Last week, members of Augustana's indoor track and field team traveled to Albuquerque, N.M., and competed in the NCAA championships held at Adams State.
The women's distance medley relay (DMR) team was composed of freshmen Kristin Brondbo and Colleen Everson and sophomores Molly Kokesh and Runa Falch. Running for the men's team were freshman Taylor Olson and Aduo Omot, and juniors Tom Karbo and Travis Beniak.
After competition, the athletes totaled 11 All-American honors, with several individual honors as well. Omot is a notable standout, having participated in both team and individual races. He capped off the weekend with a national title having run a 1:51.20 800-meter run.
Olson, Omot, Karbo and Beniak ran a 9:58.72 in the DMR, giving them third place while Brondbo, Everson, Kokesh and Falch together ran a 11:58.89 in the women's division, giving them fourth place.
Team members Brondbo and Beniak also competed in the 1-mile race, with Beniak finishing at 4:11.06 placing fifth.
Running in the 5,000 meter, Falch also placed, finishing sixth with a time of 16:56.96.
"None of us had actually been to nationals before, so that was exciting," Kokesh said. "We had a pre-meet day where we do different runs and saw the track, which was really nice. It had raised corners which make you run faster and put less strain on your joints… it was a huge place. I'd never seen a track meet with so many bleachers before."
Kokesh also notes that while only eight members competed in Albuquerque, it was a team effort. The help from coaches and the team overall made the competition possible and was an embodiment of the work and practice throughout the year and season.
The events in Albuquerque were a definite highlight for the indoor track and field teams, but not the only one of the season.
Team members Omot and Falch were named men and women Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) athletes of the week, receiving honors for their performances in previous competitions.
"I had never been so nervous before; it was a really tense atmosphere," Kokesh said. "I like the distance in the relay because it involves everybody, and anything can happen. We started out in tenth place and ended up in fourth. It was very nerve-racking in trying to get us in a place. It was very exciting."
The teams were also ranked in the national U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association indoor track and field poll.
The men's team fell in at No. 23 while the women were No. 24.
Regionally, the men and women rank at fifth and seventh, respectively.
A season full of new-placed records, several athletes making the All-NSIC list and a large amount of special honors, late winter and early spring of 2011 saw an extremely successful showing by Augustana College.
"It was a great way to end the season, which doesn't always happen. You peak at different times for a runner," Kokesh said. "The elevation was taxing on our lungs. The air was really dry and your lungs burn, making it interesting to deal with."
The championships and All-American athlete honors conclude Augustana's indoor track and field season.
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