Complete Phil Esten Challenge Results / Photo Gallery

WINONA, Minn. — The records were falling like rain Friday evening at the Phil Esten Challenge.

The Winona State University women's 4x100 relay team kicked off the record-setting parade, and UW-River Falls' Chad Ernst closed it out with a record time of 32:13.99 in the final event of the evening, the men's 10,000 meter.

All told, 36 new marks were set at the SMU Track.

And to Saint Mary's University track and field coach Shawn McMahon that came as no surprise.

But then, when you are hosting the first-ever meet on the brand-new SMU Track, it would have been a surprise if there hadn't been 36 new facility records.

“It was absolutely a great day,” said McMahon. “To host the first-ever meet on the brand new track was awesome. Obviously we have some bugs to work out, but that's to be expected when you've never done this before.”

As happy as McMahon was with the way the meet ran, he was even more happy with the way his athletes ran.

“This was a great meet for us,” said McMahon, whose SMU men finished fifth overall, while the Cardinal women were seventh. “Everyone was really fired up to compete today — not only because this is such a prestigious meet, but also because they got to compete on their own track.

“It was a pretty special day all the way around.”

Teri Heinzen (Marshfield, Wis.) led the way for the Cardinal women, placing fourth in the 100 (12.72) and fifth in both the 200 (26.39) and the long jump (5.01 meters). Brittany Kuehn (Sauk Rapids, Minn.) chipped in a fourth in the 400 (58.96), while Sara Harstad (Chatfield, Minn.) was seventh in shot put (11.75 meters) and ninth in the hammer throw (43.69 meters).

On the men's side, #Ryan Wockenfus (New London, Wis.) posted the team's best finish, placing third in the javelin with a toss of 42.06 meters. Curt VanAsten (Shiocton, Wis.) finished sixth in the 400 hurdles (57.58) and eighth in the 110 hurdles (16.62), while Josiah Ryks (Austin, Minn.) was seventh in the 400 (1.14). Benton Kodet (Northfield, Minn.) knocked two seconds off his 800 time to place seventh in 2:02.73, with Marty Howard (Chicago, Ill.) close behind with a ninth-place time of 2:03.39. Jared Brandenburg (Independence, Wis.) also had a solid day, clocking a time of 4:13.40 to place 10th in the 1,500.

“It was a long day, but a rewarding one,” said McMahon. “I was very happy with the performances we had — it certainly was a step in the right direction.”