By DONNY NADEAU
Saint Mary's Sports Information Director
 
WINONA, Minn. — The Saint Mary's University of Minnesota track and field teams kicked off the indoor season on Saturday, hosting the Saint Mary's Early Birdinal.
 
And what an opener it was.
 
The Cardinal men recorded 21 Top 3 finishes—including a first-place triple by Kyle Lichttenegger—while the Saint Mary's women put together six Top 5 efforts in the non-team-scored event at Gostomski Fieldhouse
 
Lichttenegger led the way for the Cardinal men, winning the 55 (6.61) and the 200 (23.09), while also adding a first in the long jump (6.84m). Other firsts for the Cardinal men came from Desmond Steward (triple jump / 13.56), Connor Nicholas (weight throw, 12.96m), Brandon Krogman (1,000 / 2:44.10), Austin O'Hare (mile / 4:28.90), and Kody Michaels (55 hurdles / 8.11).
 
Along with his first in the triple jump, Steward also placed second to Lichttenegger in the long jump (6.62m), with Anthony Pasquesi placing third in the event (6.31m). Dean Marlin was second to Steward in the triple jump (11.13m) and Ryan Buchmeier took third (10.77m).
 
O'Hare fueled a 1-2-3 Cardinal showing in the mile, with Jonathon Meaden finishing second (4:44.21) and Jordan Malikowski taking third (4:44.84). Tyler Amy and Gordy Paulman each posted a second- and third-place finish—Amy's coming in the shot put (12.03m) and weight throw (11.71m), respectively, while Paulman's came in the 55 (6.78) and 200 (23.81). Ben Borash also got into the Top 3 act, placing second to Krogman in the 1,000 (2:44.10).
 
On the women's side, Natalie King led the Cardinal charge with a second in the weight throw (14.31m), with Portia Mensah chipping in a third in the 55 (7.88) and a seventh in the 200 (29.43). Danielle Franke posted a third-place time of 5:49.37 in the mile, while Hannah Crowe and Carley Cronen each posted fourth-place times—Crowe in the 400 (1:05.15) and Cronen in the 600 (1:46.44). Maddie Bollig chipped in a time of 3:45.10 to place fifth in the 1,000.
 
The Cardinals are back on the track next Saturday, as Saint Mary's travels to Menomonie, Wis., to take part in the UW-Stout Open.