MARION, Ind. – "I knew I had it in me."

Claire Caspersen had an outstanding day at the NAIA Women's Outdoor Track & Field National Championships Thursday. The junior took third place with a personal-best throw of 14.73m (48-4.00) in the shot put.

Caspersen opened the day with a throw of 14.24m in the second flight of prelims. That put her on top of the leaderboard right away. She then posted a throw of 14.26m in her second throw before launching her best toss of 14.73m.

When asked if she was surprised that she kept getting better and better in her first three throws she said: "Not really – I was feeling good and I knew I had it in me."

Caspersen then had to sit and wait while the third flight competed. After all three preliminary flights were finished she was sitting in second place.

"Coming into the meet Claire was seeded 11^th with a personal-best throw of 14.20m," CSM Coach Jerrid Johansen said. "She bettered that mark with each throw in preliminaries including her massive throw of 14.73m in the final round of prelims. After prelims she was sitting in second place.

"She was locked in from the beginning and it was clear in warm-ups that she was going to have a good day. I wish she could have kept going after prelims and rolled right into finals because she might have just kept getting better and better. But she had to wait for the third flight and I think she relaxed a little bit."

In Caspersen's three throws during the finals she threw 13.89m, 14.20m and 13.69m.

"She earned her fourth All-America honors of her career with her third-place finish – which is her highest placing ever at a national meet," Johansen said. "She was passed by the defending indoor champion in the finals to end up with the bronze medal."

Princess Kara from Indiana Wesleyan University won the event with a throw of 15.10m, while Arriana Benjamin from Marian University took second with 15.02m.

Caspersen's goal heading into the meet was to place in the top three.

"I'm happy that I redeemed myself from the indoor championships and finished in the top three," she said. "I want to thank Coach Johansen, Coach (Kevin) Drwal and Marc Tangemann for all they do for me."

Johansen was also complimentary of Coach Drwal (throws coach) and Coach Tangemann (strength & conditioning coach).

"I'm incredibly happy for Claire and Coach Drwal," Johansen said. "They have invested a ton of time and effort into this season and it's especially gratifying to see them rewarded with this performance. They have a tremendous working relationship and trust each other. Coach Drwal and Coach Tangemann do an outstanding job of having Claire prepped and ready to perform her best at the national meet.

"I'm excited to see what they will be able to accomplish with one more season together."