AUSTIN, Texas — Saint Mary's University's Anna Swanson (Osceola, Wis.) closed out her sophomore year as one of the best javelin throwers in all of NCAA Division III — earning All-American honors with her second-place finish at the Outdoor National Track and Field Championships last May.
 
Swanson kicked off her 2022 outdoor season on Thursday, but this time around, the Cardinal All-American was no longer the big fish in a little pond, but rather the little fish in a big pond — a very big pond.
 
Fueled by her performance at least year's outdoor national championships — which included a school-record throw of 46.65 meters that had her sitting in the top spot in the championships until the very last throw of the competition — Swanson earned an invitation to the Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays, hosted by the University of Texas.
 
And suddenly, the Cardinal junior was no longer competing against the best athletes in NCAA Division III, but the best athletes in the entire country — regardless of division.
 
Competing against individuals from NCAA Division I powerhouses Notre Dame, Kansas State, Texas A&M, and Auburn — to name a few — Swanson more than held her own, finishing 11th overall.
 
The only NCAA Division III athlete among the competitors, Swanson opened with a mark of 42.32 meters on her first toss, and, after going 40.27 meters with her second throw, she uncorked her best effort of the evening, delivering a throw of 42.99 meters.
 
The Cardinals will officially kick off their 2022 outdoor season on April 1-2, when they travel to St. Louis, Mo., to take part in a pair of events hosted by Washington (Mo.) University.