MARION, Ind. – Four years of training, aching, pushing and competing came down to one final step inside the shot put ring on Thursday for Claire Caspersen.

She was in fifth place. The College of Saint Mary star finished third last year in the NAIA national outdoor track & field meet. A drop in placing in her final season would have left her with a bitter taste in her mouth.

"Knowing it was going to be my last time throwing for CSM and my last throw ever in my career, I knew it needed to be a good one,'' she said.

Caspersen took a deep breath, made her spin through the circle, uncoiled her body and launched the 8.8-pound metal ball one final time.

It landed 14.49 meters (47 feet, 6½ inches) away, her best of the day. Six centimeters farther than Madison Sutton of Doane. One centimeter farther than Kori Nagel of Dickinson State.

Third place. Caspersen became an All-American for the sixth time in her storied career and matched her best-ever finish in eight trips to NAIA national indoor and outdoor meets.

"I was very emotional,'' she said. "I cried. I was just super happy. And a little sad. A little bittersweet because it was my last throw.

"If you would have told me my freshman year I'd be a six-time All-American, I would have laughed in your face and said, 'No way.' I met some of my closest friends. I've had the best coaches. Same with my strength coach. I couldn't have asked for a better experience or better support, from my professors all the way on down. Overall, it was a great experience.''

CSM Coach Steve Gordon Jr. said Caspersen's ability to produce in the big moments set her apart from most athletes.

"What more can we say?'' he said. "That's Claire Caspersen! She had a consistent series, which is exactly what you need at a championship. It's not always accomplished in the big home run effort. Most times you chip away at it until that big one emerges. A great end to a phenomenal collegiate career!''

Caspersen also had marks of 14.31 (46-11½), 14.23 (46-8¼), 14.20 (46-7) and 13.55 (44-5½). She'll always wonder about her lone scratch, on her third attempt of the prelims.

"That would have been over 50 feet (15.24 meters)!'' said Caspersen, which if accurate would have far exceeded her personal best of 48-4 (14.73). "I got a little too excited and I just fell out of the ring. I was just off-balance.''

Nonetheless, it wouldn't have been long enough to win. Sydney Duncan of Indiana Kokomo won with a mark of 16.79 (55-1) and Abigail Gerber of Concordia (Neb.) was second with a career-best 15.13 (49-7¾).

"I'm still happy with finishing top three,'' Caspersen said. "My goal was definitely top three.''

As a freshman, Caspersen wasn't sure she even wanted to compete in track and field in college.

"It was a love-hate relationship, but now it's a love-love,'' she said. "I grew a love for it.''

Going from a team with eight total athletes as a freshman to one that finished fourth in the conference in her senior year has also added to the experience, she said.

"Having a legit team is exciting,'' she said. "We're all competitive. It's fun and we're scoring a lot at big meets.''

Finally, Caspersen made a point to thank Gordon, Throws Coach Kevin Drwal and Strength and Conditioning Coach Marc Tangeman.

"Just for all they've done for me and all the time they've put in,'' she said.