Bennie track and field aims for MIAC podium
The St. Ben's track and field team is looking to improve upon their fifth place finish at the indoor conference championship meet.
After a fifth-place finish at the MIAC Indoor Championships, CSB’s track and field team is aiming to climb the MIAC standings with a strong outdoor season.
“I think the team as a whole did really well at MIACs. We had some people who really progressed,” senior Mary Kenney said. “Everyone on the team just came in super motivated.”
So far, CSB has competed in three meets to start the outdoor season and has found early success.
Junior Drea Terwedo has collected a pair of top four finishes in the high jump, taking third at Hamline and fourth in the outdoor opener, posting jumps of 1.50m and 1.55m respectively.
“[The] outdoor season has gone really well,” Terwedo said. “Speed is a big thing for my approach as well as overall form over the bar. I’m now backing up further in my approach which is why I’m reaching higher heights.”
CSB claimed four titles at the Hamline Invite. Senior Jaylyn Ahlberg won the pole vault (3.35m) with junior Lili Raidt matching her mark to take second. Junior Sabriya Farquharson took first in the triple jump with a leap of 11.01m. Sophomore Kiera Stommes earned the high jump title clearing 1.53m while Kenney won the 3,000-meter steeplechase, with a season-best time of 11:23.42.
“I think just how my indoor season ended really fired me up,” Kenney said. “As a senior, I have a special perspective knowing this is my last opportunity to race this hard and compete with my teammates, so I’m just feeling very grateful and determined.”
Ahlberg won the pole vault at 3.53 meters at the indoor MIACs. Raidt tied for second place at 3.43m, while sophomore McKenna Flinn added a fifth-place finish at 3.23m.
First-year Juslene Chea recorded a runner-up finish in the 55-meter hurdles at 8.45 after setting a school record of 8.34 in the prelims. Chea also finished sixth in the triple jump at 10.75m.
Others to earn All-MIAC honors (top three finishers in each event) were Farquharson, who took second in the triple jump (11.29m) and third in the long jump (5.43m), and sophomore Allison Banse, who recorded a third-place finish in the shot put at 12.68m.
Stommes narrowly missed All-MIAC honors in the high jump after falling into a three-way tie for second place with a personal-best clearance of 1.57 meters but earned MIAC honorable mention (fourth through sixth place finish in each event) after tiebreakers dropped her to fourth.
Senior Lauren Berg earned MIAC honorable mention in two events, placing fourth in the 600-meter run (1:36.80) and fifth in the 800-meter run (2:17.84).
Kenney emphasized how the team’s chemistry and support throughout the roster has fueled a positive and motivated atmosphere this outdoor season.
“We have great team chemistry, and I’m super proud of everyone,” Kenney said. “It’s really inspiring when everyone is always supporting each other across different event groups. We have a really awesome group this year, and we are just excited to work hard.”
Reflecting on the team’s strengths, Kenney highlighted its depth and competitiveness across events.
“We’re a really well-rounded team, and we have some really strong groups that can excel, and they really motivate each other,” Kenney said.
“We’re all very committed and have great confidence,” Terwedo said. “I feel like that’s going to help us at MIACs as well as continuing to shake those nerves off, have grit and be able to perform to the best of our capability.”
With the outdoor season now in full stride, attention is turning toward preparation for the MIAC Outdoor Championships.
“I’m most looking forward to MIACs,” Terwedo said. “My goal is to earn points. I know I can get a solid mark that will help me and the team.”
“I love MIACs. It’s so fun to see how we can compete,” Kenney said. “The end of the year gets so busy, so I try to keep the track in mind. It keeps me grounded and focused.”
The Bennies’ next meet is the CSB+SJU home invitational on Thursday, April 16.
“We have an awesome group of girls who connect well, and we’re ready to work hard,” Kenney said.
