DES MOINES, IOWA — Tracy Hellman, Director of Track & Field/Cross Country at Augustana, S.D., University, will be inducted into the Drake Relays Coaches Hall of Fame during an April 25 luncheon at the Courtside Club in the Shivers Basketball Practice Facility on the Drake campus. 

"Coach Hellman and his Augustana teams have become a staple at the Drake Relays," Franklin P. Johnson Director of the Drake Relays Blake Boldon said. "I appreciate his commitment to not only the Drake Relays but to consistent success in the sport of track and field. Every year that Coach Hellman brings his teams to Des Moines, it contributes to the overall success of the Drake Relays."

The induction of Hellman will increase membership in the Drake Relays Coaches Hall of Fame to 92. The Coaches Hall of Fame was established in 1977 with charter members John L. Griffith (Drake), Harry Gill (Illinois), Tom E. Jones (Wisconsin), Clyde Littlefield (Texas), Leo Johnson (Illinois) and Bill Easton (Drake and Kansas.)

Hellman has guided Augustana to 22 Drake Relays titles, including 17 in the last 10 seasons. The Vikings have won eight titles in the women's college division distance medley relay and seven championships in the men's college division distance medley relay.

Over the last two decades, Hellman has elevated Augusta's cross country and track and field to one of the premier programs in both NCAA Division II and all levels of the NCAA. The winner of 33 Coach of the Year awards, Hellman is recognized as one of the best coaches in the country. 

During the Hellman coaching era, Augustana has crowned seven individual NCAA Division II national champions and 191 All-Americans while winning 23 conference team championships. 

Hellman began his Augustana tenure as the head cross country coach for both men and women in 2000. He was handed the reins of the men's and women's track and field programs in 2004. He has become known as a coach with vision and a proven record of success at the championship level.

Augustana is the five-time defending champion in the Drake Relays women's college distance medley relay - the longest such Drake Relays streak by any team in this event. 

During the 2023 Drake Relays, the Viking quartet of Mia Salas, Ella Heinitz, Caroline Sudbeck and PJ English ran the fastest time in NCAA Division II at 11:42.58. Augustana has won the event eight of the last 12 times it's been contested on the Blue Oval.

"The Drake Relays are always a special meet for our program each year," said Hellman. "We have a tradition of excellence and we are proud to continue that record."

"Our women's DMR title was the highlight of the weekend and it was great to bring home another Drake Relays victory back to Augustana," Hellman added. "The women's DMR victory was a testament to the resilience of our ladies as we had a tough battle but came away with a victory."

Augustana swept both the college division men's and women's distance medley relays at the 2021 and 2022 Drake Relays. The Vikings also captured the women's college 4x800 relay in 2022, marking their third victory in four years in that event.

Additionally, the Vikings swept the men's and women's college distance medley relay titles at the 2014 Drake Relays. breaking the Augustana women's record by more than 10 seconds with a time of 11:32.87.

Augustana won three events at the 2011 Drake Relays - the men's and women's college distance medley relays as well as the women's college 4x800 relay. 

Augustana also won the women's college sprint medley relay at the 2018 Drake Relays.

 Aduo Omot handed Hellman his first national individual indoor champion by winning the 800 at the 2011 NCAA Division II Indoor Championships. 

The Vikings crowned two national champions at the 2011 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships with Runa Falch winning the women's 1,500 and Omot capturing the men's 800.

In 2011, for the first time in the program's existence, Augustana won the women's team title at the NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships. Hellman was named the national women's coach of the year by the USTFCCCA. 

A year later in 2012, the Augustana men's distance medley relay won the NCAA Division II Indoor title.

Augustana's Olivia Montez Brown won the pentathlon at the 2019 NCAA Division II Indoor Championships.