EUGENE, Ore. – First, there was the windup – a dramatic swoop by the right arm behind the back, then across the face, then back again. Then, the spin – a leap forward and a pirouette on the right foot as that same arm whipped forward at blinding speed to send the discus screaming up toward the cloudless sky. Next, the yell of triumph, piercing the warm Saturday air at Hayward Field as the metal saucer finally fell to earth, bouncing twice before settling on the grass.
 
As California track & field's Caisa-Marie Lindfors stepped out of the ring after unleashing her sixth and final throw at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, she knew she'd done well, raising both arms above her head and waving to the crowd of cheering spectators at Hayward Field. None was louder than her coach Mohamad Saatara, who has spent the past 12 seasons developing Olympians, national champions and record-breakers for the Golden Bears – Lindfors included.
 
She hadn't won this time, but seeing the 62.57m that eventually appeared on the scoreboard was nonetheless one of the proudest moments of her life: a new school record and personal best, surpassing her previous PR of 62.48m (205-0) by three inches and crushing her previous season-best mark by over a full meter. The mark moved her from sixth place to fourth, the second-best finish in history by a Cal women's discus thrower and matching her 2023 finish while competing for Florida State.
 
"I am so proud of Caisa," Saatara said. "Our team captain came through in a big way, and Caisa showed her competitive spirit today. A personal best, Cal record and best NCAAs performance on her last throw – what else can you ask for?"
 
In total, six of the nine finalists in the women's discus posted personal bests, including a massive meet record of 65.82m (215-11) by Fresno State's Cierra Jackson. All of the top-four marks were the best in meet history for their respective placements, as Florda's Alida Van Daalen took second at 64.94m (213-1) and Texas Tech's Shelby Frank claimed third at 63.37m (207-11).
 
Lindfors ends her collegiate career as one of the finest throwers in Cal history. The program's first women's discus thrower to compete at the Olympic Games, Lindfors also represented Sweden in the finals at the 2024 European Championships and won a silver medal at her country's national championships. In addition to Cal's discus record, she owns the school's indoor shot put record and ranks No. 2 on its outdoor list; she also broke the 41-year-old Big Meet record in May with her then-season best of 61.52m (201-10).
 
2025 NCAA Outdoor Championships – Day Four Results
Women's Discus Final – 4. Caisa-Marie Lindfors 62.57m/205-3 (PR, School Record)
 
 
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