SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The Augustana track & field teams are set to compete in the Seventh Annual Gorilla Classic in Pittsburg, Kansas, and the SDSU Classic in Brookings, South Dakota.
Both meets will take place on Friday and Saturday. Friday's session of the Gorilla Classic will start at 3 p.m. and resume at 11 a.m. on Saturday while Friday's session of the SDSU Classic starts at 5 p.m. and resumes at 11 a.m. on Saturday.
The men's distance medley relay of Evan Johnson, Matthew Schoessow, Austin Miller and Ryan Hartman will compete in the Gorilla Classic on Friday slated for 4:50 p.m.
Johnson, Miller and Hartman will return in the open mile on Saturday at 1:50 p.m.
"The DMR at the Gorilla Classic has always been a national preview," director of track & field/cross country Tracy Hellman said. "The best competition always shows up and this year is no different."
The Vikings made history at last year's Gorilla Classic when the women's distance medley relay placed second, running an NCAA Provisional Qualifying time while breaking the school record in the process.
"Last year our women used this meet as a springboard for the national meet, and we hope our men's DMR can follow that same path," Hellman added.
Both Miller and Johnson were a part of the distance medley relay that competed at last year's Gorilla Classic that ran an NCAA Provisional Qualifying 9:55.65 while also moving to No. 3 on Augustana's Top-10 list.
The duo returned in the open mile at the Ichabod invitational the next day, with both Vikings turning out personal bests along with NCAA Provisional Qualifying times. Miller's time would ultimately punch his ticket to the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships.
Additionally, the most complete Augustana team to date this season will be competing at the SDSU Classic. The Vikings will look to have a strong turnout in Friday night's session, coming in the 3,000m and 5,000m.
"The SDSU Classic has always been a very deep and competitive meet on our schedule," Hellman said. "We are finally at the point of the season where we are racing everyone and our training is finally catching up to our racing.
"The men's and women's 5,000m should be a deep event for us, as we are racing multiple All-Americans from this fall's cross country team."
Last year at the SDSU Classic, five Vikings hit NCAA Provisional Qualifying times, four of which came from the women's 3,000m with the other coming in the men's 5,000m
One Last Thing
The men's distance medley relay will get a national preview in more than one way. If they run a time that gets them into the NCAA Division II Indoor Championships, they will be returning to Pittsburg State, as Pittsburg State is the host for the Indoor Championships this year.
–GoAugie.com–
