COLORADO SPRINGS, CO. - A handful of Golden Eagles traveled to Colorado Springs for the annual Pre-Holiday Invite hosted by the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. In their first indoor meet of the year, returning and new CUI track and field squad members competed against a field of strong Midwest competitors.

Returning for her final season with the Golden Eagles, graduate student Sarah Fajer did what she does best and pushed the bar further. After an outstanding finish to her outdoor season at the national championships last season, Fajer wanted one more chance at qualifying for the indoor national championships. Her second throw of the day at 13.70 meters earned her the provisional qualifying mark for her favored event. Fajer is setting herself up for another strong season.

Cooper Tirado found himself in the finals for the 60m dash in his first official meet with the Golden Eagles. Tirado ran a 7.05 to take 6th in the event's final, setting a solid tone heading into the season.

Gabe Jones started his season strong with a fourth-place finish in the long jump with an impressive 13.88m jump.

On the women's sprints side, Kendall Herren and Romane Baudin recorded strong performances in the 60m dash during the prelims, earning two of the six spots in the final. Herren finished in 4th with a time of 7.84, just .02 seconds ahead of teammate Baudin who crossed the finish line at 7.86. 

In the 200m dash, Logan Nelson lead the pack of Golden Eagles, finishing in 4th with a substantial time of 25.98, only a hundredth of a second behind the third spot. Herren came in just behind Nelson in the fifth spot, winning her heat with a time of 26.90.

Returning Golden Eagles Ryann Beveridge and Mikayla Butler took part in the 60m hurdles event, both athletes earning spots in the finals after a tight race. Beveridge took home the second spot in prelims and the 3rd spot in the finals with a time of 9.15. Butler finished just shy of her teammate in fourth with a time of 9.19. 

Baudin and Herren competed in the long jump together, pushing one another as they finished 4th and 5th, respectively. Baudin started strong with a second jump of 5.59m to solidify her fourth-place finish, and Herren, with her first jump, recorded a 5.53m mark.

The Golden Eagles will have a long break before their next meet which will be the Prairie Wolf Indoor Invite in Lincoln, Nebraska in late January of the new year.

CLICK HERE for the full list of results from the Pre-Holiday Invite.