MANKATO, Minn. – The Augustana track and field team closed out day one of the NSIC Indoor Championships with two all-conference honorees and a team championship. Multiple Vikings clinched spots in finals events after strong times in the prelims. 

The team of Nick Batchelor, Tyler Christianson, Will Sugrue and Ryan Hartman kicked off the day for Augustana after it crossed the finish line first with a time of 10:09.56. AU clinched first place after it edged out MSU Moorhead, who finished at 10:11.42. 

Kadin Groen garnered an all-conference honor after he finished with a season-best time of 15:03.31 in the men's 5000m and helped secure eight points for the Vikings. On the women's side, Ella Bakken dashed across the finish line in second place and earned all-conference with a personal record of 16:51.66 in the women's 5000m. Taylor Melton finished with a season-best time of 18:10.05 in the event. 

Earlier in the day, Andrew Martens qualified for the men's 60m finals with a time of 8.06. 

Nyanas Kur secured two qualifying times for Saturday's finals after she crossed the finish line in seventh with a time of 24.88 in the women's 200m and a time of 56.67 in the women's 400m. Maia Peterson finished two spots behind Kur in the 400m with a season-best time of 56.93. 

In the women's 600m prelims, Sydnee Serck finished in third place with a mark of 1:37.37. Caroline Sudbeck qualified for a spot in the women's 800m final after she finished with a season-best time of 2:16.42. 

Four Vikings qualified in the men's 10000m led by Tyson Ricker who finished first with a mark of 2:34.94. Kieran Weigelt dashed to third place with a time of 2:35.27. Payton Brown and Alex Otten secured times of 2:36.58 and 2:36.60. 

In the final preliminary event, Tenley Nelson finished at 3:03.98 and secured a spot in Saturday's finals. 

Kylee Sallee hit a mark of 5.77m in the women's long jump and finished in fourth place. 

Augustana will close out the two-day NSIC Indoor Track and Field Championships on Saturday.