COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. — Powered by a record-breaking performance from first-year
Juslene Chea (St. Michael, Minn.), the College of Saint Benedict track and field team finished second with 123 points at the CSB+SJU Invitational on Friday at The Donald McNeely Spectrum. The Bennies totaled four event titles, 11 runner-up finishes, and 22 top-four performances in a strong all-around showing.
CSB placed second in the team standings behind Bethel (132 points), while St. Cloud State finished third with 62 points and Northwestern–St. Paul was fourth with 14.
Chea highlighted the meet by setting a new school record in the 60-meter hurdles, winning the event in 9.11 for her second straight victory. Her time moved her into 38th in the NCAA Division III rankings and broke the previous record of 9.12 set by
Justus Floren in 2025 and Mandy Witschen in 2014. The Bennies claimed three of the top five spots in the event, as junior
Chloe Ostrem (Mendota Heights, Minn.) finished fourth with a season-best 10.09 and junior
Anya Adelgren (St. Paul, Minn.) placed fifth in 10.10.
Another CSB title came from junior
Taylor Radaich (Prior Lake, Minn.), who won the 1,000 meters in 3:13.77. Sophomore
Bailey Link (Brush, Colo.) added a second-place finish in the event with a time of 3:14.28.
The Bennies were also strong in the mile run, placing three athletes in the top five.
Mary Kenney (Saint Paul, Minn.) recorded a personal best while finishing second in 5:27.90, junior
Anabella Witschen (Monticello, Minn.) took third in 5:31.39, and sophomore
Mollie Ping (Winona, Minn.) was fifth in 5:43.08.
In the 3,000 meters, first-year
Daphne Grobstein (Golden Valley, Minn.) earned a second-place finish in 10:55.70, while junior
Julia Babineau (Andover, Minn.) placed fifth in 11:22.96.
CSB also finished second and third in the 4x400-meter relay. The runner-up quartet of
Lauren Berg (Bemidji, Minn.),
Tiffany Dean (Hutchinson, Minn.),
Taylor Dean (Hutchinson, Minn.), and
Macy Piechowski (Winona, Minn.) clocked 4:21.55, while the team of Radaich, Witschen,
Joel Makem Ratzinger (Shakopee, Minn.), and Link finished close behind.
In the field events, the Bennies collected multiple podium finishes. Sophomore
Kiera Stommes (Eden Valley, Minn.) and junior
Anna Kemp (New Prague, Minn.) tied for second in the high jump at 1.50 meters (4-11.00), as CSB claimed three of the top five spots. In the pole vault, CSB swept three of the top four positions, led by sophomore
McKenna Flinn (Redwood Falls, Minn.), who won the event at 3.38 meters (11-1.00). Senior
Jaylyn Ahlberg (Shoreview, Minn.) finished second at the same height, while junior
Lili Raidt (Waconia, Minn.) was fourth at 3.08 meters (10-1.25).
Sophomore
Allison Banse (Mankato, Minn.) placed second in the shot put with a throw of 11.80 meters (38-8.75), while first-year
Quinn Paulsen (Waconia, Minn.) finished fourth at 9.76 meters (32-0.25). CSB also took the top two spots in the triple jump, as junior
Sabriya Farquharson (Nassau, Bahamas) won with a mark of 10.75 meters (35-3.25) and first-year
Hannah Scharnberg finished second at 10.12 meters (33-2.50). Banse added CSB's top finish (7th) in the weight throw at 11.17 meters (36-7.75).
On the track, senior
Lauren Berg (Bemidji, Minn.) finished second in the 400 meters with a season-best time of 1:00.46. In the 800 meters, sophomore
Erin O'Connor (Chicago, Ill.) placed second in 2:34.34, followed by sophomore
Mariah Brooks (Rochester, Minn.) in third at 2:38.81. First-year
Taylor Dean (Hutchinson, Minn.) added a third-place finish in the 600 meters with a time of 1:42.91.
Junior
Bella Lund (Mound, Minn.) finished fourth in the 60 meters in 8.20, while
Anna Gries (Minneapolis, Minn.) placed seventh in the 200 meters.
The Bennies will be back in action next Friday, Feb. 7, at the Gopher Classic at the University of Minnesota Fieldhouse.