MIAC TRACK ATHLETES OF THE WEEK

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Augsburg College men's track and field 1,600-meter relay team was named Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Men's Track Athletes of the Week, it was announced by the conference office on Monday.

The 1,600-meter relay team, which consists of Joe Arnold (JR, Grand Rapids, Minn.), Rick Wolke (JR, Belle Plaine, Minn.), Nick Ward (SR, Coon Rapids, Minn.) and Matthew Schafer (SO, New Brighton, Minn./Irondale HS) recorded a first-place finish at this past weekend's St. Thomas Tom Cat Invitational, clocking a season-best time of 3:19.22.

According to the raceberryjam.com website, Augsburg holds the top 1,600-meter relay time in the MIAC this season. The Augsburg time is just under three seconds away from meeting an NCAA national championships provisional qualifying time (3:16.40).

The award marks the third consecutive week that Augsburg has won the men's MIAC Track Athlete of the Week Award, as Ward previously won the award in each of the last two weeks.

The Augsburg men's track and field team returns to action this Thursday (4/21) at the Hamline University Capitol City Championships.