SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The Augustana indoor track & field squads return to action this weekend in Brookings, South Dakota, at the Jim Emmerich Alumni Invitational on Saturday. The Vikings return to the track following their performance at the Mount Marty Opener last weekend. 

Augustana saw top-marks at the Mount Marty Opener seeing two provisional times from the women. Elizabeth Schaefer and Nyanas Kur both received NCAA provisional times. Schaefer saw her mark in the 60 meter hurdles event finishing the race in a time of 8.79. Kur garnered her mark in the 60 meter dash in a time of 7.64. 

Prior to the Mount Marty Opener, Augustana opened its 2022-23 season at the SDSU Holiday invitational & Multi back in December. The Vikings saw three additional NCAA provisional times at the invitational. Lawrence Lokonobei, Andrew Martens and Kylee Sallee each saw provisional marks. Lokonobei and Martens both ran in the 60 meter hurdles. Lokonobei finished the race in a time of 8:03 while Martens crossed the finishing tape in a time of 8:17. Salle grasped her provisional mark in the pentathlon finishing all five events with a combined 3353 points. 

Megan Means is the final Viking with a provisional mark this season. Means garnered her mark at the Mel Tjeerdsma Classic in the 5000 meter event. She finished the race in a time of 17:00.92 and is currently placing 10th in the nation. 

The Viking distance squad will make its indoor season debut this weekend. The Augustana cross country squad is coming off its top-10 finish at the NCAA National Championship back in December. The women of Augustana placed fifth in the nation while the men took hold of a seventh place finish.

Following the Jim Emmerich Alumni Invitational, the track & field squad ramps up its competition schedule with back-to-back two-day meets. First AU travels to the Mark Schuck Open & Multi in Mankato, Minnesota, Jan. 27-28. The Vikings then head north to North Dakota State for the Bison Open Feb. 3-4. The Vikings then have two more regular season weekends of competition prior to the NSIC Championships which take place Feb. 24-25. 

– GoAugie.com –