NORTHFIELD, Minn. — Kari Pederson (Hastings, Minn.) had never competed in the heptathlon before this week.

Yet, when the final event was complete Friday afternoon, the Saint Mary's University senior own the school-record in the event, finishing the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference heptathlon competition with 3,836 points, more than 300 points better than the previous record, set by fellow senior Clara Setzer (Red Wing, Minn.) at the same event a year ago. Setzer also turned in a record-setting performance with her 3,762 total.

Taking a page from their female counterparts, Chris Beach (Maple Grove, Minn.) and Todd Yankowski (Chicago, Ill.) also broke the SMU decathlon record at the MIAC event, with Beach's 5,215 outdistancing Yankowski's 5,005 to earn him the honor as the Cardinals' record-holder.