By RYAN BUCHMEIER
Saint Mary's Sports Information Intern
 
SAN DIEGO, Calif. — The Saint Mary's University of Minnesota track and field teams enjoyed competing Saturday at Point Loma's gorgeous track and field facilities — complete with an ocean side view - for the beginning of their outdoor season at the Point Loma Collegiate Invitational.
 
The Cardinals kicked their outdoor season off strong with numerous top five finishes, and collective team scores of 77 points for the men and 57 points for the women.
 
Natalie King (Houston, Minn.) and Becca Dup (Albert Lea, Minn.) led the way for the women's team, taking first place in the weight throw (45.38m) and the triple jump (11.65m) respectively. Dup also managed to finish 2nd in the long jump with a distance of 5.38m, respectively, while Maria Missurelli (Franklin, Wis.) tied with one other woman for third place in the pole vault with a height of 3.34m.
 
On the men's side, Desmond Steward (Bayside, Wis.) led the way, placing first in the triple jump (13.76m), and adding a fifth in the long jump (6.52m). Kyle Lichttenegger (De Pere, Wis.) competed well in the long jump, taking third (6.58m), while Christian Beamer (Two Harbors, Minn.) finished fourth overall in the men's high jump with a height of 1.88m. Jordan Malikowski (Royalton, Minn.) was able to finish with second-place in the steeplechase with a time of 10:57.91, and the men's 4x100 meter relay team, made up of Steward, Lichttenegger, Matthew Boone (Mindoro, Wis.) and Gordy Paulman (Deforest, Wis.), ran a 43.15, placing them 4th all-time for Saint Mary's.
 
The Cardinals hope to continue their success next week as they return home to Saint Mary's for the Dingels/Brueggen Open.