HASTINGS, Neb. – A landmark weekend for the College of Saint Mary track and field team resulted in the best outdoor conference finish in program history by a wide margin.

The Flames turned in another flurry of outstanding performances on Saturday, and finished fourth in the Great Plains Athletic Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships at the Jack Osborne Track Complex.

CSM scored 68 points to finish behind only champion Doane University (222), Concordia University (163) and Dordt University (149). The program's previous highest point total was 25, and its best placing in its four previous conference outdoor meets was a tie for eighth. The Flames also set eight program records during the weekend.

"What an incredible meet!'' CSM Coach Steve Gordon Jr. said. "We competed with heart and a whole lot of joy. It may sound strange to hear, but the vibe was high, and these young ladies had more swagger and confidence going into this meet than I had ever seen from them.

"We looked like we belonged among the best in the conference. We acted and performed like it – and now we are!''

Finishing behind CSM in the final standings were Northwestern College (62), Morningside University (51), Midland University (45), Mount Marty University (40), Hastings College (29), Waldorf University (11), Briar Cliff University (10) and Dakota Wesleyan University (8).

The Flames registered 10 top-eight finishes on the final day of the meet:

In the 800, Olivia Elbert placed third in 2:16.10, just ahead of Mira Fosmer, who was fifth in 2:19.37.

Kara Muller took fourth in the 1,500 in a program-record 4:52.30, while Josie Karnik was seventh in the same event in 4:57.71.

Claire Caspersen finished fourth in the shot put with a toss of 13.52 meters (44 feet, 4¼ inches).

In the 400 hurdles, Carly Henderson finished fifth in a program-record time of 1:06.48, which is 65^th in the nation.

Muller added a sixth in the 5,000 (19:30.87), while Allison Isaacson grabbed sixth in the triple jump with a program-record leap of 11.02 (36-2).

The Flames also finished fifth in both relays contested on Saturday. They were fifth in the 4x100 relay, with Kellesse Heard, Mikaiya Rodgers, Taylor Hrabik and Savannah Horne running a program-record 48.75. And they were fifth in the 4x400 relay, with Mackenzie Stanley, Ava Hilger, Fosmer and Elbert clocking a program-record 4:04.13.

The top eight finishers in individual events and top three in relays are considered All-GPAC performers.

"I couldn't be more proud, but I am not surprised,'' Gordon said. "This is what we trained for, and I believe wholeheartedly in what we are doing here. Credit to the coaching staff for a great training plan, and credit to the Flames. They did this, step by step, from last August with the strength of our cross country squad, to indoor as we came together as a full team to earn fifth place at the GPAC Indoor Championships, to now.

"We are no longer just trying hard. We are a team to be reckoned with!''

Here are the rest of Saturday's CSM results:

200: 10, Savannah Horne 25.69 (program record; previous best was wind-aided).

400: 12, Mackenzie Stanley 1:00.63; 18, Ava Hilger 1:02.00; 22, Natalie Briggs 1:05.93.

800: 15, Josie Karnik 2:29.13.

1,500: 11, Becka Karnik 5:01.86; 17, Corinne Mead 5:10.41.

5,000: 11, Becka Karnik 19:51.13; 13, Kiley Craft 20:04.08; 17, Autumn Simons 20:32.03; 19, Ella Miller 20:37.04.

Discus: 21, Clare Ullery 34.72 (113-11); fouls—Tavia Williams.

Shot put: 20, Marie Bias 11.12 (36-5¾); 22, Tavia Williams 10.96 (35-11½); 23, Syd'ney Birch-George 10.63 (34-10½).

Triple jump: 9, Chainey Thompson 10.48 (34-4¾).