SEGUIN, Texas – The College of Saint Benedict track and field team had a strong showing at the D3 Challenge hosted by Texas Lutheran on March 22, with 11 student-athletes finishing in the top three. Senior Lucy Lyngen and junior Lauren Berg each claimed individual titles, leading the Bennies in their outdoor season opener. The Bennies recorded three top-10 program marks during their performances today.

Lyngen captured the 1,500-meter run with a time of 5:00.31, while Berg won the 400-meter hurdles in 1:05.30. The Bennies also had a strong performance from senior Justus Floren, who placed in the top six in three events. Aside from her sixth place finish in the high jump at 1.45 meters (4-09), she set a personal-best and finished third in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 15.17. That clocking by Floren ranks third all-time at CSB. She was also fourth in the long jump.

The Bennies also excelled in the pole vault, taking two of the top three spots. Junior Jaylyn Ahlberg finished second with a height of 3.42 meters (11-02.75), while sophomore Lili Raidt placed third at 3.27 meters (10-08.75).

The long jump saw the Bennies place four athletes in the top eight, led by sophomore Sabriya Farquharson, who finished third with a career-best jump of 5.58 meters (18-03.75), ranking second on the all-time list at CSB. Floren followed in fourth with a jump of 5.26 meters (17-03.00), while first-year Anna Gries was sixth at 5.17 meters (16-11.50), and first-year Maggie McCabe placed eighth at 4.87 meters (15-11.75).

Farquharson also earned a third-place finish in the triple jump with a leap of 10.91 meters (35-10.25), while Gries placed fifth (10.39 meters, 34-01) and McCabe finished sixth (10.36 meters, 33-11.75).

In the 400-meter hurdles, sophomore Chloe Ostrem set a personal-best of 1:10.43, finishing fourth. Ostrem also placed eighth in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 16.90.

The Bennies also had strong results in the 800-meter run, with senior Kalli Smith finishing sixth in 2:27.61, junior Brooke Verkinnes taking seventh at 2:34.53, and first-year Karcyn Dose placing eighth in 2:35.19.

In her first outdoor meet, first-year Allison Banse earned third place in the shot put with a throw of 11.52 meters (37-09.50), which ranks 10th all-time at CSB. Senior Lexi Torres placed sixth in the hammer throw with a career-best throw of 39.22 meters (128-08), while sophomore Christian Smith was seventh in a career-best 38.88 meters (127-07). Smith also had another career mark as she placed third in the discus at 36.72 meters - 120-06 while Banse was sixth at 34.87 meters - 114-50. 

Next for the CSB Outdoor track and field team will be the CSB/SJU Optimist Meet on March 29 at Clemens Stadium in Collegeville, Minn.