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NORTHFIELD, Minn.  — The Saint Mary's University track and field teams got their Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Indoor Championships off to a record-setting start Friday.

John Soucheray (Woodbury, Minn.) saved his best for last — breaking the school record in the 5,000 to lead the way for the Cardinals during the opening day of the two-day evening at Tostrud Center on the campus of St. Olaf.

Check that — Soucheray didn't break the school record in the 5,000 — more like make shattered it.

Souchary shaved nearly 14 seconds off the school mark, set earlier this year by teammate Aaron Haley (Plainview, Minn.), stopping the clock in a time of 15:16.97 in the 5,000 to place fifth overall. Haley also had a solid showing in the 5,000 on Friday, stopping the clock in 15:32.17 to finish 10th.

“I was hoping John would put together a solid performance in his last indoor meet, but I have to admit I didn't expect that type of effort — it was outstanding,” said SMU coach Shawn McMahon. “We had a lot of good performances, everyone turned in season-best performances — and as a coach, that's really all you can ask for.”

The men's distance medley relay team followed Soucheray's record-setting lead, as the foursome of Ryan Winegardner (Northfield, Minn.), Gabe Thiel (Elgin, Minn.), Jake Traxler (Le Center, Minn.) and Andrew Merkert (St. Paul, Minn.) etched their names in the school record books, posting a time of 10:47.59 to finish eighth overall. It was the fourth straight year the Cardinals' DMR broke the school record — with Traxler a member of all four record-setting relay teams.

Peter Borash (Bowlus, Minn.) also turned in a solid effort for the SMU men on Friday, as the senior finished eighth in the mile, crossing the finish line in 4:26.65.

Maya Booker (St. Paul, Minn.) led the way for the Cardinal women on Friday, placing seventh in the weight throw, uncorking a toss of 14.18 meters on the first of her six attempts. Abby Osborne (Winthrop, Minn.) did not make the finals in the weight throw, closing out the indoor season with a throw of 13.22 meters.

Katie Stolz (Forest Lake, Minn.) led a quintet of Cardinal runners in the mile, stopping the clock in 5:25.77 to finish 11th. Clare Siska (Rochester, Minn.) finished in 20th (5:44.26), followed by Amy Spitzmueller (New Brighton, Minn. / 23rd, 5:47.37), Allie Thiel (Burr Ridge, Ill. / 24th, 5:49.53) and Jocelyn Moreno (26th, 5:51.65). Laura Schommer (Hutchinson, Minn.) added an 11th-place effort in the 400 (62.47), while adding a time of 8.27 in the 60.

The second day of the two-day event gets underway on Saturday at 11 a.m. at St. Olaf's Tostrud Center.