Duluth, Minn. - The 2024-25 Track and Field season officially kicked off for the Saints over the weekend. On Saturday afternoon, athletes from Lakehead University, St. Cloud State University, University of Minnesota – Duluth, University of Wisconsin – Superior, and University of Wisconsin – River Falls filled the Burn's Wellness Commons to put their fall preparation to the test. 

Ella Stritesky (Rogers, Minn./Rogers HS) started her junior campaign with a victory and a personal record in the weight throw. Her toss of 14.87m is the farthest mark in the MIAC. This result also moved Stritesky into sixth place all-time for the Saints.

Right behind Stritesky was junior captain Ella Engen (Clearbrook, Minn./Clearbrook-Gonvick HS). Engen's second-place throw of 14.26m also placed her in second place on the early season MIAC ranking list. 

Freshman jumper Shayna Wick () got her collegiate career going in style with a long jump mark of 5.13m. This distance not only placed Wick seventh in the meet but also had Wick sitting seventh on the Saints' all-time list after only her first time in uniform.

Ava Fink (Virginia, Minn./Virginia HS) had the best opening meet of her career with a big personal record in the 200m dash. Her time of 27.04 seconds is the eighth fastest time in school history. Fink was also only .01 seconds off her 60m dash personal record. 

Just like on the cross country course, Regan DeWitt (Bemidji, Minn./Bemidji HS) and Grace McCormick (Duluth, Minn./Denfeld HS) paced the St. Scholastica distance crew on Saturday. DeWitt claimed runner-up honors in the mile with a time of 5:20.75, while McCormick was right on her heels in 5:22.12.  

CSS Program Top-10 entries

• Ella Stritesky (Rogers, Minn./Rogers HS) moved to 6th all-time in the weight throw with a mark of 14.87m
• Shayna Wick () had the 7th best jump in the long jump with a mark of 5.13m (16-10)
• Ava Fink (Virginia, Minn./Virginia HS) is now 8th of all-time in the 200m dash with a time of 27.04 seconds

New Personal Records

• Jaden Ellefson (Saginaw, Minn./South Ridge HS) in the 200m dash with a time of 28.09
• Madeline Hartly in the 800m run with a time of 2:36.88
• Grace McCormick (Duluth, Minn./Denfeld HS) in the mile run with a time of 5:22.12
• Mollykate Hagen in the mile run with a time of 5:46.51
• Elli Schritz (Mora, Minn./Mora HS) in the triple jump with a mark of 9.83m
• Sydnie Wgeishofski (Pequot Lakes, Minn./Pequot Lakes HS) in the triple jump with a mark of 9.72m
• Liz Hamilton in the shot put with a mark of 8.28m
• Savannah Bishop (Warren, Minn./Warren-Alvarado-Oslo HS) in the weight throw with a mark of 11.17m
• Liz Hamilton in the weight throw with a mark of 10.67m

Up Next

Saints Track and Field will take a holiday pause from now until January 8th. They'll return to competition on January 18th at the Twin Ports Open in Superior.