Skanes becomes CSM’s first national champion in any sport
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – College of Saint Mary now has a national champion to call its own!
Freshman Imani Skanes became the long jump queen of the NAIA Indoor Track & Field Championships on Friday, soaring 5.99 meters (19 feet, 8 inches) on her fifth attempt to sail past the field and become the Flames' first national champion in intercollegiate athletics.
"This was a landmark day! A landmark week!'' CSM Coach Steve Gordon Jr. said. "There's really no other way to say it. So many things that have never been done before were done this week. Frankly, I'm still a bit in shock. Not that this wasn't the goal, but we're a young program. It's early in the process by any stretch of the imagination.''
After a best preliminary jump of 5.84 meters (19-2), Skanes entered the finals in third place, behind Ottawa senior JayOnna Perry (5.91) and Montana Tech senior Jadyn Vermillion (5.87). The Omaha Northwest graduate remained there until her second jump of the finals, which landed 5.99 meters from the board and vaulted her into the lead.
No one came close to Skanes' mark the rest of the way, and soon the Flames' contingent of coaches and athletes was wildly celebrating a magical piece of school history.
"I think it's a monumental occasion and accomplishment for Imani and the track program, but also for CSM,'' College of Saint Mary Director of Athletics Robbie Shay said. "It just highlights the great job our coaching staff has done. It definitely shows that our athletic department is heading in the right direction and we couldn't be more proud.''
Gordon said it was another enormous step in the process of building a nationally respected program.
"We have established a very high standard and culture in our cross country and track & field programs, and all credit goes to the young ladies for accepting that standard and deciding to be incredible examples of what we can be,'' he said. "It's not supposed to be personal or emotional, but anyone who has ever had a conversation with me about our program knows that I have a point to prove. I have always wanted to prove we could build a top program at a small school and go compete with anyone."
Also Friday, CSM placed seventh in the 4x800 relay final, with Carly Henderson, Mira Fosmer, Kara Muller and Olivia Elbert clocking 9:21.86 for All-America honors. It marked the second straight year that the same quartet ended the event as All-Americans, as they were fifth in 2025. Also from the GPAC in the race, Dordt University was fourth (9:08.02) and Morningside University was sixth (9:11.74).
In other Friday action, Elbert placed 12th in the 1,000 prelims in 2:55.99, a substantial personal best, while Muller took 15th in the mile prelims in a personal-best 5:07.90. The top eight advanced to the finals in both events.
"It was a busy day for Kara and Olivia, and a busy two days for all of them,'' said Derek Fey, an assistant track coach who works with the CSM distance runners. "I was extremely proud of how much they battled throughout the race. Carly's lead leg set us up really well in the prelims and finals.
"Olivia was coming off a gigantic PR in the 1,000 meters just two hours before. Kara ran a PR in the mile earlier in the day. The goal (for the 4x800 relay) was to make it to the final and they achieved it. Three GPAC teams in the top seven and a repeat All-American performance is exciting.''
In the long jump prelims, Mikaiya Rodgers finished 28th with a best jump of 5.26 (17-3¼).
Gordon said all CSM athletes should share in Skanes' triumph.
"Imani has done something that has never been done before,'' he said. "There is no possibility of overstating the impact that this has for us all at CSM.''