Welcome to Nationals!

We are officially in Charlotte. We have to head to the banquet right now and after a busy afternoon and previous day of traveling I'll finally have a chance to update you on where you can get information about the meet and some pictures from our first day here and our travel in. Stay tuned, I'll have things posted by 2 am this evening.

Flotrack Coverage

• 2010 D-II OUTDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS

  
  Find out who will be running in Charlotte here!

LIST OF PARTICIPANTS     2010 Men     2010 Women		HEAT SHEETS     2010 Men     2010 Women
Championship Results

• Ticket Information
  
• Banquet Information
  
• About Johnson C. Smith University
  
• Hotel Information
  
• Schedule Of Events
  
• Participant Manual (pdf)
  
• Map of Charlotte (Center City) (pdf)
  
• Charlotte Info: Dining | Attractions | Visitors' Guide

Coach Vahrenkamp

Coach Hellman

Coach Hellman wanted to start a new segment of the site and address every one so today includes a message from our head coach to every one. Look for more updates as we head to nationals soon!



Outdoor Review - Tracy Hellman from Jim Vahrenkamp on Vimeo.

10 Athletes Headed to Nationals!

Photo	Name - Class, Hometown:  National championship event
	Travis Beniak – So., Mazeppa, Minn.: 3000 meter steeplechase Currently ranked No. 15 in 3000 meter steeplechase with time of 9:04.97 First place at NSIC Championships in 3000 meter steeplechase Personal bests of 9:04.97 in 3000 meter steeplechase and 14:53.79 in 5000 meter run
	Noel Bentele – Jr., Brandon, S.D.: Hammer throw Currently ranked No. 16 in hammer throw with mark of 52.37 meters Third place at NSIC Championships in hammer throw Personal best of 52.37 meters in hammer throw
	Kyle Blakeslee – Fr., Cannon Falls, Minn.: 3000 meter steeplechase Currently ranked No. 13 in 3000 meter steeplechase with time of 10:43.14 First place at NSIC Championships in 3000 meter steeplechase Personal bests of 17:15.28 in 5000 meter run and 10:43.14 in 3000 meter steeplechase
	Molly Clark – Sr. Fargo, N.D.: 3000 meter steeplechase Currently ranked No. 15 in 3000 meter steeplechase with time of 10:45.90 Third place at NSIC Championships in 10,000 meter run Personal bests of 36:21.64 in 10,000 meter run and 10:45.90 in 3000 meter steeplechase
	Tom Karbo – So., Norway: 3000 meter steeplechase Currently ranked No. 4 in 3000 meter steeplechase with time of 8:54.00 First place at NSIC Championships in 1500 and 5000 meter runs Personal bests of 1:54.00 in 800, 3:51.77 in 1500, and 8:54.79 in 3000 meter steeplechase
	Linn Nilsson – Fr., Sweden: 1500 meter run Currently ranked No. 13 in 1500 meter run with time of 4:33.29 First place at NSIC Championships in 800 meter run Personal bests of 2:14.22 in 800 meter run and 4:32.10 in 1500 meter run
	Aduo Omot – Fr., Worthington, Minn.: 800 meter run Currently ranked No. 2 in 800 meter run with time of 1:49.46 Second place at NSIC Championships in 800 meter run Personal bests of 48.50 in 400 meter run and 1:49.46 in 800 meter run
	Caitlin Polgreen – Sr., Elk River, Minn.: 1500 meter run Currently ranked No. 7 in 1500 meter run with time of 4:31.59 Second place at NSIC Championships in 1500 meter run Personal bests of 2:16.00 in 800 meter run and 4:31.59 in 1500 meter run
	Cecilie Udstuen – Fr., Karmoy, Norway: 800 meter run Currently ranked No. 9 in 800 meter run with time of 2:11.09 School record holder in indoor and outdoor 800 meter run Personal bests of 2:11.01 in 800 meter run and 4:37.30 in 1500 meter run
	Brian Werner – Sr., Sioux Falls, S.D.: 800 meter run Currently ranked No. 16 in 800 meter run with time of 1:51.88 Fourth place at NSIC Championships in 800 meter run Personal bests of 1:51.88 in 800 meter run and 4:03.25 in 1500 meter run

augietrack.com!

In an effort to make it easier to find more information about Augustana track and field I've purchased the domain augietrack.com What does that mean for you? It means you have a much shorter name to remember. It also means that you can share our website with friends easier. Try it, take some time today to tell some one else you know or work with to visit augietrack.com. I guarantee they'll be able to find us. It's basically a sister site to our www.recruitMEaugie.com website where recruits can fill out their information for us. We've had a great year so far. As of today we have ten (10) qualifiers for the national meet. Just off hand I think that may be the most that we've ever had at one national meet. Some one correct me if I'm wrong.

We got some press after this weekend. This is a direct quote from the d2cross blog.

At Wisconsin-La Crosse, two Northern Sun athletes recorded only the third and fourth 800 auto qualifying times. Previously unknown Aduo Omot (Augustana, S.D.) nipped indoor champ Denise Mokaya (Mankato State), as both got under 1:50. Dan Allen (St. Cloud State) and Brian Werner (Augustana) also ran fast enough to book a trip to Charlotte. Awesome race.

And to think you have the opportunity to watch the race on the blog here! Visit the blog to read the whole article. He does a great job of covering distance racing at the d2 level across the board as well. http://d2cross.blogspot.com/2010/05/last-chance-meet-of-week-uwl-eagle-open.html

The Week That Was in Video

This past week we had some great races. Below are the video's of the races that I shot.

Untitled from Jim Vahrenkamp on Vimeo.

Untitled from Jim Vahrenkamp on Vimeo.

North Central Steeple from Jim Vahrenkamp on Vimeo.



Winona 1500m from Jim Vahrenkamp on Vimeo.


Winona 800m from Jim Vahrenkamp on Vimeo.



Noel Hammer from Jim Vahrenkamp on Vimeo.

New Qualifiers!

Cecilie Udstuen and Caitlin Polgreen both moved up on the national lists with great performances at the Winona Twilight. Cecilie ran 2:11.09 to move to 9th on the list and Polgreen moved up to 12th on the national list with a 4:31.59.

Automatic and Provisional Qualifiers

We are back on the road headed this time to Winona, MN for one of two last chance meets today, the other being at USF in Sioux Falls. We are stopping for some Starbucks and as we pause in our trip I can't help but mull over what we have accomplished this year as a program. This has been a phenomenal year so far. Thats what we thought prior to this weekend. Then our athletes traveled to Wisconsin La Crosse and North Central College just outside Chicago. After yesterday we had an even longer list of automatic and provisional  qualifiers. Consult the list below.

Women - 2 Auto/11 Provo (13 national qualifiers)
Womens National List

Molly Clark - 3k Steeple/10k - 10:45/36:21.64 - Automatic Qualifier and provisional qualifier

Kyle Blakeslee - 3k Steeple/5k - 10:43/17:15.58 - Automatic Qualifier and provisional qualifier
Cecilie Udstuen - 800m/1500m - 2:13.15/4:37.30 - 2x provisional qualifier
Caitlin Polgreen - 1500m - 4:33.22 - provisional qualifier
Linn Nilsson - 1500m - 4:33.29 - provisional qualifier
Runa Falch - 5k/10k - 17:11.87/36:16.26 - 2x provisional qualifier
Miriam Hovda - 10k/3k Steeple - 36:26.25/11:16.64 - 2x provisional qualifier
Noel Bentle - Hammer - 171'10" - provisional qualifier

Men - 3 Auto/3 Provo (6 national qualifiers)
Mens National List
Diego Oquendo - 110mh - 14.62 - provisional qualifier
Odou Omot - 800m - 1:49.46 - Automatic Qualifier
Brian Werner - 800m - 1:51.88 - provisional qualifier
Tom Karbo - 3k Steeple - 8:54.79 - Automatic Qualifier
Travis Beniak - 3k Steeple - 9.04.97 - Automatic Qualifier
Dan Black  - 3k Steeple - 9:09.04 - provisional qualifier

Total - 5 Auto/14 Provo (19 national qualifiers)

In closing. I think the best part about this list is the position of the athletes who have provisionally qualified. The girls in the 1500m should get in, Brian Werner in the 800m should get in as well. It speaks volumes about our program that we have this many kids running this fast at this time of year.  What a great time to be a Viking!

Wisconsin LaCrosse and North Central

What a great night for Augustana track and field. First and foremost both Adou Omot and Brian Werner had huge pr's. Adou crossed the line in 1:49.46 which places him 2nd on the national list. Werner crossed in 1:51 which is his fastest clocking ever. Both times put them in position to gain entry to the national meet.

In addition to those performances Cecilie Udstuen ran 2:13 in the 800m for her best time this season. Noel Bentele threw a personal best of 171-10 in the hammer to move up to 16th on the national list.

At the North Central meet just outside of Chicago both Travis Beniak and Dan Black posted personal bests. Beniak ran 9:04 and Black ran 9:09. Beniaks time is an automatic qualifier for the national meet while Dan's time places him 17th on the national list with a provisional mark.

North Central College - Naperville, IL
 The steeple will go off at 9:50 central time this evening. Temps should be in the high 50's and the wind should be around 5 mph from the west. Perfect conditions. Both Dan and Travis are seeking to set new personal bests under 9:10 in the steeple.

North Central College
Dr. Keeler Track & Field Invitational
Thursday, May 13, and Friday, May 14, 2010
Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium

Updated May 4
Entry Procedures
Live Event-by-Event Results

3000m Steeple
Travis Beniak - 9:04 - automatic qualifying
Dan Black - 9:09 - provisional qualifier

Wisonsin Lacrosse - Lacross, WI

Final Results

Steeple
Kyle Blakeslee - 10:48

1500
Linn Nielson - 3:33.29
Caitlin Polegreen - 3:34

Hammer
Noel Bentle  - 51.35m (168 5.75) NEW SCHOOL RECORD!

800m
Cecilie  Udstuen

800m
Brian Werner - 1:51.52
Adou Omot - 1:49.46 - 2nd in the nation as of 11pm central

Believe it or not I am currently writing as we cruise down the interstate on our way to Chicago. Internet access has been spotty at best but as we near the eastern side of Minnesota I seem to be getting better service. As we were driving we got talking about the history of our program. I am a history buff so knowing about our program is very interesting to me. I jumped on the internet archive looking for two things. One was chasingtradtion.com which no longer is on the internet. The other was to look at the Augustana athletic web site back in the day. Posted below is the 1997 team outlook along with a link. I'll be posting updates from the road complete with race video and re-caps. This is the last weekend to qualify for nationals. Check back soon for more details.

1997 Augustana Track and Field Web Site

Season Outlook

The 1997 season sees a youth movement on the Vikings team. Although there were only two graduating seniors in 1996, 1997 sees eleven true freshman, and one redshirt freshman on the Augie squad. Gone from last years team are Tom Dow (12-time All-American, 800m; Council Bluffs, IA), and Jason Knudsen (400/800; Custer, SD).
Returning veterans inlude North Central Conference placewinners, Johnny Parks (Sr; Rapid City, SD) in the 1500m, Kyle Anderson (Sr; Scholfield, WI), Matt Merritt (So; Sioux Falls, SD), in the hurdles,Troy O'Hara (So; Sioux Falls, SD) in the 3000m Steeplechase, and three of the four members of the 4 x 400m relay, Merritt, Chris Fischer (So; Yankton, SD), and Joey Gleason (So; Nicollet, MN).
Joining the veterans is an impressive class of freshman. The Viking sprinters have been bolstered by the addition of Jacob Conway (Fr; Waseca, MN), Jay Eilers (Fr; Spearfish, SD), and Chris Norris (Fr; Pleasant Valley, IA). All three were leading sprinters and state place winners in their respective states. The outlook is good for the Vikings to have a lot of depth from 100m to 400m, with a strong group of sprinters pushing each other for positions on the sprint relays.
In addition to the sprints, Norris joins Merritt in the hurdle events, along with Brian Rehnke (Fr; Bloomington, MN), Adam DeCook (Fr; Byron, MN), and Seth Norris (Fr; Estherville, IA). The coaching staff is excited about this large group of talented individuals who provide the team with the most hurdle depth in a number of years.
The hurdles are not the only area where Rehnke excels. The Minnesota State Meet runner-up (6' 8") in the high jump, gives the Vikings strong point scoring potential in the jumps. Gleason and Matt Witt (Fr; Grand Island, NE) give the Vikings firepower in the horizontal jumps, with the possibility of Rehnke joining them in the triple jump.
The distance corp could also be a strong area for the Vikings. Senior Parks is looking stronger than ever in cross-country, and looks to improve on his 4th place finish in the NCC meet 1500m. O'Hara had a tremendous freshman season, breaking the school record in the 3000m Steeplechase, and looks to be one of the the leaders in the North Central Conference in 1997. Duane Bowman (Jr; Rhame, ND) is enjoying a strong cross-country season, and will be among the leaders in the 5000m and 10,000m. Joining the upper classman is a talented group of freshmen. Iowa prepsters Mark Scharnberg (Sioux City, IA), state 4A placewinner in the 800m and 1600m brings strength to the middle distances. Craig Binkley (Erie, CO) and redshirt freshman Scott Schneider (Rhame, ND) add further depth to the longer distances.