NORTHFIELD, Minn. – Taking part in its first indoor meet since March 2020, the Carleton College women's track & field team won seven events at its season-opening competition, the Ole Opener. The Knights competed against both Luther College and host St. Olaf College.
 
"I cannot even begin to express how excited I am to see our team in uniform  competing," said Carleton head coach Donna Ricks. "The past week and a half has been a whirlwind, and to actually get in a competition after having the indoor season canceled last year felt amazing.
 
"This team is going to be exciting one to coach. We have only been together for a week and a half, but it is apparent that this team is willing to work. I have no doubt that we are going to have some fun along the way." 
 
Carleton won three events on the track, beginning with Katherine Geist's (So./Crookston, Minn./Crookston) triumph in the mile run. She registered a time of 5:20.46, good for nearly a 10 second margin of victory.
 
Newcomer Jocelyn Ferguson (So./Minneapolis, Minn./Minneapolis South) won her debut for the Knights, besting the field in the 400-meter dash with a time of 1:01.14, fastest in the MIAC so far this season.
 
Clara Mayfield (Jr./Manhattan, Kan./Manhattan) blasted the competition in the 3000-meter run, finishing in 9:54.18 which was good for a 36-second margin of victory and ranks her No. 3 in the country.
 
"I was proud of how Clara implemented her race plan," said Ricks. "She demonstrated that she is fit and ready to challenge herself this season."
 
In the field events, rookie Nayeli Williams (Fy./Minneapolis, Minn./Brooklyn Center) won the long jump with a distance of 5.04 meters. That is tied for the top mark in the MIAC during the 2021-22 seasons.
 
Sydney Marsh (Sr./Austin, Minn./Austin) edged Gabrielle Evans (Sr./Minnetonka, Minn./Minnetonka) for the top spot in the pole vault. Both cleared 3.06 meters—best in the MIAC so far this season—but Marsh did so on her first attempt, which was the tiebreaker.
 
Neenah Bosman (So./Hugo, Minn./White Bear Lake) won the weight throw with a toss of 12.44 meters, and Eve Farrell (Sr./Mahtomedi, Minn./Mahtomedi) won the high jump after clearing a MIAC-best 1.47 meters on her first attempt.
 
Up Next for the Knights
Carleton is scheduled to host the Carleton Triangular next Friday, Jan. 21. Per Carleton's current policy, no spectators will be permitted at that meet.