MANKATO/ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – Led by Fiona Smith, Jaylyn Ahlberg, Kate Gallagher and Sabriya Farquharson, the College of Saint Benedict outdoor track and field team had 13 top-eight finishes, two titles, a meet/stadium record, and seven top-10 program marks as split squads competed at both the Minnesota State Open and the Bethel Invitational on Saturday (April 13).

At the Minnesota State Open, CSB had a pair of outstanding performances with sophomore Jaylyn Ahlberg winning the pole vault title at 3.62m – 11-10.50. It was a mark that ranks third all-time at CSB as she finished ahead of a number of DII competitors. At CSB, Ahlberg now only trails Danielle Busch at 3.76m- 12-04 in 2010 and London Stelten at 3.95m-12-11.50 in 2017.

CSB also had another top program mark as first-year Sabriya Farquharson placed second in the long jump at 5.55m – 18-02.50. It was a jump that ranks second all-time at CSB, just off the 5.71m-18-08.75 of Julia Renner in 2010. She also placed third in triple jump at 11.16m – 36-07.50 for seventh all-time at CSB.

At the Bethel Invitational, senior 14-time All-American Fiona Smith continued her impressive 2024 season by clocking the third-fastest 1,500 meters in DIII in winning the event with a stadium and meet record of 4:29.02. She finished 5.19 seconds ahead of the second-place finisher. Also, in the 1,500 meters senior Lucy Lyngen clocked a PR of 4:56.49 and first-year Taylor Radaich clocked a PR of 5:00.58.

Smith was also third in the 800 with her personal-best of 2:16.72, a mark that ranks fifth all-time at CSB and 36^th in DIII. Junior Kalli Smith also had a PR in the 800-meters with a clocking of 2:19.10, a time that placed her eighth at the meet and eighth all-time in program history.

Senior Kate Gallagher had an outstanding day at the Bethel Invite, clocking a personal-best and bettering the previous meet record with a 12.43 clocking for third in the 100-meters. It was a time that ranks as the seventh-best clocking in school history. In addition, she was also part of a second place 4x100 meter relay with a clocking of 48.82, just .23 out of first place. With Myah Nelson, Tiana Johnson and Grace Buntrock, Gallagher helped the team to a top 40 time in DIII. In addition, Gallagher was sixth in the 200 meters with a 26.16 clocking as she led three in the top eight. Johnson was seventh in in 26.20 while Sidela Nyuga took eighth in 26.32 with her PR.

In the 400-meter hurdles, sophomore Lauren Berg was third in 1:04.89, a clocking that was a season-best and ranks no. 22 in NCAA DIII, just off her career-best 63.38 in 2023, the second best time in program history  
 
In the javelin throw, senior Erin Martin was fourth with a toss of 29.88m – 98-00. Senior Ellie Selisker placed third in the high jump at 1.50m – 4-11.00.