The Viking track and field teams head into the NSIC Outdoor Track Meet this weekend in Moorhead, Minn. The team has hopes of top three finishes by both men and women.
Women
Augustana is the defending indoor track champions and look to win their first ever outdoor track championship. The women are coming off a very successful last two weeks of the season where they won a Drake Relays title (setting a state record) and performing well at Howard Wood Relays. To win the outdoor championship, the Vikings need to have balance in a majority of track events. The following is a preview of the top performers:
Sprints:
Bobbi Jo Buyck enters her last conference meet as one of the most versatile athletes on the team. She will compete in the 100 meter dash, 100 meter hurdles, long jump, and triple jump. She will also anchor the women's 4 x 100 relay.
Throws:
This is a key area for the Vikings title hopes. Noel Bentele is a national qualifier in the women's hammer throw. She also set the school record at the SDSU meet earlier this year. She is entered in the hammer throw and shot put and placed in the indoor shot put and indoor weigh throw at the indoor meet.
Rachel Christensen is coming off her best performance this year at the Howard Wood Relays. She is a threat to place in the discus and javelin. She is entered in all four throwing events at the conference meet.
Kristen Nielsen is entered in the shot put, discus, and javelin. She has shot of placing in one of the events.
Jumps:
Buyck is also a key competitor in the long and triple Jump. She placed in both at the indoor conference meet.
Karissa Pepin is another athlete that can help the Vikings accomplish their goal of winning conference. She is entered in the high Jump and triple jump.
Hollie Bloom is entered in the pole vault, an event she placed in at the Indoor Championships.
Middle Distance:
This is an area where the Vikings will look to score a majority of their points. Cecilie Udstuen, Linn Nilsson, and Caitlin Polgreen are all-conference performers from the indoor championships. They were also part of the record setting distance medley relay and 4 x 800 at Drake Relays. They are all entered in the 800 and 1500 meter run.
Distance:
The distance races have been one of the strong points for the Augustana track team, and this year is no different. The 3000 steeplechase, 5k and 10k are huge events for the Vikings. Molly Clark, Runa Falch, and Kyle Blakeslee are all national qualifiers and look to lead the team to their best outdoor finish ever.
Men
Augustana placed third in the NSIC indoor track championships and have goals of performing first or second place at the outdoor meet. The Vikings have the pieces in place to accomplish this goal.
Sprints:
Diego Oquendo is back to help the Vikings score valuable points in the sprint events. He will race the 100 and 110 hurdles and should be one of the top performers in these events.
Paul Mallory is entered in the 110 hurdles and 400 hurdles. One should not count out Paul, as he is the defending conference champion in the 110 hurdles.
Throws:
The Vikings have a strong representative in each of the four throwing events. Kevin Knapp will lead the charge by competing in the hammer throw. A previous placer in the conference championships, he should be a force in this event.
Aaron Jung will look to have his best performance in the shot put. When at the top of his game, he is one of the best throwers in the NSIC.
Tyler Lynch will focus on gaining valuable points in the discus throw. A returning conference scorer in the discus, this experience will help him this weekend.
Dylan Buehler will throw the javelin for the Vikings. A newcomer to the program, he is ranked as one of the top javelin throwers in the NSIC.
Jumps:
This could be a key area for the Vikings. They have the luxury of having three quality high jumpers at the conference meet in Cory Sugden, Blake Ridgway, and Jacob Pohlmann. All three jumpers can place at the conference meet with strong performances.
Middle Distance:
The middle distance has become a strong event for Augustana at the conference meets. The Vikings have three athletes who all have the ability to place high in their respectable events: Brian Werner, Austin Vande Berg, and Adou Omot. Throw in Tom Karbo, who will go down to the 1500 this weekend, and you have a number of athletes who can score big points for the Vikings.
Distance:
Karbo is entered in the 5000 meters and should be a favorite for the title. One should not overlook the ability of Matt Heesch and Matt Braithwaite in the 5k and 10k, as both have the ability to place in top eight.
Travis Beniak and Daniel Black are entered in the 3000 meter steeplechase and 5000 meters. Both have had tremendous seasons and are peaking at the right time. Vande Berg is also entered in the 5k. He placed second at the indoor 3k, so he has the range to do well in this event.
Please check back at goaugie.com for meet results and recaps from this weekend.
