NORTHFIELD, Minn. – Soren Kaster's victory in the pole vault was the top highlight for the Carleton College men's track & field team on the first day of competition at the St. Olaf Invitational.
 
Kaster cleared 4.50 meters on his first attempt, establishing his new collegiate indoor best, moving him into third place on the Knights' all-time list, and tying him for 31st in NCAA Division III this season.
 
Teammate James Gates took third place after clearing a collegiate-best 4.20 meters, while Tim Adams and Ansel Wallace were ninth and 15th, respectively, with heights of 3.75 meters and 3.45 meters, the latter establishing a new career best.
 
Reese Anderson sits fifth after the first day of the heptathlon with 2,147 points. He clocked 7.53 in the 60-meter dash, and measured 6.03 meters in the long jump, 9.74 meters in the shot put, and 1.49 meters in the high jump. The first three events were each new career bests. Saturday's action will include the 60-meter hurdles, pole vault, and 1000-meter run.
 
Travis Brown and Andrew Jamison were the lone Knights to run the 5,000-meter race. It was the first time either raced that distance at the collegiate level, placing 15th and 26th, respectively, out of 37 entrants after crossing the line at 15:50.31 and 16:26.50.
 
The full contingent of Knights will be in action when meet concludes on Saturday with field events starting at 10:00 a.m. followed by racing on the track at 11:00 a.m.