Augustana Cross Country ready to start postseason journey at NSIC Championship this Weekend

SIOUX FALLS, S.D.- The Augustana men's and women's cross country team's enter the postseason portion of the schedule with the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Championship, on Saturday at the Les Bolstad Golf Course in Minneapolis, Minn.  

The men's team is coming in ranked No. 7 in the nation, and looking to capture their seventh consecutive NSIC Championship. The men won last years event with a near perfect score of 22 points, placing five runners inside the top seven.

"The men's team is practicing at a very high level and we are in a position to do some great things." Head Coach Tracy Hellman said "We have a championship history that we wish to continue, we [also] take the NSIC seriously."

Heading up the men's team will be Harald Karbo, who finished second in last year's championship, Karbo is making his Augustana season debut this Saturday.

"Karbo has been one of the top runners in the NSIC and [the] NCAA." Hellman said "He looks as strong as he did last year, so we are excited about him competing with this team."

Also leading the men's team is Keegan Carda, Glen Ellingson and Logan Burns. who finished sixth, eighth and 26th in last years NSIC Championship. Last years NSIC Freshman of the Year Nick Larsen, who finished as the top freshmen in last years race coming in at 14th.  

Making their debut at the NSIC Championship will be Jonas Gjesdal, Sean Heaton and Adam Kost. Shane McCallum returns after two years of injuries, but finished 18th in 2012 NSIC Championship.

The women's team, coming into the race ranked No. 8 in the nation, are looking to win their seventh NSIC title in the last eight years. The women won last years race by winning the tiebreaker over Minnesota Duluth to reclaim the NSIC Championship.

The women's side will be led by Annie Kruse, who is coming off a strong showing at the Briar Cliff Invitational, placing second. Kruse was the highest finisher for the Vikings in last years championship, placing third in the race.

It will be a team of debuts for the Augustana women at the NSIC Championship, with four freshmen racing in the event as Courtney Hottovy, Mackenzie Kelly, Annika Rotvold and Ida Eltervaag will all be competing.

"We have a women's team that is youthful in championship meet experience, but we are eager and excited about the opportunity to test ourselves against a quality field." Hellman said "Our goal is to contend for an NSIC Championship, the women realize this will be difficult and challenging, yet our women's team well be poised and excited for this opportunity."

The course at the championship will take place at Les Bolstad Golf Course, where Augustana competes at the Roy Griak Invitational. "We had a good performance the last time we raced the griak course." Hellman said  

The NSIC Championship will take place on Oct. 24 with the women's race at 10 a.m. followed by the men's competition at 11:15 a.m.