BILLINGS, Mont. – The University of Providence track and field produced solid marks in the first outdoor track and field meet of the season on Thursday.

"It went extremely well," assistant coach Alan Cress said. "For starting up in the second semester, they did really well all the way around. I was really pleased with how it went. Across the board there were a lot of great marks to build on. With four more meets left we're in great position."

In her first collegiate event, freshman Allyson Conner placed second in the hammer throw (43.98). Last year's National Qualifier Jillian Sanchez finished third (43.02 meters), Kaylee Beer finished fifth (40.8 meters) and Kathryn Evans finished sixth (36.26 meters). On the men's side, Austin Forson placed second (40.04 meters).

"Allyson had a really great performance," Cress said. "It's one of the best I've ever seen by a freshman, and it happened during the first meet. To do that is just really something else. It is really impressive to come out and handle the field like that."

The Argos also saw success in the discus throw. Sanchez finished second (40.71 meters), Beer finished third (39.29 meters), finished sixth (30.0 meters) and Evans finished 10^th (24.92 meters). Forson again had a strong showing on the men's side, not only winning the event but finishing two meters off of National Qualifying standards (44.67 meters).

"He came out the way we were hoping for," Cress said. "He had a really good mark that's in really good reach of a National Qualifying mark. He's going to be right up there with a chance to win the conference. It was a good opening mark. He did what we all thought he was capable of doing."

Beer showed out for the shot put, winning the event by recording a personal record (12.03 meters). She narrowly edged Jillian Sanchez, who finished second (11.66 meters). Allyson Conner finished 4^th (10.97 meters) while Kathryn Evans finished eighth (10.52 meters). Austin Forson finished third (13.15 meters) on the men's side.

Sloane Chapman showed out in the javelin throw, finishing third with a mark of 29.68 meters.

The two runners that ran for the Argos also produced good results. Jaden Foster finished the 100 meter in 11.14 seconds, good for a third place finish. Robinson finished in 11.53, good for 4^th place overall. Foster won the 200 meter event, finishing in 23.25. Robinson finished second with a time of 23.59.

"Those runners were so in shape coming into the season," Cress said. "It's encouraging that they found a way to get the work in throughout the summer when it was a tough situation. These guys are in phenomenal shape already. They were ready for it and it showed. They're going to do really well throughout the whole season."

The meet marks the first outdoor meet for the team in two years -  last season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

 "They were so hungry for competition," Cress said. "I was so impressed. Nerves didn't come into play at. The need for competition overshadowed that this was the first competition in two years. They had nerves of steel. It was incredible."

 "It's so exciting going forward," Cress said. "The sky is the limit. We could have all kind of huge marks by the end. The future is bright for the season. We're going to compete very well in it."