ST. LOUIS, Mo. - The Calvin women's track and field team had a sterling set of performances on Friday as the Knights opened up their outdoor campaigns in sizzling fashion.

At the Washington University Distance Carnival, Calvin produced several landmark performances.

Senior Sadie Heeringa (Grand Rapids Mich./Grand Rapids Christian HS) led the way by winning the 5,000 meter run in a career-best time of 16:41.17 that ranks third nationally and was just a second off Calvin's school record.

Junior Sienna Ruiter-Diaz (Canton, Mich./Plymouth Christian Academy) produced a career-best time of 17:52.31, marking a personal best by 18 seconds. Senior Brynne Winiarski (Naperville, Il./Neuqua Valley HS) had a career-best time of 18:28.34, dropping her previous best by 15 seconds.

The 3,000 meter steeplechase provided another highlight as sophomore Jenna Allman (Ann Arbor, Mich./Saline HS) took 11th with a career-best time of 11:18.20. Her time should place her in the top 15 on the NCAA III performance list.

Meanwhile, at the Michigan State Spartan Invitational on Friday, senior Kamryn Elgersma (Redlands, Ca./Arrowhead Christian Academy) took third with a throw of 119-4.

In the triple jump, sophomore Jessye Vanden Akker (Whitinsville, Mass./Whitinsville Christian HS) was fifth (33-10 1/4).