WOMEN'S RESULTS | MEN'S RESULTS
GLYNDON, Minn. - Runa Falch and
Paul Yak earned individual crowns to guide both the Augustana women's and men's cross country squads to the team titles at the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Championship Saturday at the Ponderosa Golf Course in Glyndon, Minn.
It's the fifth-consecutive conference championship for the Viking women dating back to 2007 when Augustana won the North Central Conference. The Vikings have now won four NSIC titles—one in each year since joining the conference in 2008.
Falch, who won the NSIC race last season, becomes the third Viking in women's program history to repeat as an individual conference champion. Hiedi Reed (1993 and 1996) and Leah Gifford (1998 and 1999) were two-time NCC champions. Falch is also the ninth overall individual conference champion in school history.
The men's title is their third straight in the NSIC and fourth in program history. The Vikings also won the NCC in 1991.
Yak is the third conference champion in men's history.
Tom Karbo won the NSIC a year ago, while Matt Kiesow was the NCC champion in 1991.
The team and individual titles by his personnel gave
Tracy Hellman coach of the year honors for both the women and men. Hellman has now accumulated six NSIC Coach of the Year citations in cross country--three for women (2008, 2009 and 2011) and three for men (2009, 2010 and 2011).
The Viking women netted just 22 points—13 fewer than runner-up U-Mary. Top-10 performances by all five of Augustana's scorers, each of which earned All-NSIC first-team honors, keyed the win.
Falch's winning effort was more than eight seconds better than the runner-up performance by teammate
Kyle Blakeslee. Falch navigated the 6,000-meter course in 20:38.30, while Blakeslee came in at 20:46.40.
“The race was very difficult,” said Falch, who was running in her first competition this season. “I really had to work into it. Our team performance was great. We accomplished what we set out to do.”
Leah Hansen placed fourth in a time of 20:54.60, and
Kelly Kougl finished seventh in 21:26.50.
Kristin Brondbo collected eighth-place honors (21:30.20).
Annie Pfeifle (22:05.20) placed 14th, and
Miriam Hovda (22:19.30) was 18th.
The men totaled just 24 team points, 28 better than second-place Minnesota State. Four of Augustana's men finished in the top-five.
Yak beat teammate and second-place finisher
Ryan Evans by more than 17 seconds, cruising through the 8,000-meter course in 24:28.80. Evans finished in 24:46:00.
“I came in hoping for a win today,” Yak said. “But I knew it was going to take a lot. (Ryan) Evans is always right there with me.”
Karbo, who won the race last year, placed third (24:51.40), and Adam Braun (24:56.60) checked in at fifth.
Augustana's top four runners--Yak, Evans, Karbo and Braun--all collected All-NSIC first-team nods.
Jordan Slusser (25:27.30) placed 13th to round out team scoring and pick up All-NSIC second-team honors.
Halvard Lange (25:31.90) finished 15th (All-NSIC second team), and TJ Gleason (25:52.40) placed 23rd.
"There are some quality teams in our conference, and we had to step up today," Hellman said. "I've always told my teams that championship races require championship performances. And that's what we got. Our individual winners had great race and deserved to win."
The Vikings will travel to Denver, Colo., on Nov. 5 for the Central Region Championship.
