GENEVA, Ohio — Two of the four Carthage student-athletes who qualified for the Women's NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championship meet got things started for the Firebirds on Thursday, as Nicole Tarpley and Grace Robinson competed at the Spire Sports Complex.

"I am proud of the way Nicole and Grace competed today," said head coach Stephanie Domin. "To get the NCAA experience early in your college career will only fuel the fire for more experiences to come."

Entering the day as the 21st seed in the women's discus, Tarpley hit 30.96 meters on her first throw of the day, before improving to 36.94 meters on attempt two. The sophomore from Bloomingdale, Ill. then stepped up for throw number three, hitting 40.15 meters to jump up to 15th place, moving up six spots from her initial seeding.

Later in the evening, Robinson took to the track to compete in the prelims for the 400-meter hurdles in heat two. The sophomore would take 21st place in the country in her first NCAA National Championship meet with a time of 1:04.25.

Next for the women's track and field team is the women's shot put, where Liv Carel will compete beginning tomorrow, May 27 at 1 p.m. CT.

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