BURNSVILLE, Minn. -- The Augustana cross country programs received the highest praise from the NSIC as both the men's and women's programs are tabbed to finish first in the NSIC preseason coaches' poll in unanimous fashion. The women's program received 15 first-place votes and totaled 225 points, while the men received 13 first-place votes and accumulated 169 points.

Men's Cross Country
The Vikings men's cross country team, which is coming off a season in which they won their 11th NSIC title and earned a fourth-place finish at the NCAA Division II Championships, returns five All-NSIC runners in 2022. Senior's Henry Klitzke, Kray Person, and Matt Steiger, as well as Junior Colten Brand and Sophomore Ryan Hartman, each earned All-NSIC first team honors last season. Hartman was also the NSIC Newcomer of the Year with his second-place finish at the NSIC Championships. 

Two NCAA All-Americans will return for the Vikings this season in Hartman and Klitzke. Hartman placed 22nd at the NCAA Division II Championships while Klitzke crossed the finishing tape in 36th. Augustana had a stellar 2021 with a pair of runner-up team finishes to start the year, including the Chile Pepper Cross Country Festival with predominantly Division I programs, while then winning the NSIC Championship and Central Region Championship. The Vikings parlayed that into a fourth-place finish at the NCAA Division II National Championship. Head coach Tracy Hellman won the NSIC Coach of the Year for the 11th time and earned the USTFCCCA Central Region Coach of the Year for the eighth time. 

"Our men's team returns a core group from last year's podium team. Every year is challenging and it will be exciting to see what this team can accomplish," head coach Tracy Hellman said.

Klitzke, hailing from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, was awarded the NSIC Preseason Athlete of the Year after his triumphant 2021 season. Klitzke is coming off a strong finish at the NCAA Division II CHampionship where he was named an NCAA All-American. He was awarded All-NSIC First-Team Honors last season following a third place finish at the NSIC Cross Country Championship running a time of 25:30.4 where his team placed first overall.. 

Women's Cross Country
The Augustana women's cross country team looks to carry the momentum from a successful 2021 season, which included championships from the NSIC and NCAA Central Region along with a third-place finish at the NCAA Division II Championships. The Vikings return five All-NSIC runners in 2022. Seniors Patty Jo English, Nicolette Schmidt and Megan Means each earned All-NSIC first team honors last season. Junior's Mia Salas and Cami Streff each took home All-NSIC second team honors.

The Vikings are returning 4 NCAA All-Americans including the NSIC Athlete to Watch Megan Means. Means brought home an eighth place finish at the NCAA Division II Championships last season along with a 20th place finish from Nicolette Schmidt, a 28th place finish from Patty Jo English, and a 32nd place finish for Mia Salas. In all, Augustana competed in six meets in 2021 and never finished worse than third.  Head coach Tracy Hellman was named the NSIC Coach of the Year for the NSIC for a seventh time while claiming his third USTFCCCA Central Region Coach of the Year. 

"Our women's team returns a strong and experienced group from last year's 3rd place National finish. If we can stay healthy and motivated, we have the opportunity for some special things with this team," said Hellman.

Megan Means, a Norfolk, Nebraska, native was awarded the NSIC Preseason Athlete to Watch following her outstanding performance in her junior season.  Means was named an NCAA All-American after her team's third-place overall finish at the NCAA Division II Championships. She was awarded All-NSIC First-Team after placing third at the NSIC Cross Country Championships running a time of 21:42.1 where her team placed first overall.

Augustana opens their regular season on Sept. 2nd when they host the Augustana Twilight at Yankton Trail Park. For more information on the Augustana Twilight, click here.

--GoAugie.com--