SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- The Augustana cross country teams are finally returning to the grass after a year hiatus. The Vikings open up the 2021 season hosting the 10th Annual Augustana Twilight under the lights at Yankton Trails Park on Friday, the women's 5k is slated for an 8:30 p.m. start while the men's four mile race is at 9 p.m. 

Recently, the USTFCCCA announced the preseason national coaches poll show both Viking squads within the top 10. The women were placed third in the nation matching their best ranking since week seven in 2014. The men earned the ninth spot in the national rankings. 

The Twilight will be the host of 31 college or universities for the collegiate races consisting of four Division I schools, eight Division II schools, four Division III schools, 11 NAIA schools and four NJCAA schools. With the high school divisions, there will be a total of 2,223 runners competing Friday. 

Both Augustana teams were tabbed to finish at the top of the NSIC in the preseason coaches' poll. Along with high recognition at the team level, the Vikings also claimed both the NSIC Preseason Athletes of the Year in Nicolette Schmidt and Alec Kray. 

The women's team returns all seven runners from the 2019 team that placed first in the central region and sixth at the national meet. Among the returners, four of which earned top-ten times throughout the 2021 indoor and outdoor track season, notably school records for Patty Jo English in the mile indoors and the 5,000m outdoors. 

English, along with Schmidt both earned All-America honors in the mile during the indoor season and were part of the fourth place distance medley relay. 

The men's team returns three runners from the 2019 team that also placed sixth at the national meet. Along with the three returners the Vikings bring depth with five Vikings running sub 14:30 5,000m times in the 2021 outdoor season capped off with Kray breaking the school record running 13:56.24. 

The best returner from the sixth place national team is senior Austin Miller who placed 65th. Since the national meet in 2019, Miller has earned two All-America honors in the 800m and the mile in the 2021 indoor track season, he also claimed the school record in the 1,500m in the outdoor track season proving the strength the Vikings have heading into the cross country season. 

--GoAugie.com--