Devin Schelske, sports editor

In his third season with the Auggies, head coach Nick Larson oversees the club. Before moving to Augsburg, Larson honed his coaching skills at Saint Mary’s University, where he was the cross country team’s assistant coach from 2018 to 2021. In addition, Larson was a volunteer assistant coach at the University of Minnesota, where he guided the Gophers to 20 National Championship qualifiers and four individual Big Ten Conference Championships. The Auggies don’t need to hope that he is bringing this winning attitude to the teams because through the first two meets of the season, they are looking about as solid as can be. 

The men’s team placed fifth out of six teams at the College of Saint Benedict Toni St. Pierre Invite and 15 out of 22 at the St. Olaf College Invitational. The top five finishers for the Auggies at the Toni St. Pierre Invite were Grayson Harris, Mohammed Bati, Yassir Ali, Tommy Clower and Henry Nelson who placed 61, 62, 67, 76 and 77 respectively out of 99 placing runners. The top five for Augsburg at the St. Olaf Invitational were Mohammed Bati, Grayson Harris, Yassir Ali, Tommy Clower and Henry Nelson who placed 1, 172, 207, 228 and 233 respectively out of 312 placing runners. 

The women’s team has had an incomplete team for the first two meets but have a roster size of five which is just enough to place as a team. Davi Worman was the lone Auggie in the race at the Toni St. Pierre Invitational. She placed 96 out of 98 runners in her first race as an Auggie. Davi Worman and Aleka London placed 249 and 253 respectively out of 281 placing runners at the St. Olaf Invitational. Alwena Brix also competed but was not listed on the TFRRS website for competing in the race. Brix ran at a time which would have earned her a place of 232, pacing the Auggie women.

For the men, the runner to watch as always is Mohammed Bati. After a disappointing and unusually slow finish at the Toni St. Pierre Invite, Bati bounced back in the St. Olaf Invitational and took first place in the 8k race with a time of 24:42.2. His race time broke the St. Olaf Invitational meet record which previously stood at 24:47.3. For this performance, Bati earned a MIAC Mens Cross Country Athlete of the Week honor. In his third season with the Auggies, Bati has claimed first place in nine races. For the women, the runner to watch is newcomer Alwena Brix. Brix was the first Auggie to finish the 6k race at the St. Olaf Invitational with a time of 30:19.7. 

The Auggies are back in action on Oct. 5 in Northfield, Minnesota for the Carleton College Running of the Cows where Mohammed Bati will defend his 2023 individual title.