Sioux Falls, S.D. – The Augustana track & field teams had another record-setting week between three meets over three days in California.
Senior Austin Miller ran the 10th-fastest time in Division II history in the 1,500m, blazing the track in 3:40.59.The time lowered his school record by nearly five seconds on the final day of the Bryan Clay Invitational.
In total, the Vikings accumulated 13 performances that were NCAA Provisional qualifying marks.
"We had some high goals and aspirations of what we could do if the conditions were set up well," director of track & field/cross country Tracy Hellman said. "This weekend certainly didn't disappoint. To come away with a school-record and numerous NCAA qualifying marks was a great way to close out our trip.
"The highlight was certainly Miller in the 1,500m. It was a huge weekend as he established himself as one of Division II's best in that event. The most exciting thing is that this was only our second and third meet for many of our student-athletes. We continue with the season next week and hope to build off this impressive weekend."
Bryan Clay Invitational
The Augustana steeplechasers started the meet under the lights on Thursday. Rebekah Rairdon and Rachel Rairdon ran season bests in the 3,000m steeplechase. The duo was in the fourth heat with Rebekah placing seventh in her heat and 14th overall in 10:36.61 while Rachel placed 11th in the heat and 22nd overall with her time of 10:44.73.
Rebekah's time ranks her seventh in the nation this season.
In the men's 3,000m steeplechase, Ryan Hartman ran the No. 2 time in the nation this season with a massive personal-best time of 8:44.07 coming out of the third heat, winning the race by over three seconds. His time now ranks him No. 2 on Augustana's all-time list.
On Thursday, the Vikings showed off their wheels in the 800m.
Cami Streff ran the No. 2 time in Augustana history, winning her heat of the 800m, running 2:09.04. Her time ranks her No. 7 in the nation.
Caroline Sudbeck ran an outdoor personal-best time of 2:13.41 to place fifth in her heat.
In the men's 800m Miller placed 12th overall, winning his heat with a new personal-best time of 1:48.61. His time ranks him No. 7 in the nation along with No. 3 on Augustana's Top-10 list.
Evan Johnson ran close to a personal best in the 800m winning his heat in 1:52.79.
Hartman returned to the track less than 24 hours after recording a 20-second personal best in the 3,000m steeplechase. He recorded a new personal best time of 13:59.04 in the 5,000m to win his heat, edging out Adam States Miguel Coca. The time ranks him ninth in the nation. Along with being among the nation's best, his time is also No. 2 on Augustana's Top-10 list.
Colten Brand also recorded a personal best in the 5,000m, running 14:26.33 to place sixth in his heat.
In the women's 5,000m, the Vikings had two sub 17 and four sub 17:45 performances.
Patty Jo English turned in a season-best time of 16:50.76 ranking her 20th in the nation. Nicolette Schmidt ran a season-best 16:57.60 to make her 5,000m season debut.
Cait Savey ran a new personal best, running 17:07.69 to place fifth in her heat, also running just under the NCAA Provisional qualifying time.
Rebekah Rairdon returned to the track to make her 5,000m season debut, placing 15th in her heat, running 17:35.01.
Mia Salas and Rachel Rairdon rounded out the Vikings 5,000m group running 17:39.05 and 17:44.69, respectively.
The Vikings continued to be among the nations-best on the final day of the Bryan Clay Invitational.
Streff returned to the track for the 1,500m running a new personal best of 4:29.79 to place ninth overall. Her time moves her to No. 6 on Augustana's all-time list and No. 29 in the nation.
Sudbeck also improved on her 1,500m time from the last meet, running 4:43.58 to place fifth in her heat.
Johnson also doubled back from the 800m to run a near three-second personal best in the 1,500m, running 3:49.85 placing fourth in his heat.
Pacific Coast Intercollegiate
The NSIC Preseason Field Athlete of the Year, Tyl Woelber, had a field day at Long Beach. Woelber started the day with a season-best throw in the javelin, placing fourth overall with his fourth attempt heave of 203-6.
Woelber returned to action in the long jump, recording a personal-best jump of 23-11 on his first attempt. That ranks him 21st in the nation along with better his mark as No. 4 on Augustana's Top-10 list.
He completed his field day with a fourth-place finish in the high jump, clearing 6-7.
On the track, the men's 4x100m relay team of Lawrence Lokonobei, Andrew Martens, Woelber and Gavin Fischer, placed third clocking in at 42.14.
Fischer placed 11th in the 100m and fourth in the 200m. He tied his personal best in the 100m (10.84) and broke 22 seconds for the second time this season, running 21.97.
In the 110m hurdles, Lokonobei and Martens placed third and fifth respectively. The duo were the two fastest Division II runners in the race with times of 14.53 and 14.74.
The two returned for the 400m hurdles took eighth and ninth with Lokonobei running a personal best time of 55.45, Martens was close behind in 55.81.
Mearah Miedema placed third in the high jump with a leap of 5-7.25.
Freshman Kaja Salemonsen placed 15th with her third attempt leap of 37-0.5 in the triple jump.
MT. Sac Relays
Megan Means 19th in the women's 10,000m, running 34:55.50, running a personal best of almost 30 seconds. Her time currently ranks her No. 8 in the nation along with No. 4 on Augustana's all-time list.
In the men's 10,000m, Henry Klitzke placed 32nd running 30:18.70.
Up Next
The Vikings will have a split weekend traveling to the Northern State Spring Open in Aberdeen, South Dakota, and the Holst Invitational in St. Paul, Minnesota. Both meets will be taking place on Saturday.
–GoAugie.com–
