ABERDEEN, S.D. – The Augustana track & field team had a successful day two of the NSIC Outdoor Championships, highlighted by eight All-Conference performances in Aberdeen, South Dakota, on Friday.

In total, Augustana has 19 Vikings advancing to Saturday's final.

The Vikings started the day at the oval office with two all-conference finishes in the men's and women's 10,000m.

Megan Means took silver in the women's 10,000m with a time of 35:54.59. Cait Savey had a strong race to grant Augustana six points. She ran a massive personal best, running 36:05.09.

In the men's 10,000m, Henry Klitzke took second for the second-straight year, running 31:45.11. Kray Person was close behind to take third to help Augustana earn the most points among teams entered with his 31:51.54.

Next on the track for the Vikings was the 3,000m steeplechase, where Augustana had two women earn all-conference and Ryan Hartman defended his title on the men's side.

Rebekah Rairdon placed second, breaking 11 minutes in the process (10:59.60). Rachel Rairdon was close behind to claim third with her 11:02.30 effort.

Augustana earned additional points in the event coming from Claire Boersma, who placed fifth (11:18.46). The Vikings garnered 18 points from the event.

Hartman defended his title from last year's NSIC meet on the men's side. He had a close finish, besting MSU Moorhead's Adnew Stueven by over two seconds (9:17.39). 

Augustana earned 14 total points from the 3,000m steeplechase, with Nick Larson and Benjamin Haberman placing sixth and eighth, respectively.

The Vikings also picked up points in the field events with Mearah Miedema and Tyl Woelber.

Miedema placed fourth in the high jump, clearing 5-6.

Woelber placed third in long jump with his fourth jump leap of 24-03.00 along with clearing 6-7 in the high jump to place fourth.

The nightcap of Friday night was the heptathlon, where Augustana earned a fourth and seventh place finish.

Kylee Sallee placed fifth overall (4,534), while Kaye Paschka took the eighth spot (4,267).

Sallee placed second in the long jump with her first attempt leap of 17-11.75. She also placed fourth in the 200m, running 26.52, granting 752 points. Her performance over the seven events earns her a new personal best in the event.

Paschka placed fourth in the 100m hurdles, running 15.30, good for 802 points. Pashka's score of 4,267 points is also a personal best.

Vikings Competing Saturday

The women's metric mile saw four Vikings advance into Saturday's final. Patty Jo English and Nicolette Schmidt were the frontrunners from the first heat, having the first and third-fastest heat entering the finals. 

Meagan Schenk also advanced to the finals, coming out of the first heat (4:45.55). Taylor Melton also earned a spot in the metric mile finals (4:48.43).

Of the 12 qualifiers for the finals in the metric mile, the men of Augustana took a third of the field. Evan Johnson had the fastest qualifying time (4:00.05), Matt Steiger had the third-fastest time (4:00.12), Colten Brand was the final qualifier from the first heat, running 4:00.46.

Austin Miller advanced to the 1,500m finals coming out of the second heat to take the final spot, with his final lap covered in 60 seconds.

The hurdling duo of Lawrence Lokonobei and Andrew Martens will be advancing to the 110m hurdle finals on Saturday. 

Lokonobei had the fastest time in the preliminary round with his 14.41. Martens also advanced for the finals with the sixth-fastest time in the round, running 14.79.

Ella Heinitz will make her first NSIC Outdoor final coming in the 400m. She placed seventh overall in the preliminary round, with her time of 58.97 coming out of the fourth heat.

In the women's 800m, Cami Streff won the third heat (2:17.63) to advance to the 800m finals with the third-fastest time.

Miller was the lone Viking to qualify for the 800m finals, placing second in the second heat (1:54.62) to have the fifth-fastest time in the field.

The Vikings had five total qualifiers in the 400m hurdles.

Noa Marteau won her heat in 1:03.20 to have the second-fastest qualifying time in the field. Elizabeth Schaefer will also be in Saturday's final, earning the last qualifying spot coming from the first heat.

On the men's side, Augustana joined Minnesota State with the most qualifiers, both earning three. 

Martens' had the second-fastest time in the second heat (55.43) and the fourth-fastest time in the field. Luke Fritsch took second in the first heat in 55.75 for the fifth-fastest time in the field. 

Lawrence Lokonobei rounded out the qualifiers taking the eighth spot, running 55.82 in the first heat.

The final qualifier of the day was Nyanas Kur qualifying for Saturday's 200m, winning the second heat and running a new personal best, 24.82.

Up Next

The Vikings open up the final day of the NSIC Outdoor Championships Saturday, with field events starting at 9 a.m.

–GoAugie.com–