BURNSVILLE, Minn. – For the second consecutive season, the Augustana men's and women's cross country programs found themselves atop their respective NSIC preseason coaches poll. The men's program was unanimously ranked first, receiving 12 first-place votes totaling 144 points, while the women received nine first-place votes and accumulated 191 points.
 
Men's Cross Country
The Vikings men's cross country team enters the season on the heels of its 12^th NSIC title and a seventh-place finish at the NCAA Division II Championships. The men's team welcomes back three All-NSIC first-team members from a season ago, including senior Colten Brand, junior Ryan Hartman, and sophomore Erik Gundersen, and an All-NSIC second-team member in senior Nick Larson. Gundersen earned the NSIC Newcomer of the Year after a sixth-place finish at the NSIC Championships, and head coach Tracy Hellman earned his 12^th NSIC Male Coach of the Year honor.
 
Hartman earned NCAA All-America status for the second straight season after placing 19^th at the NCAA Division II Championships, and Brand and Hartman were both named to the USTFCCCA All-Central Region team in 2022. The Vikings finished first or second in each of their four regular-season competitions before claiming the NSIC title, finishing third in the NCAA Central Region Championships, and their seventh-place NCAA Championships finish.
 
"Our team returns a core group of veterans with some valuable NCAA experience. The improvement of our younger athletes will be a key to how successful our team can be this season," Coach Hellman said.
 
Hartman, the Wausau, Wisconsin native, earned NSIC Preseason Athlete of the Year status after his 2022 All-American campaign. The first-team All-NSIC member placed second at the NSIC Cross Country Championships before an eighth-place finish at the NCAA Division II Central Region Cross Country Championships and 19^th place finish at the NCAA Division II Championships.
 
Women's Cross Country
The Augustana women's cross country team looks to continue success after its second consecutive NSIC title and third straight NCAA Central Region Title, capping the season with a fifth-place finish at the NCAA Division II Championships. The Vikings return a pair of NSIC second-team runners in juniors Ella Bakken and Taylor Melton, with Bakken also earning USTFCCCA All-Central Region Honors.
 
"We have a youth movement within our team this coming fall," said 2022 USTFCCCA Central Region Coach of the Year Tracy Hellman. "Although we may be young, we are extremely talented and I am excited to see what this group can accomplish together."
 
Bakken was tabbed as the NSIC Athlete to Watch for the Vikings following a 21st-place finish at the NCAA Central Region Championships and a top-80 finish at the NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships.
 
"Ella has improved each and every season, and is positioned to make an impact entering this year," Coach Hellman said. "She is now one of the veterans on the team and her experience and leadership will be counted on to help our team's success."

The Vikings had a stellar regular season, placing top five in all six team-scored meets, including a first-place finish at the Wildcat Classic before taking the NSIC and NCAA Central Region crowns. 
 
Augustana opens their regular season on Sept. 1st when they host the Augustana Twilight at Yankton Trail Park. For more information on the Augustana Twilight, click here.