Photos of SMU Invitational / click here

WINONA, Minn. — Kirk Nauman has seen a lot of school record fall during his time as the Saint Mary's University track and field coach.

But there are still a few school marks that have eluded his Cardinals over the years.

That number became one less Saturday afternoon.

You can cross the men's 4x400 relay off Nauman's list, as the quartet of Josiah Ryks (Austin, Minn.), Curt Van Asten (Shiocton, Wis.), John Vallez (Eagan, Minn.) and Joe Weinmann (Rochester, Minn.) set a new standard, stopping the clock in 3:30.30 to highlight the Cardinals' performance at the SMU Cardinal Invitational at the Gostomski Fieldhouse.

"It was a very good day for us," said Nauman, whose teams picked up three-first-place finishes and turned in several personal-bests during their only home indoor meet of the season. "Everyone likes this meet, because they like to compete in front of the home crowd for a change. And, all-in-all, I was very pleased with the way we performed.

"Our (men's) 4x400 did a great job — especially considering we broke that mark with three freshmen and a sophomore," Nauman added. "We had a bunch of PRs and some outstanding individual efforts. I'm very pleased."

Along with his effort in the 4x400, Van Asten also won the 55 hurdles (8.62) and was seventh in the long jump (5.94 meters), while Vallez was second in the mile (4:32.69) and Weinmann was third in the 400 (52.64). Joe Holman (Suamico, Wis.) chipped in a first in the pole vault (2.75 meters) and a second in the 55 hurdles (8.68), and Nick Lorenz (Fountain City, Wis.) posted a first-place time of 6.70 in the 55, while Jerod Baertsch (Winona, Minn. / 1,000, 2:47.96) and John Baures (Fountain City, Wis. / high jump, 1.84 meters) adding third-place efforts.

On the women's side, Emily Bartusek (Albert Lea, Minn.) notched the Cardinals' lone first-place finish, winning the 400 in 59.85. Sam Oreskovich (Prior Lake, Minn.) tallied a third in the 1,000 (3:18.01), while Tera Bollig (Cambridge, Minn. / 3,000, 11:07.48) and Teri Heinzen (Marshfield, Wis. / long jump, 4.98 meters) also posted third-place finishes. Heinzen was also fourth in the 55 (7.69) and sixth in the 200 (27.76), while Amanda Weinmann (Rochester, Minn.) posted a fourth in the shot put (12.66 meters) and a fifth in the weight throw (15.33).

"I think both teams are coming along nicely," said Nauman. "Our younger athletes are really starting to step up and show what they are capable of doing — which is great to see this early in the season. In a meet this size, to have some many top 3, 4,,5 finishes is pretty impressive, and it bodes well for the future."