KEARNEY, Neb. – The College of Saint Mary track team opened up the outdoor season in a big way Saturday at a big meet.

The Flames faced 14 other teams at the Central Nebraska Challenge – including NCAA Division 1, 2, 3 and NAIA opponents. No team scores were kept.

"After a four to six week break, it was good to compete again," CSM Coach Jerrid Johansen said. "The decent weather conditions gave us the opportunity to set some solid marks to open our outdoor season. The focus today was to start with a solid foundation for the outdoor season, because it is going to be a quick five weeks before the conference meet."

CSM sent 14 student-athletes to the meet.

Jocelyn Farhar and Brooke Wigdahl had the highest individual finishes for the Flames. Farhar was fifth in the 3,000m steeplechase in 13:14.95 and Wigdahl was right behind with sixth place in 13:22.90.

"Jocey and Brooke competed well in their first steeplechase of the season," Johansen said. "Jocey missed her PR by only a second and Brooke set a PR by over 90 seconds."

Madalynn Rhodes had a seventh-place finish in the javelin with 36.09m.

Claire Caspersen also had a seventh-place finish with a 12.75m in the shot put. Teammates Georgia Carroll, Tavia Wiliams and Evelyn Carreto also competed in the shot. Carroll was 23^rd with 11.10, Williams took 31^st with 9.43 and Carreto was 32^nd with 9.42.

The same four also participated in discus. Caspersen was 12^th with 37.25; Carreto took 26^th with 31.88; Carroll placed 30^th with 29.20 and Williams finished 33^rd with 28.96.

"It was a nice day for our throwers with Claire setting a PR in the discus and Georgia following suit in the shot put," Johansen said. "Madalynn had a solid debut in the javelin. Overall the marks were solid, but there's a lot of opportunities for improvement."

In the track events, Chloe Inhelder was 11^th in the 5,000; Lorena Ramirez was 22^nd in the 5,000; Autumn Simons took 26^th in the 800; Corinne Mead was 27^th in the 800 and 52^nd in the 1,500; Madeline Krause placed 60^th in the 1,500; Kiley Craft finished 61^st in the 1,500 and Alivia Austin was 65^th in the 1,500.

"We were really pleased with how Corinne competed today in the 800 and 1,500," Johansen said. "She's starting to figure some things out and we're excited to see how her season progresses."

The Flames are back in action Friday at the Central College Dutch Invitational in Pella, Iowa.

"It was a long day and, for the most part, we competed well against some outstanding athletes," Johansen said. "We have our starting point and will move forward from here."