 along with setting the school record in the mile indoors at 4:51.91 and the 5,000m outdoors running 16:20.53.

Augustana's season starts with the Augustana Twilight on September 3 at Yankton Trail Park.

 

2021 NSIC Preseason Women's Cross Country Coaches' Poll

1. Augustana (10)..............220               

2. University of Mary (6).....216               

3. Winona State…………...183               

4. Minnesota State………..173               

5. Minnesota Duluth……....172               

6. Minot State……………...158               

7. Concordia-St. Paul……..124               

8. Northern State…………..121               

9. Sioux Falls……………....120               

10. MSU Moorhead………..103

      St. Cloud State………...103                 

12. Bemidji State…………….64              

13. Wayne State……………..61                 

14.  SMSU……………………42                 

15.  Upper Iowa……………...39

16. Minnesota Crookston…...16
 

2021 NSIC Preseason Men's Cross Country Coaches' Poll 

1. Augustana University (13)....169               

2. University of Mary(1)............144               

3. MSU Moorhead……………..132                 

4. Minnesota State…………….127                

5. Minnesota Duluth…………...117                 

6.  Sioux Falls………………….105                

7.  Concordia-St. Paul………...102                 

8.  Minot State…………………..91             

9.  Northern State………………87                

10. Winona State……………….73                 

11. Wayne State………………..45

12. SMSU……………………….43

13. Upper Iowa…………………25

14. Minnesota Crookston……..14

 

--GoAugie.com--