The Upper Iowa men's cross country team raced in the NSIC Championship meet on Saturday.  The competition took place at Wayne Country Club in Wayne, Nebraska and the 8k race featured 14 other conference schools.

Matt Steiger of Augustana was the individual champion as he traversed the 8K course in 24:50.70 with teammate Ryan Hartman in second at 24:58.1. Teammates Jesse Kaas and Colton Brand were fourth and fifth, respectively. 

The Vikings' Erik Gundersen was named NSIC Newcomer of the Year after his sixth-place finish. The NSIC Newcomer of the Year is awarded to the highest placing student-athlete competing in their first year of cross country competition in the NSIC.

Augustana's Tracy Hellman was voted by his peers as the NSIC Coach of Year for the 12th time in the last 13 years.

The top ten finishers are named All-NSIC First Team while finishers 11-20 earn All-NSIC Second Team honors.

The Peacocks placed 13th overall. Nathan Goranson led the way coming in at 68th place and finishing with a time of 27:38.82. Other competitors were Brayan Silva (28:28.98), Dalton Baker (28:39.32), Nolan Evans (28:56.65), Bryce Baker (29:16.35), David Snider (29:33.07), Chance Adam (30:15.69) and Marcus Holman (33:27.82).

The next action for NSIC Cross Country will be at the NCAA Regional, which will take place in Joplin, Missouri on Saturday, Nov. 19th. The NCAA DII National Cross Country Championships will be held on Saturday, December 3 at Chamber's Bay in University Place, Washington.