ST. PAUL, Minn. – Led by titles by Fiona Smith, Jaylyn Ahlberg, Ellie Selisker and Sabriya Farquharson, the College of Saint Benedict Track and Field Team opened the outdoor season with a successful performance at the Hamline Invitational on Saturday (April 6). In total, CSB had the three titles, two top-10 program marks, and 21 top-eight finishes.

Next for Saint Benedict will be a trip to the Minnesota State Open on Saturday, April 13 in Mankato, Minn.

Today, CSB had a strong outing, led by senior 14-time All-American Fiona Smith, who continued her strong start to the outdoor season by clocking a winning time of 4:32.83. She finished nearly nine seconds better than the second-place finisher Annessa Ihde with the sixth fastest time outdoors in 2024. Smith's time ranks as the second-best time in school history, just off her school record of 4:25.51 in 2023.

Winning a second title for CSB was sophomore Jaylyn Ahlberg, who won the pole vault at 3.45 meters – 11-03.75 while first-year Lili Raidt was fourth in 3.15 meters – 10-04.00. Ahlberg's vault ranks fifth all-time outdoors at CSB and is 23^rd in NCAA DIII. In addition, CSB had a third student-athlete in top eight with junior Sabrina Buffetta at 2.70 meters – 8-10.25.

CSB also had a title in the long jump as Sabriya Farquharson had a jump of 5.16 meters -16-11.25 with senior Ellie Selisker, third in 4.98 meters – 16-04.25. Then Selisker captured CSB's fourth title by going 10.63 meters – 34-10.50 in the triple jump.

In the sprints, senior Kate Gallagher placed second in the 100-meter dash in 12.57 while senior Tiana Johnson was third in 12.67. Gallagher and Johnson, along with sophomore Myah Nelson and first-year Grace Buntrock finished second the 4x100-meters in 49.49, just .16 behind DII Concordia St. Paul.

The Bennies placed two in the top eight of the 100-meter hurdles as first-year Anya Adelgren was fifth in 15.77 while junior Justus Floren was eighth in 16.49. Floren also was fourth in the high jump at 1.60 meters – 4-09.75 and took third in the javelin throw at 35.26 meters – 115-08.
In the 200-meter dash, senior Sidela Nyuga was fifth with a personal-best clocking of 27.23. She was also fifth in the 400-meter dash by clocking a 1:01.13.

Sophomore Lauren Berg led two CSB runners in the top-eight of the 400-meter hurdles. Berg had a 1:06.89 clocking while Adelgren was eighth in 1:08.19.

Junior Kalli Smith recorded a third-place finish in the 800-meter dash by going 2:20.79.

Senior Haley Joos had a strong performance in the throws including placing fifth in shot put at 11.80 meters – 38-00.00 while taking sixth in the discus throw at 35.78 meters – 117-05.