SIOUX CENTER, Iowa – College of Saint Mary had its best-ever finish at the GPAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships Saturday.

The Flames finished tied for 8^th in the 12-team field. The event was hosted by Dordt University at Open Space Park.

College of Saint Mary also had three individuals earn All-GPAC honors by finishing in the Top 8. Claire Caspersen took second place in the shot put with a mark of 13.88m, Madalynn Rhodes was fourth place in the javelin (Friday) with a throw of 36.63 and Brooke Wigdahl finished fifth in the 3,000 steeplechase in 12:19.03.

Caspersen, who has already qualified for the NAIA National Championships, threw her second-best mark of her career and her best outdoor mark.

"One thing I've learned this season is that Claire loves to get up for the biggest meets of the year and today was no different," CSM Coach Jerrid Johansen said. "Her best throw was her first throw and that put a little bit of pressure on the rest of the field. The next step for Claire will be to build on that early success and put her fourth, fifth and sixth throws out there even farther. That will be important as she sets her sights on the national meet in two weeks."

Wigdahl's finish was both a personal-best time and lowered her school record in the event.

"After some struggles last year due to some health issues, Brooke has been training and competing really well this season," Johansen said. "She ran a smart and controlled race early and then closed with a strong last 800 meters to move up from seventh to fifth place."

CSM had two athletes just miss all-conference recognition with ninth-place finishes. Chloe Inhelder placed ninth in the 5,000 in 19:52.88 and Joclyn Farhar took ninth in the steeplechase in 13:31.68.

Other finishes for the Flames included Lorena Ramirez was 18^th in the 5,000 in 21:57.72; Madeline Krause took 18^th in the 1,500 in 5:20.64; Tavia Williams placed 19^th in the shot put with 11.22; Autumn Simons was 22^nd in the 400 in 1:04.60; Corinne Mead took 22^nd in the 1,500 in 5:22.91 and Caspersen finished 22^nd in the discus with 33.40. Chantaya Griffin competed in the 800 but was injured in the race.

Johansen said Krause's 1,500 was a personal best.

"The progress Madeline has made this season has outstanding," Johansen said. "To see her go from barely being on our Top 10 list in the 1,500, to now having the fourth-fastest time in program history is pretty remarkable."

Griffin's injury in the 800 was the only real disappointment for the Flames.

"It was just one of those unfortunate things that can happen in those mid-distance races when people are bunched up," Johansen said. "Chantaya clipped somebody's heel in front of her, and in trying to catch herself, she injured her quad. That's not how anybody wants to finish their season, especially a senior who had her sights on being all-conference and was running the last race of her career." 

Concordia University won the women's meet with a team score of 244.5. Dordt placed second with 132 and Doane University finished third with 117. Hastings College took fourth with 116; Mount Marty University was fifth with 78; Northwestern University came in sixth with 54.5; Morningside University finished seventh with 40; CSM and Jamestown tied for eighth with 18; Dakota Wesleyan University finished 10^th with 17; Midland University placed 11^th with 12 and Briar Cliff University rounded out the competition with 10 points.

"We had a good two days and from top to bottom I thought our athletes competed very well," Johansen said. "For many of the athletes who qualify for the conference meet, it's their last chance to show off what they have been doing behind the scenes for the last six months, or year, or even 10 years. The amount of time and energy our athletes have invested into our program and into this season has been significant. As a coaching staff, it's great to celebrate their successes at a championship meet.

"It's hard to believe that the season has come to an end for everyone but Claire, who will compete in nationals in two weeks, and Madalynn, who will compete in a last-chance meet next week to try to qualify for nationals in the javelin. We want to thank seniors Chantaya, Dazjae and Evelyn for what they have contributed to our program and we wish them the best of luck on their next adventures in life. And for our returners, we want them to get some well-deserved rest and come back refreshed and ready to accomplish bigger things next season."