SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The nationally-ranked Augustana women's cross country team is ready to race at the NCAA National Championships in Sacramento, Calif., this weekend. Also racing is Ryan Hartman, who will run as an individual. The races take place Saturday at the Arcade Creek Cross Country Course hosted by the CCAA. The day will begin with the men's 10k race being slated for a noon (CT) start, followed by the women's 6k race at 1:15 p.m. (CT).

Complete action can be followed on GoAugie.com/Live and the GoAugie app, presented by The Original Pancake House. The app can be downloaded in the App Store or Google Play. 

On the men's side, Ryan Hartman eyes an individual National Championship after becoming the first individual champion on the men's side since Harold Karbo in 2014. The senior was neck and neck through 5k, trailing by just .1 seconds, before blowing it open on the back half, running away with an eight second victory at 30:07.99.

Hartman was named USTFCCCA Regional Athlete of the Year last week. Earlier in the season, Hartman also took top individual honors at the NSIC Championships in 23:49.4, the Lewis Crossover in 23:38.5, and the Roy Griak Invitational in 25:16.1. He has won four consecutive races and placed second in his only non-victory. 

Also earning a regional honor was Tracy Hellman. Hellman was named Central Region Coach of the Year for women's cross country for the fifth time in his career, making it his 15th Region Coach of the Year honor overall. 

The top-5 nationally ranked teams enter the race being tabbed the favorites. For the women, the favorites include No. 1 Adams State, No. 2 Grand Valley State, No. 3 Colorado School of Mines, No. 4 Lewis and No. 5 UC Colorado-Springs. 

The No. 10 Viking women head into the race following their victory at the NCAA Central Regional Championship. It is their fourth region title in the last five seasons. The women garnered their seventh-straight top three finish at the NCAA Central Region Championships collecting 82 points. The women were led by Ella Bakken, closing in fourth place with a finishing time of 20:50.39. She was one of three to finish in the top-10, joined by Ashley Overgaauw (eighth, 21:14.76), and Eleni Lovgren (ninth, PR 21:18.22).

The Viking women saw four named to the All-Region team with Bakken, Overgaauw and Lovgren joined by Taylor Melton. She finished 19th with a time of 21:42.56. Lindsey Young rounded out the top five Vikings, coming in 42nd with a time of 22:06.50.