SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- Augustana cross country opens the 2022 season hosting the 11th 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. 

Augustana enters the first race of the season highly ranked in both genders. The Viking women are preseason ranked No. 3 by the USTFCCCA while the Viking men are No. 4. In addition, both teams are No. 1 in the Central Region Rankings after sweeping the region a year ago.

The Twilight is expected to attract 55 high schools and 31 collegiate programs. The 31 colleges and universities for the collegiate races consist of five Division I schools, 10 Division II schools, four Division III schools, eight NAIA schools and three NJCAA schools. 

Amongst the Division I programs, the Vikings will compete against the Big Ten's Nebraska Cornhuskers and regional foes of Creighton, Omaha, South Dakota and South Dakota State.

From the Division II schools, seven are NSIC opponents.

Recently, the USTFCCCA announced the preseason national coaches poll which shows both Viking squads within the top five. The women were placed third in the nation to match their recent national third place finish while the men earned a fourth place spot in the national rankings.

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 the men's cross country NSIC Preseason Athlete of the Year, Henry Klitzke.

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. 

Looking at the women's program overall, the team is coming off a phenomenal year which included championships from the NSIC and NCAA Central Region along with a third-place finish at the NCAA Division II Championships.

They 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.

--GoAugie.com--