2023 NSIC Men's Outdoor Track & Field Preseason Coaches' Poll

3/17/2023 11:00:00 AM

MINNESOTA STATE SELECTED IN NSIC MEN'S INDOOR PRESEASON COACHES' POLL

MINNESOTA STATE SELECTED IN NSIC 
MEN'S OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD PRESEASON COACHES' POLL

BURNSVILLE, Minn. - The 10-time defending NSIC Champions of Minnesota State University, Mankato were picked to win the NSIC in the preseason men's outdoor track & field coaches' poll. The Mavericks received 10 first place votes and tallied 120 points, ranking them ahead of Augustana, which was second with 112 points and two first place votes. MSU Moorhead was third with 91 points, University of Mary was fourth with 88 points while Wayne State was fifth with 76 points.

Augustana's Henry Klitzke was voted by the coaches as preseason outdoor track athlete of the year while MSU Moorhead's Shyrone Kemp was named the preseason field athlete of the year.  

The 2023 NSIC outdoor track & field season gets underway this weekend with the regular season culminating on Thursday-Saturday, May 11-13 at the NSIC Championships held at Sea Foam Stadium, hosted by Concordia-St. Paul. 

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Henry Klitzke (Distance, Sr., Sioux Falls, S.D. / Lincoln HS) - Augustana
  • Placed second in the 10,000m at the 2022 NSIC Outdoor Track & Field Championships
  • Placed third in the 5,000m at the 2022 NSIC Outdoor Championships
  • Ran a season-best time of 14:25.35 at the 2022 Drake Relays
  • Ran a season-best time of 30:18.70 in the 10,000m at the 2022 Mt. SAC Relays
  • 2022-23 NSIC Indoor Track Athlete of the Year 
  • NSIC Indoor Championship in both the 3000 meter and 5000 meter runs this year
  • Earned NSIC High Point Scorer at the indoor championship collecting 20 total points
Henry is true picture of persistence and dedication. He has logged many miles over his career at Augustana. His growth as a student-athlete has inspired many on the team to stay patient, focus and to put in the required work. Earning Indoor Track Athlete of the Year honors earlier, we look forward to watching this final outdoor season for him.
Head Coach Tracy Hellman
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Shyrone Kemp (Jumps, Jr., Jones Town, Bahamas / Tabernacle Baptist Christian Academy) - MSU Moorhead
  • Placed fifth in the 2022-23 NCAA Indoor Championships in the triple jump to earn First Team All-American honor
  • First Team All-American in the triple jump in both the indoor and outdoor season a year ago
  • Placed second in the triple jump at NCAA Indoor Championships and third at NCAA Outdoor Championships a year ago
  • Won both the triple jump and long jump at last  year's NSIC Indoor Championships
  • Triple jump champion at last year's NSIC Outdoor Championships
  • Named 2021-22 MSUM male student-athlete of the year
Shy's ability to consistently be the anchor of our field event group is amazing. This season we'll again look to him to be dangerous in all the jumps.
Head Coach Ryan Milner

NSIC TEAM ATHLETES TO WATCH & COACHES' QUOTES

AUGUSTANA UNIVERSITY (2nd)

We are excited to see the team compete and come together as one. Our training groups, often train at different times and locations, but when they come together as team we feel it. It is when we build that commitment to the team over individual successes that excites us as a coaching staff.
Head Coach Tracy Hellman
Henry is true picture of persistence and dedication. He has logged many miles over his career at Augustana. His growth as a student-athlete has inspired many on the team to stay patient, focus and to put in the required work. Earning Indoor Track Athlete of the Year honors earlier, we look forward to watching this final outdoor season for him.
Head Coach Tracy Hellman
Connor is a leader on and off the track. We are excited to see how his leadership can influence others to perform at their best this outdoor season.
Head Coach Tracy Hellman

CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY, ST. PAUL (7th)

Our men's outdoor squad will have a different build than our indoor squad as two big-time contributors exhausted their eligibility after the indoor season. However, we will have some new faces ready to debut, while the returners are also motivated to contribute across the range of additional outdoor events that aren't contested indoors.
Head Coach Sam Johnson
Matthew established himself as a rangy middle distance performer during the indoor season, culminating in a 3rd place finish at the NSIC Indoor Championships 800m's. He has consistently shown improvement in his racing through each of his competitive seasons, which has grown his confidence on the track. We are also confident that each time he steps on the track, he will be in contention for high placings and consistent performances.
Head Coach Sam Johnson
Eben is coming off of a solid indoor season which saw him finish as runner-up at the NSIC Indoor Championships in the weight throw. However, he did fall short of some goals he set for himself during the indoor campaign missing the indoor national meet by a few places. So he is hungry and determined to finish off his senior outdoor season on a high note.
Head Coach Sam Johnson

UNIVERSITY OF MARY (4th)

Outdoor brings about a lot of events that we are excited about. The relays along with Javelin should be big for our program at the conference and nationally. We didn't perform to our potential indoors so we have a lot of hunger to improve outdoors.
Head Coach Cale Korbelik
Jorgen had a breakout performance in the indoor season with the 60m and getting on the national list in the 200m. He is looking again to do the same with leading the relays.
Head Coach Cale Korbelik
Malakhi was almost perfect at the indoor conference multi. He finished with 7/7 personal bests in a multi and 6/7 lifetime bests out of any event. Malakhi led the men's team with his grit and competitiveness.
Head Coach Cale Korbelik

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA DULUTH (6th)

Our men's team scored more points at the conference championships this year (double what we scored in last years championships) than we have since 2019. With a lot of young talent, we are excited to see how having one season on experience will set us up to further our success during the outdoor season.
Head Coach Karly Brautigam
Owen was the conference runner up in the 1000M with a school record time and had lifetime bests in the 3k and Mile during the indoor season.
Head Coach Karly Brautigam
Colton was the conference runner-up in shot put this indoor season and achieved a provisional mark of 16.62. Colton also PR'd by over 1.5 meters in the WT during the indoor season. Colton scored in both the Disc and the shot at last year's NSIC conference championships
Head Coach Karly Brautigam

MINNESOTA STATE UNIVERSITY, MANKATO (1st)

Minnesota State has a complete team across all event areas. As we add some additional events outdoors, the Mavericks will continue to show how the 2022-2023 season may be one of their most competitive and complete teams to date.
Head Coach Mike Turgeon
Tanner is a multi-time All-American, and defending 800m conference champion. The model of consistency and range, Tanner will look to continue leaving his mark on the 2022-2023 season.
Head Coach Mike Turgeon
After breaking a 40 year old indoor school record with his leap of 25'10'' to win the NSIC conference title, James looks to bring the momentum to the outdoor season and continue his career best season.
Head Coach Mike Turgeon

MINNESOTA STATE UNIVERSITY MOORHEAD (3rd)

We have an excellent mix of established returners and a dynamic group of first year athletes. A great mix for an exciting outdoor campaign.
Head Coach Ryan Milner
The two seasons Elliott has had with our program have been amazing. We will again be counting on him to have his biggest moments in a championship setting this outdoor season.
Head Coach Ryan Milner
Shy's ability to consistently be the anchor of our field event group is amazing. This season we'll again look to him to be dangerous in all the jumps.
Head Coach Ryan Milner

MINOT STATE UNIVERSITY (10th)

The things that excite me the most about this team is , seeing the grown of Minot State University Track and Field. Looking at the reactions on athletes faces as they reach their marks that they work for all last year and this year.
Head Coach Greggmar Swift
Francis is a wholistic athlete on and off the track and should be up for a lot of internal academic and athletic awards. Creeping up on conference indoors with his 11th place finish, a lot of teams should be aware of his ability outdoors and pay closer attention to him.
Head Coach Greggmar Swift
Leif was 12th at the NCAA outdoor championships last year. Then coming indoors and placing third in an event that is not a primary event. What is not to be excited about this young man. The work has been put in. Now it's time to see the results.
Head Coach Greggmar Swift

NORTHERN STATE UNIVERSITY (8th)

Our men's team is coming off a solid indoor performance at the NSIC Championships. We have a good group of male javelin throwers we expect to do some big things for us this outdoor season. We are looking forward to nice weather and competing on the outdoor track!
Head Coach Lynne Dingman
Jackson is coming off a strong indoor and cross country season for the Wolves. He is a dedicated runner and will be entering into his final season. Jackson has had an amazing career at Northern. We are excited to see what he can do in his final season.
Head Coach Lynne Dingman
Sam has been a big presence since he arrived as a Freshmen last season. He has managed to hit All-Conference and 5th place twice in his short career so far at Northern. We expect him to continue to hit some big heights this outdoor season.
Head Coach Lynne Dingman

UNIVERSITY OF SIOUX FALLS (9th)

We had a successful Indoor Season with our team. The team scores were very bunched up from sixth to ninth place. Our men work very hard and are highly motivated to push to get to the next level. We are more of an outdoor team so we are looking forward to adding some points in other event areas to score more points.
Head Coach Doug Petersen
Dave had a very good indoor season highlighted by placing in the 5,000m and 3,000m at the NSIC Indoor Championships. Dave's indoor personal bests have him #4 in the 5,000m, #6 in the 3,000m, and #8 in the Mile at USF. He is also the school record holder in the 3,000m Steeple Chase and had an NCAA Provisional Qualifying time last year.
Head Coach Doug Petersen
Last year Tyler was a National Qualifier in the Discus and the Shot Put. He placed in in those events at the NSIC Outdoor Championships last season. This indoor season he placed in both the Shot Put and Weight Throw, earning All-Conference Honors in the WT. Tyler also holds the Indoor school records in the Shot Put and Weight Throw at USF.
Head Coach Doug Petersen

SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA STATE UNIVERSITY (11th)

Progress is the word we use to describe the men's program. With still mostly young group, we continue to make progress as we head outdoors in hopes of more PR's and school records.
Head Coach Kirk Nauman
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Tyler had a nice progression during indoor season which culminated in a school record 200 M and placing in the 4 x 400 M at the NSIC Indoor Championships. Tyler hopes to makes more strides as we head outdoors.
Head Coach Kirk Nauman
After scoring as a freshman in the discus at last year's NSIC Championships and following up with a scoring performance in the shot put at this year's NSIC Indoor Championships. Tyler is looking to move up in both events outdoors. With constant development as the season has progressed, he has the opportunity to score in multiple events outdoors.
Head Coach Kirk Nauman

UPPER IOWA UNIVERSITY (12th)

After a strong indoor season, this team is looking forward to heading outdoors. We have young squad that is eager to improve upon their indoor performances and finish this year on a high note!
Head Coach Nate Rucker
Excited to see what Gunner can accomplish during the outdoor season. He started indoor season late due to commitment to the men's basketball program and was still able to qualify and finish in the Top 10 of the 60H at the NSIC Indoor Championships.
Head Coach Nate Rucker
After a strong showing during his final indoor campaign, Jaylen is poised for a strong finish to his college career. He has been one of our best performers the past four years and we are expecting him to lead this team as we head into the outdoor season.
Head Coach Nate Rucker

WAYNE STATE COLLEGE (5th)

This spring should be an exciting season for our team. We had a great showing at the NSIC Indoor Championships with a fourth place finish and have a pretty young team. Hopefully, we can continue to build on that as we head into the outdoor season.
Head Coach Marlon Brink
Brandon made a big improvement from last year's outdoor track season to this fall in cross country and then into the indoor season. I expect that this will carry over into continued success into the outdoor season. Placing in the 1000, mile, and DMR indoors has boosted his confidence and I think he will be ready for a great outdoor season.
Head Coach Marlon Brink
Dylan is showing the consistency of a high caliber jumper. He has made it over 2.12m (6' 11 1/2") a couple times now. He has competed at both the NCAA Indoor and Outdoor National Championships, so he knows what it takes to compete at high level. I think we will see some more new heights for his career this outdoor season."
Head Coach Marlon Brink
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