ST. PAUL, Minn. — Samantha Kubes (New Prague, Minn.) set the tone for the Saint Mary's University track and field teams Friday afternoon during the opening day of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Outdoor Championships — and the senior did it in memorable fashion.
 
Kubes collected her second straight All-MIAC honor in the hammer throw, placing third with a toss of 49.58 meters, while Morgan Wallendal chipped in a seventh-place mark of 48.18 meters, and Anna Becker placed 12th with a throw of 43.13 meters.
 
Chris Bulwa and Oliver Adamson enjoyed a banner opening day, qualifying for the finals in both the 100 and 200. Bulwa equaled the school record in stopping the clock in 10.66 to reach the finals in the No. 5 slot, while Adamson placed ninth in the prelims with a time of 10.88 meters. Jinwoo Jung did not make the finals, despite a time of 11.40.
 
Bulwa and Adamson will also run again on Saturday in the 200 finals, after clocking times of 21.51 and 21.94, respectively to place fifth and eighth in Friday's prelims.
 
Other Cardinal finishers on the men's side on Friday included: Henry Gathje (javelin, 12th, 43.13m), Eddie Paton (400, 16th, 62.19), Cannon Manley (110 hurdles, 23rd, 17.89; 400 hurdles, 13th, 1:02.61), Dan Cooper (long jump (18th, 5.81m), and the 4x800 relay team of Cade Kooss, Gab Schoeknecht, Grant Schneider, and Isaiah Fitzgerald (10th, 8:33.83).
 
On the women's side, Rachael Kubichka placed 22nd in the 100 (13.35) and the 4x800 relay team of Megan Frosch, Abbie Meyer, Caeli McMahon, Kendra Klobe finished 10th in 10:18.41