Lisa Brown posted three top-five finishes and provisionally qualified for the NCAA Championships in the javelin.
Janna Castellano tied for first in the pole vault, setting a new meet record in the process.
First year Kaelene Lundstrum finished in the top eight in four events (200, long jump, shot put, and javelin).
Laura Edlund won the 5000-meter run in a time of 19:35.48.
The Gustavus Adolphus College women’s track and field team opened their outdoor season Friday, April 6, with a fourth place finish at the Central (Iowa) Invitational in Pella, Iowa. Gustavus finished with 99.5 points, while Simpson edged Hastings out 183.5-177.5 for the team title.
Senior Janna Castellano (Blaine, Minn./Totino-Grace) tied for first in the pole vault after clearing a meet record-height of 11 feet, 3 3/4 inches. Linda Kanne (So., Franklin, Minn./Cedar Mountain) tied for fourth after clearing 9-4 1/4.
Junior Sari Lindeman (Cannon Falls, Minn.) took the title in the long jump with a leap of 17-2 and followed it up with a fourth-place finish in the triple jump with an effort of 34-8 1/4. Kendra Mays (So., Minnesota Lake, Minn./Maple River) placed sixth in the long jump after leaping 16-1 1/2.
Junior Laura Edlund (Forest Lake, Minn.) took first in the 5000 with a time of 19:35.48, while fellow junior Sarah Cowles (Eagan, Minn./Burnsville) took eighth in a time of 21:32.86. Krista Cruse (Sr., Hastings, Minn.) and Sam Madsen (So., Morgan, Minn./Cedar Mountain) posted seventh place finishes in the 400 and 800, respectively.
Sophomore Lisa Brown (Lake Crystal, Minn./Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial) picked up a trio of top five finishes in the the throws, placing second in the javelin (134-1), third in the shot put (38-9 3/4) and fifth in the discus throw (132-11). Brown’s effort in the javelin provisionally qualified her for the NCAA Division III Championships where she is the defending national champion in the event.
First-years Kaelene Lundstrum (Bird Island, Minn./BOLD) and Becca Bryson (Alden, Minn./Alden-Conger) exhibited an ample amount of versatility during the meet, placing in a variety of events. Lundstrum placed fourth in the 200-meter dash (28.76) and seventh in the long jump (15-11 1/2), shot put (36-7), and the javelin (104-1). Bryson took fifth in the 200 (29.10) and long jump (16-3 1/4) and also placed third in the triple jump (34-10 1/2).
Ashley Clemen (Sr., Appleton, Minn./Lac qui Parle Valley) took second in the discus (136-1), while Anna Bauer placed seventh (125-0).
The Gusties will return to the track Saturday, April 14, when they host the Lee Krough Invitational in St. Peter.