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

Bryant Keller kicked off the podium finishes on the men's side in the 3000m steeplechase when he closed in 9:13.05 to become an NSIC Champion. The time is also good for 11th in the region and 52nd nationally. Coming in second was Isaiah Anderson, whose personal-best time of 9:18.89 was good for All-NSIC honors. Joining them in the top 10 was Zach Waterman, whose 9:49.51 was good for ninth place and Patrick Vogel took 17th with a time of 10:19.80.

In the men's 10000m, Brady Hogan took All-NSIC honors after a second-place finish in 31:05.81. Peyton Willbanks finished behind him at 31:06.27, earning third place and All-NSIC honors. Bridger Steiner-Smith also competed in the 10000m, placing 18th with a time 33:32.89. 

In the women's heptathlon, Ashton Massey posted a personal-best 4621 after a strong two days. On Thursday, she finished second in the 100m hurdles with a 14.51, sixth in the high jump at 1.48, seventh in the shot put with a mark of 10.65and second in the 200m with a time of 25.72. On Friday, she added a seventh-place finish in the long jump with a 4.91 mark, 11th in the javelin throw at 23.20m and second in the 800m to finish fourth overall. Erin Eilers also competed in the heptathlon, finishing first in the 800m and fourth in the 200m on her way to an eighth-place finish with a total of 4299. 

A pair of Vikings saw top-10 finishes in the 3000m steeplechase. Tenley Nelson just missed All-NSIC recognition, placing fourth with a time of 11:10.61. In eighth was Lindsey Young, whose 11:17.33 was eighth and sits in the top-100 nationally. Ramsey Karim took 13th with a time of 11:47.49 and Hailey Werk added a 20th-place finish with a time of 12:24.76. 

Ellen Merkley earned a fifth-place finish in the long jump, recording a 5.79m while Lauren Merkley added a 5.05m and 23rd-place finish. Clara Binstock added a top-10 finish in the high jump, hitting a mark of 1.59m to place seventh. Two Viking women also competed in the 10000m as Kaelyn Nelson (38:03.88) and Bella Duncombe (42:22.41) finished ninth and 26th, respectively. 

Six different event prelims took place on Friday that saw Vikings qualify for event finals. Merkley qualified in both the 100m and 200m, finishing in 11.84 and placing fourth in the 100m before a second place finish and 24.11 in the 200m. In the men's 400m, Jude Jarding had the second best time with a 47.21. 

In the 400m Hurdles, Massey added to a busy day with a 1:02.22, the fifth-best time in the prelims, to qualify for Saturday. Ethan Boyens posted the ninth-best time in the men's 800m with a 1:55.09 and Sydnee Serck had a 2:13.99 in the women's 800m, the fourth best time. 

Augustana will close out the three-day NSIC Outdoor Track and Field Championships on Saturday.