ROCK ISLAND, Ill. - After placing second as a team at last week's Augustana Early Spring Opener, the Ashford University men's track and field program hit the track on the Rock Island, Ill., campus again this past weekend for the 69th annual Viking Olympics.

Led by performances of freshman Christian ‘Ed' Awah of Willow Springs, Ill., and sophomore Austin Gilbert of Peoria, Ill., the Saints took fifth-place honors at the meet, competing against NCAA Division III programs as well as MCC members St. Ambrose University and Clarke College.

"Christian and Austin have helped set the tone for the men and their performances are helping our young team to mature earlier than expected," said AU Head Coach Chris Adams.

For the second consecutive week, Awah took first-place honors in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 15.04, beating out Central College's Chris Henely by .03 seconds. Not only was this top time good enough to break the school record time he set last week in the event, but Awah's performance met the ‘B' standard for the NAIA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, provisionally qualifying him for the national meet.

"Christian has quickly become a consistent presence for our team in the hurdles races," Adams said of Awah, who placed second in the 400-meter hurdles as well, finishing the race in 56.52.

Gilbert placed first in the field of 27 sprinters in the 200-meter dash, crossing the finish line in a time of 22.13 and nearly breaking the school record he set last week in the event. Gilbert beat out Augustana's Alex Rindone by .03 seconds.

"After redshirting last season, Austin has proven that he hasn't lost a step," added Adams.

Breaking away from their hurdles races, senior Franklin Barnes of Chicago, Ill., and Awah competed in the 200-meter dash with Gilbert as well, placing in 13th and 15th, respectively.

The duo of Gilbert and Andrew Drinkall of Hooppole, Ill., hit the track in the 400-meter dash, earning a 2-3 finish and securing 15 points for the Saints. Gilbert finished the one-lap race with a time of 50.30 while Drinkall was right behind him, crossing the line in 50.82.

Ademola Are of Hazel Crest, Ill., placed 22nd in the 800-meter run, finishing with a time of 2:08.44.

Comprised of Barnes, Awah, Gilbert and Caleb Snyder of Winnebago, Ill., the Saints' 4x100-meter relay team placed fifth in the event, collectively running a time of 43.54.

Synder took 10th place in the long jump prior to the relay, leaping a distance of 6.09 meters (19-11).

Competing in the 1,500-meter race, freshmen Ray Rivera of Franklin Park, Ill., and Patrick McClain of Gary Ind., finished 32nd and 39th, respectively.

Freshman Rafael Cristoso of Franklin Park, Ill., gained two points for the Saints in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, placing eighth with a time of 11:37.38, improving his finishing time for the event from last week. Cristoso also competed in the 400-meter hurdles for the first time this season, finishing 11th.

Freshmen Mizael Carrera of Franklin Park, Ill., and Aleksander Jakobsen of Rock Island, Ill., took the track for the 5,000-meter run, placing 10th and 23rd, respectively.

On Friday night, sophomore Aaron Yerk Belvidere, Ill., placed seventh and Shawn Goodhart of Erie, Ill., took 11th in the pole vault.

The men's 4x800-meter relay closed out Friday night with a time of 8:14.72, giving the Saints five more points toward their overall team finish.

In the throwing events, freshman Joe Snyder of Winnebago, Ill., placed seventh in the javelin throw, launching the spear-like object 48.46 meters (159') to give the Saints three additional points.

After placing fourth in the high jump, sophomore A.J. Smith of Port Byron, Ill., took 12th in the javelin with a toss of 43.92 meters (144'-1"). Yerk competed in the javelin as well, finishing 26th.

With a throw of 13.75 meters (45-1), Clinton, Iowa's Jaryd Prince took eighth place honors in the shot put and 26th place in the hammer throw, posting a throw of 28.77 meters (94'5").

In the discus throw, Yerk placed 20th with a toss of 37.67 meters (123-7) while Prince took 36th, throwing the discus 30.58 meters (100-4).

Competing against some of the best 4x400-meter relay teams in NCAA Division III, the relay team of Awah, Are, Drinkall and Gilbert, crossed the finish line in 3:27.19, good enough for fourth place overall in the final event of the day.