After strong performances at the CCIW Outdoor Championships, where the men’s team finished second in the conference, and the women’s team placed fifth, the Augustana track and field teams enter one of the most important stretches of their season. The Vikings continued to build momentum heading toward the national qualifying period at the Outdoor Championships, but their success also extended to the sidelines, where the men’s coaching staff was named Coaching Staff of the Year.
With nationals coming into focus, the Vikings will return home for the Augustana Penultimate Qualifier on Friday, giving athletes another opportunity to improve marks and strengthen their chances of qualifying for the NCAA Division III Outdoor Championships.
The Vikings believe their success at the conference championships was built through months of steady work and development rather than one strong weekend performance. Throughout the season, the team emphasized improving daily habits, strengthening leadership and creating a more focused approach during practices and meets.
That mindset has helped the program continue to grow as athletes prepare for the final stretch of the outdoor season. With nationals approaching, players like junior AJ Banks feel that the work put in throughout the year has positioned them to compete at a high level heading into the Augustana Penultimate Qualifier.
“We definitely put a lot of time and effort into taking intentionality with each practice that we have,” Banks said. “We’ve continuously grown, the leadership capabilities on the team, and being very informative of people on the squad, how to approach practices, how to approach meets, how to take time and effort, to take care of yourself, to put yourself in a good spot to succeed.”
The Vikings believe one of the biggest reasons for the team’s success this season has been the culture built within the program. Junior Landon Wierenga said the environment has become more focused and connected over the years, helping teammates push each other while also providing support throughout the long outdoor season.
That culture has extended beyond competition, influencing the way athletes approach practices, preparation and recovery. As the team prepares for the final meets of the season, many players believe the trust and accountability built within the program have helped put them in a position to succeed.
“We’ve grown so close together, and we push each other because we’re comfortable with each other,” Wierenga said. “One of the biggest things is having really good role models, people who have set the standard for success and like what it looks like to try your hardest.”
As nationals approach, the pressure surrounding performances and qualifying marks has only increased for the Vikings. With fewer opportunities remaining in the season, athletes understand that each meet carries added importance as they compete for spots on the national stage.
Despite the expectations and intensity of this point in the season, athletes said the pressure has become more motivating than overwhelming. Rather than allowing the moment to weigh them down, many have used it as an extra push heading into the final weeks of competition.
“I’m definitely more excited with the whole pressure thing,” Banks said. “It’s not something that weighs me down; it’s something that motivates me. When you have pressure, that means you’re doing something right. People are expecting you to do good, and when I know I can do those good things, it puts me in the mindset to go out and do them. So I’m very excited to see what’s to come in the next couple weeks.”
At the Augustana Penultimate Qualifier, the Vikings had a record-setting day, with Charlotte Frere posting a discus throw of 56.59m, breaking the 34-year-old national record of 55.02m set by Kristin Kuehl in 1992. On the men’s side, Landon Wierenga won the hammer throw with a mark of 61.28m before adding a fourth-place finish in the discus at 49.65m.
With only a handful of meets remaining in the outdoor season, the Vikings will continue their push toward nationals over the coming weeks. Augustana will host the Midwest Twilight Qualifier on May 13-14 before athletes who qualify travel to La Crosse, Wisconsin, for the NCAA Division III Outdoor Championships from May 21-23.
