NOTRE DAME, Ind. - The track and field season for Grace got an early start on Friday at Notre Dame's Blue and Gold Invitational.

The Lancers sent a strong contingent to the season-opening meet with several athletes gathering top-10 finishes.

Kylie Sauder highlighted the women's team with an NAIA "B" qualification in the 3,000-meter run. She finished her race in a school-record time of 10:19.23, placing sixth overall. Tara Friesen was ninth in the same race at 10:37.69.

Zoe Huley ran to an eighth-place showing in the 200 at 26.75, and Gracious O'Connor was 10th in the 60 dash (7.92).

Breanna Hyde grabbed eighth place in her collegiate debut in the long jump (16-9.75), and Mackenzie Parker finished 10th in the shot put (37-5.25).

On the men's side, Dimitri Margaritidis produced an NAIA "A" mark in the 3,000. He finished fourth overall with a stellar time of 8:28.50.

The men's shot put had three Lancers finish in the top 10, including Brock Lengacher in sixth place (45-6.5), Bryce Willard in ninth (39-3) and Connor Etchison in 10th (38-10.25).

Lengacher also grabbed eighth in the weight throw with a heave of 45-5.

Noah Zimmerman opened up his long jump season with a fourth-place finish of 21-10.25, and freshman Luke Schramm earned seventh in the 800 (2:02.57).

In the shorter distances, Ethan Cummins produced a time of 22.72 in the 200 (fifth place). He was also ninth in the 60 dash (7.09).

The Lancers will compete again after the New Year, beginning with Trine's Sean Brady Invitational on Jan. 13.

"This has been our best season opener as a team since I've been here. We're a very young team, and we walked away with some qualifying standards and double digit PRs against high quality competition," said Grace head coach Michael Moffitt. "I'm extremely proud of this group and how they've pushed themselves leading up to this point. I'm looking forward to the rest of our season,"

MEET RESULTS