TOPEKA, Kan. – College of Saint Mary got its indoor track season started with a strong showing Saturday in the Washburn Alumni Invitational, breaking five school records.

First-year head coach Steve Gordon Jr. was thrilled with his team's effort.

"The way that we competed today was inspiring,'' he said. "Even with the returners, we are still a young team looking to gain experience and find our footing. This competition today was mainly teams from NCAA Division II and junior colleges. This is where the size of a school doesn't matter – it's the quality of the program that matters. And this is a very early meet on our schedule. I couldn't be more proud of the showing.''

Gordon said the throws crew had "an incredible day.'' All-American Claire Caspersen placed second in the shot put at 13.95 meters (45 feet, 9¼ inches), hitting the NAIA National B standard in the process. She also set a school record in the weight throw with a toss of 13.86 (45-5¾) that was good for 10^th.

Other Flames finishers in the shot put were Tavia Williams in 12^th at 11.35 (37-3), Georgia Carroll in 16^th at 10.76 (35-3¾) and Clare Ullery in 26^th at 9.58 (31-5¼).

Also in the weight throw, freshman Syd'ney Birch-George was 14^th with a heave of 13.24 (43-5¼) that also surpassed the previous school record. Madalynn Rhodes was 28^th in the event at 11.14 (36-6¾) and Rylie Priester was 34^th at 9.49 (31-1¾).

The Flames had plenty of other freshmen shine.

*Olivia Elbert set a school record in the 800 with a runner-up time of 2:21.55. The top two runners in the race were under the previous meet record.

*Mikaiya Rodgers made the finals in the long jump and triple jump and set school records in both events. She placed fifth in the long jump in 5.30 (17-4¾) and ninth in the triple jump in 10.61 (34-9¾).

*Kara Muller took 10^th in the mile run at 5:38.79, the second-fastest in school history.

*Savannah Horne moved to third on CSM's all-time chart in the 60 meters (8.09) and set an indoor school record in the 200 (27.10).

*And MacKenzie Stanley ran 1:04.97 in the 400 to move to No. 2 on the school's all-time list.

Sophomore Kellesse Heard also enjoyed a productive day, setting a new indoor school record with an indoor personal-best of 5.24 (17-2¼) in the long jump, good for eighth place. She also ran her best 60-meter season-opener at 7.99.

Other long jump competitors were Allison Isaacson, 29^th at 4.68 (15-4¼); Olivia Joyce, 32^nd at 4.60 (15-1¼); and Taylor Hrabik, 36^th at 4.43 (14-6½).

Also in the triple jump, Isaacson was 11^th at 10.46 and Joyce ended 15^th at 10.12.

Phoenix Jensen was 15^th in the pole vault at 2.50 (8-2½). In the 60 prelims, Hrabik was 52^nd in 8.50.

"It was a banner day,'' Gordon said.

The team takes a break for the holidays before returning to action Jan. 17 at the Polar Dog Invite in Seward, Neb.