VERMILLION, S.D. – Minnesota State outdoor track and field sent a delegation of student-athletes to the USD Early Bird, hosted by the University of South Dakota Friday and Saturday at Lillibridge Track Complex.
 
WOMEN
On day one, Elise Jensen finished fifth in discus at a mark of 46.55m (152-08). Kassidy Siedow headlined javelin with her seventh place mark of 36.08m (118-04).
 
Madison Matzek scored a top five finish in 3000 meter steeplechase in fourth with a time of 11:26.59. Addison Peed got off the mark in 800 meters with a 24^th place finish in 2:26.04.
 
Amanda Overgaauw placed ninth in 5000 meters with a time of 17:50.32, then took fourth in 1500 meters with a time of 4:40.92.
 
On day two, Elvira Collvin excelled in pole vault with her fifth place height of 3.81m (12-6.00). It was the 21^st best mark in Division II this season. Jenna Sikel was ninth with a height at 3.66m (12-0.00), 38^th in Division II.
 
Emma Osier led shot put with her fifth place mark of 13.04m (42-9.50), which was 48^th in Division II.
 
Lily Beneke had the second best hammer throw of the day at 55.81m (183-01) for the Mavericks. Beneke trailed only Lydia Knapp of South Dakota (61.34m, 201-03). MSU placed three inside the top six with Mony Andersen in fifth (50.67m, 166-03) and Lauren Bird in sixth (48.76m, 159-11, season best).
 
MEN
Ben Wieser made it third on the podium in shot put on day one with a mark of 15.92m (52-2.75). Evan Laughridge was also sixth, with Jack McNulty ninth and Dylan Gross tenth.
 
Joshua Beiswanger landed second in hammer throw behind South Dakota's Quincy Warren with a throw of 54.58m (179-01). Liam Byrne was fourth in the same event (52.61m, 172-07) and Henry Warsaw was sixth (51.20m, 167-11).
 
Kaleb Foltz was first in a field of nearly 60 runners in the 800 meters with a time of 1:50.12.
 
Byrne competed for fourth place in javelin throw with a mark at 49.94m (163-10) and Justin Fretag landed ninth in discus with a mark of 43.65m (143-02).

Closing out day two was Blake Wakeling in pole vault. Wakeling took sixth position with a personal record height of 4.75m (15-7.00), good for 38th best in Division II this spring.
 
Competition included student-athletes from Augustana (S.D.), Briar Cliff, Creighton, Dakota State, Dordt, Iowa Central CC, Iowa Western CC, Midland, Morningside, Mount Mary, MSU Moorhead, North Dakota State, Nebraska Wesleyan, North Dakota, Northern State, Northwestern (Iowa), Omaha, South Dakota State, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Southeast CC, Truman, Waldorf and Wayne State (Neb.).

Minnesota State men's and women's track and field host their first outdoor meet of the season on Saturday, April 12 at the Mark Schuck Outdoor Track & Field Complex.