MONMOUTH, Ill. – Augustana was victorious in a total of eight events (six running, one field and one relay) and easily rolled to the team title at the Midwest Invitational on Saturday, January 19 in Monmouth, Illinois. The Vikings rolled up 231 points to capture the four-team event. Monmouth took second with 200 points while Carroll (173.5) and Knox (32.5) rounded out the field.
 
Senior Michael Johnson (Owensboro HS, Owensboro, Ky.) led the way as he won two individual events and had a leg on the winning 4x400 relay. Johnson won the 60 in :06.96 and the 200 in :22.94. He then teamed with freshman Ian Rothery (Wheaton North HS, Wheaton, Ill.), sophomore Bradley Kohler (Woodstock North HS, Woodstock, Ill.) and senior Clayton Sommers (Saydel HS, Des Moines, Iowa) to win the 4x400 in 3:28.81. Sommers took second in both the 300 (:36.30) and the 60 hurdles (:08.81). Kohler placed third in the 300 (:36.47) and seventh in the 60 (:07.26) while Rothery was fourth in the 300 (:36.78).
 
Senior Nathan Ambrose (Winnebago HS, Winnebago, Ill.) won the 600 in 1:27.12 and junior Nick Harvey (Burlington Central HS, Elgin, Ill.) took the 800 in 1:59.17. Sophomore Josh Teets (Burlington Central HS, Maple Park, Ill.) placed first in the mile in 4:27.49 while senior Brandon Wilkerson (Tri-Point HS, Stelle, Ill.) claimed the 3000 in 9:04.00. Wilkerson was also second in the mile in 4:30.96.
 
The lone field event winner for Jake Shaver's Vikings was junior Joshua Mathis (Geneseo HS, Geneseo, Ill.) with a toss of 47' ¼ to take the shot put. He was also third in the weight throw with a heave of 46' 7 ¼".
 
Depth was the key all day long for Augustana as the Vikings had 11 events where more than one person placed. In the mile there were six runners wearing the Blue & Gold who scored points. Besides the one-two finish of Teets and Wilkerson, junior Cameron Shotten (DeKalb HS, Cortland, Ill.) took fourth in 4:36.74 and junior Justin Verlinden (United Township HS, East Moline, Ill.) was fifth in 4:40.53. Freshman Karsten Zielinski (Schaumburg HS, Schaumburg, Ill.) placed sixth (4:41.75) and senior Rob Williams (Vernon Hills HS, Vernon Hills, Ill.) took eighth (4:46.94).
 
In the 3000, while Wilkerson was winning, four Vikings were earning team points. Sophomore Alexander Binegar (East Peoria HS, East Peoria, Ill.) took fifth (9:55.56) and freshman Brady Johnson (Harlem HS, Loves Park, Ill.) was sixth (10:04.56). Freshman Evan Webber (Vernon Hills HS, Vernon Hills, Ill.) placed seventh in 10:08.36 and junior Ehren Braun (Crystal Lake Central HS, Crystal Lake, Ill.) was eighth in 10:28.68.
 
Freshman Michael Gille (Loves Park Harlem HS, Roscoe, Ill.) was third in the 600 in 1:27.38 with junior Anthoney Brown (Alwood HS, Woodhull, Ill.) taking fourth (1:30.09) and freshman Ryan Sorenson (Barrington HS, Lake Barrington, Ill.) placing seventh (1:34.78).
 
Another event that had big points for the Vikings was the 300. Sommers, Kohler and Rothery were two-three-four but sophomore A.J. Mimlitz (York HS, Elmhurst, Ill.) was sixth (:38.63) and senior Logan Enstrom (Rock Island HS, Rock Island, Ill.) took eighth (:39.01).
 
Sophomore Ryan Thornton (Limestone HS, Mapleton, Ill.) took second in the long jump with a leap of 20' 5" and was also sixth in the 60 hurdles (:09.33). Freshman Jack MacDonald (Batavia HS, Batavia, Ill.) placed second in the triple jump (43' 1") and third in the long jump (19' 11"). Sophomore Mason Wright (Polo HS, Woosung, Ill.) was third in the triple jump (42' 11 ½"). Freshman Tyree Colbert (St. Laurence HS, Blue Island, Ill.) took third in the 200 in :24.13 and sixth in the high jump (5' 8 ½").
 
Sophomore Mitchell Roedel (Burlington Central HS, Elgin, Ill.) took fourth in the 800 in 2:12.02. Sophomore Paul Cabrera (Galesburg HS, Galesburg, Ill.) placed fifth in the 60 hurdles in :09.33. Senior Tyler Burns (Washington HS, Washington, Ill.) was sixth in the high jump (5' 8 ½") and sophomore Riley Smith (St. Charles North HS, South Elgin, Ill.) was seventh in the 60 hurdles (:09.78). Senior Cody Goforth (Kewanee HS, Kewanee, Ill.) was eighth in the 200 (:25.61) and sophomore Urvaksh Avanthsa (Cary-Grove HS, Cary, Ill.) placed eighth in the long jump (18' 1").
 
Augustana will be in action again on Friday, January 25 at the Warhawk Invitational in Whitewater, Wisconsin.