BURNSVILLE, Minn. – Augustana's men's and women's indoor track and field teams were each selected to finish third in the NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll, announced Thursday morning by league officials, just a day before AU is set for its season debut under head coach Scott Tanis.
 
The Viking men picked up a first-place vote alongside 101 points as the women collected 164 points to finish third in the poll.
 
"Despite their youth, we have a talented men's team and I look forward to seeing what they can accomplish this indoor season," said Tanis. "Both returners and newcomers have shown promising flashes and I'm excited to see them continue developing consistency and gaining experience at this level."
 
Meanwhile, Tyson Ricker was selected as the Vikings' Preseason Athlete to Watch. The recognition follows a sophomore campaign that concluded with All-NSIC honors in the 1,000 meters and a fourth-place finish in the mile. 
 
"Tyson has shown steady progress throughout his time at Augustana and is poised for a strong indoor season," said Tanis. "He's already gained valuable experience in his career, earning First Team All-NSIC honors on multiple occasions. I'm excited to see him draw on that experience to benefit both himself and the team."
  
On the women's side, senior Tenley Nelson earned a Preseason Athlete to Watch distinction after earning All-NSIC honors in the 1,000 meter, as well as returning All-NSIC 800m Pentathlon athlete Ashton Massey.

"With a large and talented class having graduated last spring, we'll be counting on new contributors to step up this indoor season and I'm excited to see the growth that brings out in our team," said Tanis. "This group has trained with purpose and shown great competitiveness throughout the fall, and I'm eager to see how they respond to the opportunities ahead."
 
Coach Tanis said, "Tenley earned First Team All-NSIC honors last indoor season and has taken positive strides since. She placed at the outdoor conference championships in the spring and recorded the best NSIC cross country finish of her career this fall. Tenley does all of the little things right and I'm excited for her to continue building momentum into the indoor season."
  
"Ashton's dedication to excelling in multiple events is unmatched," said Tanis. "Her hard work and focus across disciplines, coupled with her relentless drive to improve, makes her a standout athlete with a remarkable work ethic. She is coming off a big freshman year, scoring indoor in the pentathlon and outdoor in the heptathlon. Ashton looks to be a competitive force in the pentathlon as we begin this indoor season."
  
Augustana will kick off its indoor season on Friday at the SDSU Holiday Open up north in Brookings, S.D.